A Short History of Nearly Everything

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Bill Bryson

Length: 5 hrs and 47 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, traveling 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 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"Destined to become a modern classic of science writing." (The New York Times Book Review)

Food for the curious mind!

The author Bill Bryson also narrates, but he does an excellent job of it! When I got to the end I immediately started over -- it's riveting stuff. Conceptually heavy material made lighter and more digestible by Bryson's intellect. The subject matter spans from the "big bang" (assuming it ever happened) through evolution, cellular biology into DNA ... and much more.

Wonderful - for science geeks or anyone

Everyone seems to agree that the narration of this audiobook is superb, and it is. As a science geek who loves non-fiction titles, this book was a joy. Unabridged, the book was never was boring, and it continued to weave a more and more complex - but simple - view of our universe. The connections and stories behind many of mankind's biggest discoveries and revelations is fascinating and often rather hilarious. The simple explanations to some of the more complex mechanics of our existence are a benefit for those who already understand these processes, as well as those who are learning about them for the first time. A real "eye-opener".

If you are looking for vastly detailed observations on scientific breakthroughs, this book isn't for you... the title says it all "A SHORT History of Nearly Everything" Despite its unabridged length it'll leave you wanting to know more, I would have been happy if the book was twice as long.

You'll also be left with a head full of great and interesting facts theat can bring on some interesting discussions with friends, or score you points on Jeopardy.

Four Stars... the only reason I don't give this 5 is simply because I've liked other books a bit more, however its the best non-fiction/science audiobook I have ever heard. Highly recommended.

we loved it

I found this book fascinating. Even my husband, who doesn't care for audio books, came to look forward to us listening to it together. A MUST HAVE for anybody who likes trivia.

best buy

This is the best audiobook I've ever heard. I've never listened to another book over and over again as I did this one. I think ordering this book from this site was the best money I've ever spent. I can't believe there were so many interesting things about the history of science that our teachers never got around to telling us! He's just a great storyteller - and luckily for us, an excellent researcher.

Excellent!

Hands down, the best written and best narrated Audible book I've heard yet. I cannot over emphesize how pleased I am.

A short review

This is one of hte better books I have received from Audible.com. I highly recommend this to everyone.

Standard Bryson

Bryson's style is humorous, no doubt. If you've read/heard any of his previous work, his typical style is present here. Its dry sarcastic nature becomes a bit tiresome at best, and a bit irritating at worst, in this book. Not nearly as enjoyable as A Walk in the Woods. Still, if you can't get enough of Bryson's style, you'll like this.

Entertaining and Educational

Bryson takes the reader by the hand and leads her through the scientific history of the planet in a most engaging way. Excellent stuff.

A superb listen and you'll learn a lot!

Bill Bryson knows exactly how to bring this book to life - something many authors can't do. If you're even the slightest bit curious about the Universe and its origins or the basics of our earth and life in the cosmos, get it, you'll love it!

Engaging overview of all things scientific

Engaging book and narrator/author. The book is an interesting overview of scientific thinking and knowledge, both historical and current. My knowledge of science is not deep, but I enjoyed the presentation and feel I learned a lot. While listening to the book, I was amazed at the number of newspaper articles I saw that related to something the book had just covered - made me feel like a much smarter human!
The book bears repeated listening - I'm sure I missed things the first time around. But much of what I heard has stuck with me. Even now, a month after I've finished the book, I keep referring to it in conversations and bringing up interesting tidbits from it.
Nice overview, interesting narrator - all in all a worthwhile book.