This title is not currently available for purchase
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition by [Bryson, Bill]
Kindle App Ad

A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition Kindle Edition

by
Bill Bryson (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Bill Bryson Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
Bill Bryson (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 2,310 customer reviews
See all 66 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$7.42
— —
Hardcover, Unabridged
"Please retry"
$17.20
$10.81 $1.31
Paperback
"Please retry"
$9.99
$7.75 $1.59
Audible, Unabridged
"Please retry"
$29.08
Audio CD, Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry"
—
$23.96 $19.91
Book Supplement
"Please retry"
—
$80.97 $69.38
Escape with a great book this Labor Day
click to open popover

Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader

Product Details

  • File Size: 82746 KB
  • Print Length: 624 pages
  • Publisher: Broadway Books; Ill Spl Re edition (November 30, 2010)
  • Publication Date: November 30, 2010
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004CFAWES
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,865 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

    •  Would you like to give feedback on images or tell us about a lower price?

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsPerhaps the Best Armchair Scientist Book I've Ever Read
By Eric P. Neff on May 28, 2003
Format: Hardcover
I picked this one up expecting "good". Instead, I got one of the most delightful reading experiences in science that I have ever had. What a wonderful surprise.
Bryson tries to do what most school textbooks never manage to do, explain the context of science in a way that is relevant to the average person. At the beginning of the book, he recalls an event from his childhood when he looked at a school text and saw a cross-section of our planet. He was transfixed by it, but noticed that the book just dryly presented the facts ("This is the core." "This part is molten rock." "This is the crust.", etc.), but never really explained HOW science came to know this particular set of facts. That, he quite correctly points out, is the most interesting part. And that is story he sets out to tell in this book.
Bryson obviously spent a great deal of time and effort developing and checking his facts and presentation. He obviously enjoyed every minute of it too, and it shows. Never have I read a book where the author conveyed such joyful awe of what we have learned as a species (with the possible exception of some of Richard Feynman's books).
My benchmark for this kind of book is usually; How well does it explain modern physics? There are few books out there that manage to explain relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory in a way that doesn't make your eyes glaze over. The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav is the best of the lot in my opinion. While this book did not change my opinion, Bryson's explanations of these mind-bending theories are not only lucid and sensible, they are also full of his telltale tongue-in-cheek side comments and therefore are just plain fun to read.Read more ›
4 Comments 837 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsA Man Said to the Universe
By William Holmes on November 13, 2005
Format: Hardcover
Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is beautifully written, very entertaining and highly informative--and now, it is lavishly illustrated as well.

Bryson is not a scientist, but rather a curious and observant writer who, several years ago, realized that he couldn't tell a quark from a quasar, or a proton from a protein. Bryson set out to cure his ignorance of things scientific, and the result was "A Short History of Nearly Everything," which was originally published in 2003.

For readers who are new to science and its history, "A Short History of Nearly Everything" contains one remarkable revelation after another. It is amazing how enormous, tiny, complex and just plain weird the universe is. Learning about "everything" is a humbling experience, and I kept thinking of Stephen Crane's blank verse: "A man said to the Universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the Universe, 'the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.'"

Just as engaging as Bryson's story of what we know is the parallel story of how we know it--from the first clever experiments to figure out how much the earth weighs to today's ongoing efforts to describe the origins of the universe itself, it becomes obvious that science is not an answer but a process, a way of learning about a world that always seems to have one more trick up its sleeve.

Whatever else may be said about the universe, Bryson explains that learning about its mysteries is a very human endeavor.Read more ›
1 Comment 255 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsAll that stuff we were supposed to have learned, but ...
By David C. Hay on May 11, 2003
Format: Hardcover
I am a big fan of Bill Bryson's travelogues. I was therefore surprised when I cam across this, somewhat more weighty, tome. But I am pleased that I picked it up.
The author says he didn't do very well in science when he was in school because the teachers and texts seemed to be hiding all the good stuff. Now, as an adult, he's gone after the good stuff. And he's the guy to write it so the rest of us can understand. Not only does he write clearly, but he's very good at explaining as much as a normal person can understand (of relativity, for example), while pointing to the stuff that's weird, and setting aside the stuff that you have to be a specialist to understand.
He also is very good at giving credit to people who thought of things but were ignored until someone else came along and took credit. This has happened all too frequently, and it's good for the record to be set straight.
If you too were afraid of science, this is a wonderful book. If you already know a lot of this but just like to read enjoyable writing--it's also a wonderful book.
Comment 208 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsNot Dumbed down. Gets you very excited about science.
By Trip on October 31, 2003
Format: Hardcover
This book is the type of book that would inspire you to become a biologist or a geologist or an astronomer. From this book you are able to see bits and pieces of famous scientists lives and get a feeling by the end that its not all fun and games but at the same time it soooo very worth it to dedicate your life to the pursuit of furthering the knowledge of your fellow human beings and in some small way pushing our species in a positive direction. From reading this book you find out how all the knowledge from hundreds of years ago has become the basis of where we are today. This is conveyed extremely well to the audience. The other thing which is conveyed so very well is the power and destructive force of mother nature here on earth and in space. Parts of this book read better than seeing an end of the world movie because the author is so good at getting a vivid picture drawn in the reader's minds eye.
This book is so good and so comprehensive I can see myself reading this over again.
Thank you Bill Bryson for your hard, extensive research! Quite remarkable.
Comment 145 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsEnjoyable and Informative

I have read this book twice and also bought a copy for a friend. Being a person who did not take or learn a lot of science in school, I was quite happy to read a book that covered... Read more

Published 1 day ago by K. D. L
5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect for Anyone Curious About the World

The best scientific book I have ever read! Bill Bryson has a writing style that will keep you interested the entire time while filling your brain with knowledge. Read more

Published 1 day ago by Maria Hopkins
5.0 out of 5 starsscience history is truly stranger than fiction... and fun!

Non-fiction for everyone! Easily the most fun read on serious science and history I've ever read

Published 1 day ago by Cocoabeach
5.0 out of 5 starsSweeping, good read

Covers a lot of ground. Most extremely well. A good update in the current status of scientific progress as well as a lot of great anecdotes in the history of science.

Published 2 days ago by zungo
5.0 out of 5 starsCompelling History of the Universe

Had read it several times before, probably 10 years ago. Then I lost it (left it on a airplane.) So I wanted to have it in my 'library' and will read it again at my leisure, even... Read more

Published 5 days ago by Frank A. Celigoj
5.0 out of 5 starsFantastic book! Although infused with Bill Bryson's never ceasing ...

Fantastic book! Although infused with Bill Bryson's never ceasing wit, this is a very scholarly history of science, and a real eye opener.

Published 6 days ago by Burrowes E.
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

as described

Published 7 days ago by larry lawrence
5.0 out of 5 starsIt is reasonable to buy.

It is reasonable to buy.

Published 10 days ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Happy with seller and book!

Published 12 days ago by Edwin M. Cochran
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Difficult read

Published 12 days ago by Dennis Wheeler

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition
Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway
This item: A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

Look for Similar Items by Category

 
Feedback
If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
Would you like to report poor quality or formatting in this book? Click here
Would you like to report this content as inappropriate? Click here
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? Click here