A Short History of Nearly Everything

Marc Notes: Bibl. ref. & index; Paper reprint of cloth edition publ. in 2003. Jacket Description/Flap: One of the world's most beloved and bestselling writers takes his ultimate journey -- into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer. In A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trail -- well, most of it. In In A Sunburned Country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand -- and, if possible, answer -- the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world's most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. A Short History of Nearly Everything" is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining. "From the Hardcover edition. Review Quotes: "Stylish Ýand¨ stunningly accurate prose. We learn what the material world is like from the smallest quark to the largest galaxy and at all the levels in between . . . brims with strange and amazing facts . . . destined to become a modern classic of science writing."--"The New York Times" "Bryson has made a career writing hilarious travelogues, and in many ways his latest is more of the same, except that this time Bryson hikes through the world of science."--"People" "Bryson is surprisingly precise, brilliantly eccentric and nicely eloquent . . . a gifted storyteller has dared to retell the world's biggest story."--"Seattle Times" "Hefty, highly researched and eminently readable."--Simon Winchester, "The Globe and Mail" "All non-scientists (and probably many specialized scientists, too) can learn a great deal from his lucid and amiable explanations."--"National Post ""Bryson is a terrific stylist. You can't help but enjoy his writing, for its cheer and buoyancy, and for the frequent demonstration of his peculiar, engaging turn of mind."--"Ottawa Citizen" "Wonderfully readable. It is, in the best sense, learned."--"Winnipeg Free Press"Review Quotes: " Stylish [and] stunningly accurate prose. We learn what the material world is like from the smallest quark to the largest galaxy and at all the levels in between . . . brims with strange and amazing facts . . . destined to become a modern classic of science writing." -- "The New York Times" " Bryson has made a career writing hilarious travelogues, and in many ways his latest is more of the same, except that this time Bryson hikes through the world of science." -- "People" " Bryson is surprisingly precise, brilliantly eccentric and nicely eloquent . . . a gifted storyteller has dared to retell the world' s biggest story." -- "Seattle Times" " Hefty, highly researched and eminently readable." -- Simon Winchester, "The Globe and Mail" " All non-scientists (and probably many specialized scientists, too) can learn a great deal from his lucid and amiable explanations." -- "National Post "" Bryson is a terrific stylist. You can' t help but enjoy his writing, for its cheer and buoyancy, and for the frequent demonstration of his peculiar, engaging turn of mind." -- "Ottawa Citizen" " Wonderfully readable. It is, in the best sense, learned." -- "Winnipeg Free Press"Biographical Note: BILL BRYSON'S Bestselling books include "A Walk in the Woods, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, In A Sunburned Country, Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words, Bill Bryson's African Diary, "and "A Short History of Nearly Everything. "He lives in Norfolk, England, with his wife and children. Review Quotes: "Stylish [and] stunningly accurate prose. We learn what the material world is like from the smallest quark to the largest galaxy and at all the levels in between . . . brims with strange and amazing facts . . . destined to become a modern classic of science writing."--"The New York Times""Bryson has made a career writing hilarious travelogues, and in many ways his latest is more of the same, except that this time Bryson hikes through the world of science."--"People""Bryson is surprisingly precise, brilliantly eccentric and nicely eloquent . . . a gifted storyteller has dared to retell the world's biggest story."--"Seattle Times""Hefty, highly researched and eminently readable."--Simon Winchester, "The Globe and Mail""All non-scientists (and probably many specialized scientists, too) can learn a great deal from his lucid and amiable explanations."--"National Post""Bryson is a terrific stylist. You can' t help but enjoy his writing, for its cheer and buoyancy, and for the frequent demonstration of his peculiar, engaging turn of mind."--"Ottawa Citizen""Wonderfully readable. It is, in the best sense, learned."--"Winnipeg Free Press"Publisher Marketing: One of the world's most beloved writers and bestselling author of "One Summer" takes his ultimate journey--into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer. In "A Walk in the Woods," Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trail--well, most of it. In "A Sunburned Country," he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand--and, if possible, answer--the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world's most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. "A Short History of Nearly Everything "is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining. Review Citations: New York Times 01/09/2005 pg. 22 (EAN 9780767908184, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 200 (EAN 9780767908184, Paperback) - *Starred Review Wilson Public Library Catalog 12/31/2008 pg. 346 (EAN 9780767908184, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 250 (EAN 9780767908184, Paperback) Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2013 pg. 393 (EAN 9780767908184, Paperback) Kliatt 01/01/2004 pg. 53 (EAN 9780736693202, Compact Disc) Library Journal 12/01/2003 (EAN 9780736693202, Compact Disc) Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2003 pg. 72 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2003 pg. 517 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Publishers Weekly 04/07/2003 pg. 59 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Bookpage 05/01/2003 pg. 5 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Entertainment Weekly 05/09/2003 pg. 82 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Booklist 04/15/2003 pg. 1426 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) New York Times 05/18/2003 pg. 42 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) USA Today 05/22/2003 pg. 1 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Library Journal 05/15/2003 pg. 120 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) - *Starred Review New York Times 06/01/2003 pg. 25 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Discover 09/01/2003 pg. 78 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Men's Journal 12/01/2003 pg. 54 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Discover 01/01/2004 pg. 79 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Library Journal 03/01/2004 pg. 40 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2004 pg. 27 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2004 pg. 248 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 200 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Public Library Catalog 12/31/2008 pg. 346 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 250 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Wilson Public Library Catalog 01/01/2013 pg. 393 (EAN 9780767908177, Hardcover) Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2003 pg. 72 (EAN 9780739303108, Analog Audio Cassette) Library Journal 01/15/2003 (EAN 9780739303108, Analog Audio Cassette) Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2003 pg. 72 (EAN 9780739302941, Compact Disc) Kliatt 01/01/2004 pg. 54 (EAN 9780739302941, Compact Disc) Library Journal 01/15/2003 (EAN 9780739302941, Compact Disc) Library Journal Prepub Alert 01/01/2003 pg. 72 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) People Weekly 05/12/2003 pg. 49 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) Men's Journal 06/01/2003 pg. 36 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) Entertainment Weekly 12/12/2003 pg. 84 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) New York Times 12/07/2003 pg. 80 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) Library Journal 01/15/2003 (EAN 9780375432002, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Bryson, Bill Bill Bryson is the bestselling author of At Home, A Walk in the Woods, The Lost Continent, Made in America, The Mother Tongue, and A Short History of Nearly Everything, winner of the Aventis Prize. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Bryson lives in England with his wife and children.