A Short History of Nearly Everything

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Richard Matthews

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the world’s most beloved and best-selling writers takes his ultimate journey - into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer.

In a Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trail - well, most of it. In In A Sunburned Country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand - and, if possible, answer - the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us.

To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world’s most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds.

A Short History of Nearly Everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining.

©2003 Bill Bryson (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc. Published by Arrangement with Random House Audio Publishing Group, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Not to be missed." (AudioFile)
"Destined to become a modern classic of science writing." (The New York Times Book Review)

For the science fan

I loved this book from beginning to end. It is jammed packed with information and can be listened to time and time again. I'm more than positive each time you listen to it you will walk away with a different factoid.

Loved it!

A light approach to some dense subjects. I found the facts and personalites fascinating. Take it in bites (I listen when I jog) so you won't lose your taste for it.

Richard Matthews does an inpecable job narrating. I loved it!

Gripping

While starting this book I felt like I might be in for a long story with dry explination about what things were like in history, but when you get through the first couple of chapters you realize that this is not just some boring history lesson. This is a fascinating ride from the very large to the very small. There is so much material covered so quickly that you are never board, but good luck retaining so much information. By the time you reach the end you will find yourself in the position of understanding so much more than you ever have about the environment we live in, but you will also wish you could have held on to every detail as to strike up a deep conversation about the material learned with that scientist or historian friend you have. All in all the book is engaging. little wasted time covering so many topics. also the feeling that it doesn't rush or go through things so quckly you don't have time to grip on to the lesson with excitement. Enjoy the book and relish in the amazement of how improbable and inevitable our existence really is.

Great book and great narration.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It is very informative and interesting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Short History of Nearly Everything?

The discussion of Yellowstone and volcanoes.

Which character – as performed by Richard Matthews – was your favorite?

Newton.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When I fully realized that humans have been present on Earth for a relatively short period of time.

EVERYTHING is a good description

This book was a little lengthy and a few of the subjects dragged on. The description of "early humans" on my made me think a lot of stuff is made up by some crazy scientists. I loved the tidbits like l, "the tongue of a blue whale weighs as much as an elephant" and a "giant squid has tentacles up to 60' long...would fill an entire swimming pool...no live one has ever been seen, only washed up". Also funny insights about important people through history, several historians / scientists stealing credit for others' work and other fun facts. I loved the reader's British accent. I thought it was odd there was no mention of the Bible or anything mentioning the history recorded there. The exclusion of it makes me wonder about other facts. All in all, very interesting and certainly made me think.

Entertaining!

Nice combination of witty, educational and entertaining!
I've listened to it twice in case I missed something the first time. That engrossing!

Circumnavigating earth with fresh eyes wide open.

If you could sum up A Short History of Nearly Everything in three words, what would they be?

Accurate, engaging, enlightening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Favorite character: All of us, the bearers of the magic gift of consciousness. Bill Bryson's insightful ability to weave together a picture of our natural history is unsurpassed. This book was chock-a-block with interestingly connected facts and analogies that explain who we are and how we got here. I gave it three listens and will hit it again in a few months. Throughout the entire series, I didn't encounter a single dry spot or boring passage. He also was able to vivify all of the historical characters whose shoulders we now stand upon in our emerging understanding of the complex reality of our existence. It is a spellbinding book.

What about Richard Matthews’s performance did you like?

Richard Matthews is the most pleasing narrator I've ever listened to- never monotonous or quirky and thoroughly British enough to please the American ear.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Story of Us.

Any additional comments?

Give this one a try if you're even remotely interested in understanding the natural world and its perceived meaning. Get ready for a happy existential crisis after you've finished it.

One of the best!

this was absolutely one of the best books i've read/listened to. it was captivating and the content was just amazing. the narration was amazing as well. you almost don't want the book to ever end. i would definitely listen to it again (and again)...

Entertainingly written and read

Well written; well read. Both author and narrator enjoy their subject, making for hours of very entertaining listening.

quite good

Even tho the book was released 13 years ago, and some science isn't up to date, it's still an informative summary of science in general, well read.