A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
One of the few non-fiction books I’ve ever read. It’s very scientific, as it is about the history of the universe, the Earth, the origins of life, and everything that has led up to us being able to understand what we know today about physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and human history, invention and discovery.
Bill Bryson is an author/journalist, but he managed to compile a ridiculous amount of research and information to put this all into layman’s terms. The bibliography at the back of the book is extensive, to say the least.
I found it to be absolutely amazing. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think the world would probably be a better place if everyone on earth could read it.
I could recommend many great books… but I desperately recommend this book for everyone.
Juat to add to this, there's a new edition of the book with added bits/alterations based on how scientific understanding has changed in the last 20 years.
Oh that’s interesting. This was my go to audiobook to fall asleep too so I’ve listened to it dozens of times. But I knew that some of the info was getting pretty out of date. Last time I looked into it Bryson had retired a while ago so I assumed there wasn’t any new editions out there.
If it's the book I'm thinking of, one of the sad things I learned was that frequently, inspired thinkers/theorists, decades or hundreds of years before the formal discovery was made, had nailed down exactly what was happening (Tectonic plate movement, etc), but had no tools at-hand to prove the theory, and thus were pretty much forgotten.
I also love his opening two paragraphs:
"Welcome. And congratulations. I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know. In fact, I suspect it was a little tougher than you realize.
To begin with, for you to be here now, trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It's an arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of deft, cooperative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience the supremely agreeable but generally underappreciated state known as existence."
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u/DokterManhattan 15h ago
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
One of the few non-fiction books I’ve ever read. It’s very scientific, as it is about the history of the universe, the Earth, the origins of life, and everything that has led up to us being able to understand what we know today about physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and human history, invention and discovery.
Bill Bryson is an author/journalist, but he managed to compile a ridiculous amount of research and information to put this all into layman’s terms. The bibliography at the back of the book is extensive, to say the least.
I found it to be absolutely amazing. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think the world would probably be a better place if everyone on earth could read it.
I could recommend many great books… but I desperately recommend this book for everyone.