 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Bill Bryson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday (UK) Broadway Books (US) |
Publication date | 2003 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover,Paperback,E-Book) |
| ISBN | 0-7679-0817-1 |
| OCLC | 51900381 |
| 500 21 | |
| LC Class | Q162 .B88 2003 |
A Short History of Nearly Everything by American-British authorBill Bryson is apopular science book that explains some areas of science, using easily accessible language that appeals more to the general public than many other books dedicated to the subject. It was one of the bestselling popular science books of 2005 in the United Kingdom, selling over 300,000 copies.[1]
A Short History deviates from Bryson's populartravel book genre, instead describing general sciences such aschemistry,paleontology,astronomy, andparticle physics. In it, he explores time from theBig Bang to the discovery ofquantum mechanics, viaevolution andgeology.
Bill Bryson wrote this book because he was dissatisfied with hisscientific knowledge—that was, not much at all. He writes that science was a distant, unexplained subject at school. Textbooks and teachers alike did not ignite the passion for knowledge in him, mainly because they never delved into thewhys,hows, andwhens.
"It was as if [the textbook writer] wanted to keep the good stuff secret by making all of it soberly unfathomable."
— Bryson, on the state of science books used within his school[2]
Bryson describes graphically and in layperson's termsthe size of the universe and that ofatoms andsubatomic particles. He then explores the history ofgeology andbiology and traces life from its first appearance to today's modern humans, emphasizing the development of the modernHomo sapiens. Furthermore, he discusses the possibility of the Earth being struck by ameteorite and reflects on human capabilities of spotting a meteor before itimpacts the Earth, and the extensive damage that such an event would cause. He also describes some of the most recent destructive disasters of volcanic origin in the history of our planet, includingKrakatoa andYellowstone National Park.
A large part of the book is devoted to relating humorous stories about the scientists behind the research and discoveries and their sometimes eccentric behaviours. Bryson also speaks about modern scientific views on human effects on the Earth's climate and livelihood of other species, and the magnitude of natural disasters such asearthquakes,volcanoes,tsunamis,hurricanes, and themass extinctions caused by some of these events.
An illustrated edition of the book was released in November 2005.[3] A few editions inaudiobook form are also available, including an abridged version read by the author, and at least three unabridged versions.
Recognising both the errors in the original and, more importantly, the significant advances in scientific knowledge, a second edition was published in late 2025.[4] This contains extensive revisions to all chapters.[5]
The book received generally favourable reviews, with reviewers citing the book as informative, well-written, and entertaining.[6][7][8][9][10]
In 2004, this book won BrysonThe Aventis Prizes for Science Books for best general science book.[11] Bryson later donated theGBP£10,000 prize to theGreat Ormond Street Hospital children's charity.[12]
In 2005, the book won the EUDescartes Prize for science communication.[13] It was shortlisted for theSamuel Johnson Prize for the same year.
Bill Bryson - selected bibliography | |
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| Travel | |
| Language |
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| Science | |
| Memoir | |
| Biography | |
| History | |
