I liked this book, but found it a little difficult to sift through as their is an intense amount of facts combined to make one book. It reminds me of the question and answer books that I used to read as a kid except for a much harder to follow version. The author, Bill Bryson, suggests he has spent the past 50 years getting answers to all the difficult questions we have. He has definitely accomplished this goal and has brought light to several questions that weigh on the minds of readers. I di like the comical illustartions and I think that they appeal to kids who decide to give this intimidating book a try. ( )

Bill Bryson is, IMO, a very gifted writer. I generally am not interested in world history, but with Bryson's wit and style I swiftly read half of this book in a weekend.I recommend this book to any one who enjoys Bryon's other books. ( )

As a former lit major, I usually have to be coaxed into reading a science book. But this one caught my attention right away. I probably learned more about various branches of scientific thought, particularly physics, than I had in the last ten years, by reading this book. Which may say a lot about how I should broaden my reading tastes, but I prefer to think of it as a recommendation for this work. Just read it. You won't be bored. You'll be fascinated. And you'll end up with more questions about the way the universe is constructed than you started out with. Books that make you think for yourself always get my vote. ( )

Video review: http://bookvim.com/2009/09/a-short-hi...

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What fantastic journey.

Bill Bryson decided to devote part of his life (3 years, it turned out) to understand the greatest discoveries of Science. This book is the result.

You would expect a ex-news journalist writing on Science would produce a good number of mistakes and broad generalizations. This is not the case:

- His research is solid as a rock (100 pages of notes and 20 pages of bibliography).
- He won the prestigious Aventis prize for best general science book.

Yet he admits humbly to have written a book with many mistakes, and many more did not appear thanks to the patience of those who explained him the lessons.

What does it cover?

From the Big-Bang onwards, basically.

The age of the Universe, formation of galaxies and our planet, the origins of Geology, Palaeontology (study of fossils), Chemistry, Physics, Quantum Mechanics... you name it. What is most remarkable is his delivery: he makes the story-telling very, very engaging. The depiction of the great minds of Science (Newton, Einstein, Darwin...) is delightful, and the facts you will learn are most intriguing:

Did you know "stone breaking" (Geology) was fashionable in the 1800s?

Or that 1% of that static snow in your TV are remainings of the Big Bang?

Or that radioactivity was considered something healthy and marketed as such in the beginning? (radioactive toothpaste, anyone?)

It is a dense book for sure. I recommend at least underlining as you read, otherwise you risk going through 500+ pages and being not one iota more knowledgable 3 months later.

Chances are many of the basic questions about the Universe you always lacked arguments for will be uncovered in this volume.

If you have any curiosity on where Human Beings fit in the grand scheme of creation, pick up a copy.

You will understand what a miracle it is that you are reading this book review. ( )

I think this will be the book that I will go back to again and again. There were so many interesting facts to learn, and I enjoyed reading about how various scientists discovered new information that often surprised them. I liked reading about William Herschel's discovery of the planet Uranus in 1781 and how he wanted to name it after King George III (Georgium Sidus). I also liked learning about prehistoric guinea pigs the size of cows. ( )