• A Short History of Nearly Everything

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Bill Bryson
  • Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (537 ratings)

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A Short History of Nearly Everything  By  cover art

A Short History of Nearly Everything

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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Publisher's summary

A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson’s quest to find out everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from there, being nothing at all, to here, being us. His challenge is to take subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us and see if there isn't some way to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science.

It's not so much about what we know, as about how we know what we know. How do we know what is in the centre of the Earth, or what a black hole is, or where the continents were 600 million years ago? How did anyone ever figure these things out?

On his travels through time and space, Bill Bryson takes us with him on the ultimate eye-opening journey and reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.

©2003 Bill Bryson (P)2003 Random House Audiobooks
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about A Short History of Nearly Everything

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Abridged!

Nothing indicated this was abridged until the closing credits. My only disappointment. I had read this before and some of my favorite parts were missing.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

If you only own one audio book, this is it!

This book was a little hard going as text but completely comes to life when read by Bill Bryson. I love it and have listened to it several times.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • E
  • 05-20-15

An easy understanding towards the knowing world.

Easy to understand... anekdotes...insight of the world of exploration and research. A very lovely book tot discover. I loved it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An Excellent Primer

This is a short listen that I will undoubtedly be returning to in the future. There's something to be said for an author's ability to summarize long periods of time and keep it engaging. Bryson has a wonderful delivery here. This can be used best a primer for delving into deeper subject matter, or as a means of brushing up on oft forgotten generalized facts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

True to the title

Very informative and geeky yet really easy to follow, there's a subtle sense of humour throughout the book that makes it all the more enjoyable. If you're into sciencey/historic books but can't stand the booooring tone of most educational books, this one will keep you hooked.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting but really tough to follow

Listened to this on my 1hr commutes. Lots of details with many names and dates, long sentences with above average vocabulary..i.e. words that the average person doesn't understand. Gave up after 2 chapters

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Terribly boring

If you're looking for a good history book of the world you will be better served by E. H. Gombrich with his book: A little History of the world.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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disapointing

i was expecting a lot more of out this book. not that interesting hor entertaining.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Do not buy this is a short version, not full

Was really disappointed when I realized how much of the actual book was cut from this sham of an audio book

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8 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Wtf soooo much is cut out

I am VERY disappointed as I didn't realize how much was is cut out of this version. It barely makes any sense anymore. I just want the full version.

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1 person found this helpful