A Short History of Nearly Everything - Book Review

A Short History of Nearly Everything - by Bill Bryson

I'm kind of at a loss over what to say about this book. Maybe I should start with a confession: I bought it because I thought it was a history book. It's not. Well, not in the traditional sense, anyway.

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a science book. It covers the history of the universe and the earth through the lenses of the various branches of science.


Cosmology, physics, geology, biology, microbiology, genetics, medicine, and more. They're all in there, and each one is given its own section from which to shine.

In a way, this is like a double history book. I know that probably doesn't make much sense, but let me explain. Each branch of science is used to educate the reader on the history and evolution of the universe, our planet, our ecosystem, and even our own bodies. (That's one history.) As the author focuses on each of the scientific branches, though, he gives an historical overview of that branch that includes biographies of important scientists and philosophers and many colorful anecdotes all interspersed with more scientific trivia than I could ever possibly memorize. (And, that's the second history.)

-- That's a pretty nifty bit of literary weaving when you stop and think about it! --

I gave this book five stars because it's an extraordinary piece of writing in its genre: that genre being the history of science. It is not, however, an history of everything - short or otherwise.

I bought A Short History of Nearly Everything thinking that it was a world history book. Had I read the description, I probably wouldn't have bought it at all. But I did...... and I read it...... and I'm damn glad I did!!