Preview
  • A Short History of Nearly Everything

  • By: Bill Bryson
  • Narrated by: Bill Bryson
  • Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (539 ratings)

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A Short History of Nearly Everything

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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Publisher's summary

A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson’s quest to find out everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from there, being nothing at all, to here, being us. His challenge is to take subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us and see if there isn't some way to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science.

It's not so much about what we know, as about how we know what we know. How do we know what is in the centre of the Earth, or what a black hole is, or where the continents were 600 million years ago? How did anyone ever figure these things out?

On his travels through time and space, Bill Bryson takes us with him on the ultimate eye-opening journey and reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.

©2003 Bill Bryson (P)2003 Random House Audiobooks
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about A Short History of Nearly Everything

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

very good and informative

I was amazed by how little we know about the world around us.Excellent narration by the author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Inspiring look at out history

If you could sum up A Short History of Nearly Everything in three words, what would they be?

Who and what was discovered first.

Any additional comments?

Overall well researched and facinating story of our discoveries around the world. I didnt like the last chapter on evolution, I am a christian so I shouldnt like it anyway but Bill re-affired my dislike for it with all the contradictions and theories or should I say scientific assumption of evolution, why call it evolution when "guesswork in order to deny God's existance" is a more appropriate title, someone needs only go outside and look at the beautiful world to realise God's handy work. The rest of the book was facinating and excellently researched, fully recommend the first 75% of the book!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging read

absurd amount of knowledge. condensed without losing any of the interesing bits. communicating in an easy way to understand.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An amazing summary of it all.

He's really good at explaining everything in basic terms so everyone can understand and think about the world as we thought we knew it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book...

This should be required reading for all science lovers. The book gives a great overview of the major events in science. The narration was also superb.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Fun!

I love this stuff – if you are Discovery Channel / National Geographic / Big Bang Theory / History of the World / Science Buff like I am, you’ll love this book too.

Bryson’s writing makes it even more enjoyable because it’s far from dry-science. His narration is clear, clever, comprehensible and even a little comical at times… you don’t feel like you are rereading your High School text books over again!!!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great primer on the history of the world

Very interesting content. Primarily about how the universe, galaxies, earth was created and then moves onto some of the most important discoveries made about living things. The authors voice is a bit monotone and at times the content is packed with names of discoverers, academics, etc., which makes it a bit difficult to follow. All in all a good audiobook.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it, loved it, loved it.

The way he weaves together such diverse and complex topics in such interesting and amusing ways - it is a master class.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Simply brilliant

This is by far the most interesting and well performed science history book I have ever come upon. I've listened to it at least 10 times already, and will probably enjoy it another 10 times before I'm through.

This is unfortunately only kind of highlights of the full story, and if you crave the rest you will have to settle with a different narrator with a serious British accent.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mr. Bryson is a master storyteller.

Highly recommended for anyone who would like to understand difficult and often dry details of some of the worlds most profound scientific discoveries. he takes on the task with wit, insight and even humor . Truly a master of the written craft .

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