A Short history of nearly everything

A Short history of nearly everything 

By Bill Bryson 

Just finished reading this book, I think it is probably the best comprehensive book about science for the general public. 

It is an interesting read, talking about science but not using complex science language, but rather a story telling style of writing. 

I have read a lot of science books, because of my job, and I can easily say they are boring, science is exciting and wonderful, but reading a specialised book is a different matter. 

I have also special interest in astrophysics and I have read several interesting and exciting books about the universe, especially the writings of Lawrence Krauss, Neil Degrasse Tyson and Carlo Rovelli. 

However I have never came across a comprehensive book, astrophysics, chemistry, geology and biology, all blended in this very long story about life, earth and the universe. 

Admittingly, it is old! Published in 2003, a lot has been happening since, discoveries in quantum physics, advances in astronomy, new inventions helping to advance molecular biology and DNA studies, so some of the information are out of date. Nevertheless, it tells you how we got here, how prominent theories were developed, proven and connected to other theories on other fields, all of that without using complex science jargon. 

It is a must read book, I strongly recommend. (I have a PDF version and I bought the soft cover from eBay for £3.49).

I leave you with the last paragraph of the book, enjoy :

If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here-and by "we" I mean every living thing. To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement As humans we are doubly lucky, of course: We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp. We have arrived at this position of eminence in a stunningly short time. Behaviorally modem human beings-that is, people who can speak and make art and organize complex activities-have existed for only about 0.0001 percent of Earth’s history. But surviving for even that little while has required a nearly endless string of good fortune. We really are at the beginning of it all The trick, of course, is to make sure we never find the end. And that almost certainly, will require a good deal more than lucky breaks.