A Short History Of Nearly Everything (TOW #15)

     To categorize and chronicle the entire history of the universe is quite a daunting task. However, there are few people better suited to take on such an endeavor as Bill Bryson. Bryson is an author known for his nonfiction works and who ranks among some of the best nonfiction writers of all time. He served as the chancellor of Durham University between the years of 2005 and 2011, and his publication of A Short History Of Nearly Everything won him the Aventis Award from the Royal Academy Of Science for the best Science book of the year. This award is held by others including Jared Diamond and Stephen Hawking.
     The most intimidating aspect of a 500 page about science is not a lack of content. The issue is an excess of boredom. It is incredibly difficult to create a book describing complex scientific concepts that is both easy easy and inciting to read. Bryson's best weapon in this case is the anecdote. Rather then explain concepts and list facts Bryson weaves a story, creating context to discoveries, personifying discoveries, and characterizing key figures of the history of science. This is best shown in his description of researches and introductions to new key figures, which, although some may argue are unneeded, i believe that they aid in making the book more story like, approachable and personal. These contexts aren't just scientific aspects of the researchers lives, they include things from their spouses to how they take their coffee. Bryson again makes the book more personal by relating everything back to you. He takes macroscopic ideas and shows them in the microscopic, and in the end, brings everything back to the reader. No part of the book was more interesting, although self apparent, than when Bryson so sagely observed that "It is a slightly arresting notion that if you were to pick yourself apart with tweezers, one atom at a time, you would produce a mound of fine atomic dust, none of which had ever been alive but all of which had once been you."
     To me this book has been a compelling read throughout. I am most passionate about science when it comes to education. However, Bryson himself is quite the opposite, a self admittedly bad science student Bryson writes this  book for people like him. And in doing so helps to abolish the stigma that you are either science minded or you are not.