A Short History of Nearly Everything

Usually I read deep/narrow science books, superb on their fields, but closed to unexperienced readers and very strict on their subjects. For example, Computer Science books might cite literary works and use analogies relating to other areas of knowledge, but must keep on track and so can't really be a springboard to other disciplines.

That is why I overjoy with well written "wide" science books - they have the potential to motivate the reader to many subjects. If there is a broad book you can read, that book is Bill Bryson's "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" (ASHONE).
ASHONE is a honest title: the book really tries to cast light on nearly everything, but because the light must spread across so much, it doesn't strongly enlight the reader on any particular thing. And that is NOT a bad thing - that was exactly what I was looking for.

Bryson is not a scientist and is purpose is just to report, in the most accessible way, his findings to questions that he had on his mind, since he was a very young boy. What would happen if you reached the end of the Universe and tried to step further? How do we know the solar system ends in a cloud of debris (the Oort cloud)? How come we are C (Carbon-6) based life, when the "big bang" produced just the lighest elements, like H (Hidrogen-1) and He (Helium-2)? Or why is the sea's water salty?...

The book is neatly organized from void and the Universe's birth to NOW and YOU. The author researched hundreds of sources in order to compile a 500 pages "bible", that reads like a novel.
People with some scientific background will find the book "light" but, nevertheless, it should manage to motivate them to research further.
Other people will just love this concise presentation of... everything.

The "might be" a problem thing is, of course, the effort to cover it all and still make it readable to everyone. In order to try to achieve his goal, the author doesn't hesitate in presenting the greatest scientists like (kind of) personages, sometimes sad, sometimes pleased/intrigued with their progresses, with temper, calm, with or without rivalry, etc...
Since most readers will never know any of the "featured" scientists, it might emerge some doubtful attitude, that questions such contexts.

This is a good book that is very much worth reading. Just be open-minded and aware that Bryson is trying to embrace it all, never going deep.

You can buy this and/or related products here.

for european costumers:

title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
price: £7.19
url: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0552997048/arturmarques
ASIN: 0552997048
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for american costumers:

title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
price: $15.60 (USD)
url: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0767908171/arturmarquesc-20
ASIN: 0767908171
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