10.19.2004
Review: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson uses A Short History of Nearly Everything to wryly remind us that we are lucky.
His spirited review of everything we know about the universe tells of oft-ignored original discoveries by scientists ridiculed in their day, naturalists who delight in killing nature and the lengths gardeners will go to keep the International Association for Plant Taxonomy away from their beloved Chrysanthemum.
For those who think the cup is half-empty, there are chilling looks at the supervalcano that is Yellowstone National Park, the wonders of global warming, the destructive practices of commerical fishing and the use of 55-gallon drums to dump nuclear waste at sea.
But Bryson makes most interesting the concepts that can't be fathomed.
From the vast distances between our solar system and the next, to the number of bacterial cells on and in the human body (100 quadrillion bacteria cells vs. 10 quadrillion "human" cells in your body), this is an enjoyable look at the awe-inspiring gift life is.
His spirited review of everything we know about the universe tells of oft-ignored original discoveries by scientists ridiculed in their day, naturalists who delight in killing nature and the lengths gardeners will go to keep the International Association for Plant Taxonomy away from their beloved Chrysanthemum.
For those who think the cup is half-empty, there are chilling looks at the supervalcano that is Yellowstone National Park, the wonders of global warming, the destructive practices of commerical fishing and the use of 55-gallon drums to dump nuclear waste at sea.
But Bryson makes most interesting the concepts that can't be fathomed.
From the vast distances between our solar system and the next, to the number of bacterial cells on and in the human body (100 quadrillion bacteria cells vs. 10 quadrillion "human" cells in your body), this is an enjoyable look at the awe-inspiring gift life is.
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