“A Short History of Nearly Everything” - Bill Bryson

This was an interesting read focusing on the formation of the universe, life on our planet, and many of the striking scientific discoveries that have expanded our understanding of the universe and our place in it. The scientific theories about the formation of our universe are explained by Bryson simply as possibilities which lead to much introspection about the position of humans in the grand scheme of things. When explaining that the odds of existing in a universe where numbers align to support life, Bryson cites a scientist’s analogy of a large department store: the larger the store, the more likely you’ll find an item that fits you. He also reminds us that we speak of a Big Bang that ultimately resulted in life, but we don’t know how many million failed attempts occurred prior to the singular success.

The time and space numbers that Bryson tosses about, boggle the mind. He notes that space curves so even if we were able to travel to the edges of the universe, we would wind up where we started. What?!?! In places where the numbers grow so cast as to be unimaginable, or so infinitesimally minute as to defy comprehension, Bryson gives us entertaining anecdotes about the politics, infighting, and occasionally, even colossal blunders of scientists.

I enjoyed the stroll through the major discoveries of the ancients. It’s stunning how their calculations of the circumference and weight of Earth were astoundingly accurate. Bryson rejoices in recounting tales of the eccentrics who pushed the boundaries of human understanding of our planet and universe. Bryson walks the reader through the mysteries of the universe while elucidating discoveries made by whimsical scientists so that we may marvel at their unifying quest for knowledge even with the most rudimentary technology at their disposal. The story of the discovery of the first dinosaur bone was both thought provoking and hilarious. We take the existence of dinosaurs for granted, but what must have those first people to encounter the massive skeletons have thought?

In addition to the luminaries such as Galileo and Copernicus, Bryson also shares with us his research about lesser known scientists. Fast forward from the ancients, and Bryson takes his time on the efforts of Patterson to remove lead from gasoline and the environment; talk about a hugely important task that saw Patterson fending off all the powers that be in the form of governments, bureaucracy, and lobbyists. He was as courageous as those early scientists convinced that the Earth orbited the sun.

I should warn potential readers that chapter 13 is fatalistic and anxiety-provoking. Between armageddon from the possibility of life-altering meteors at literally any moment, catastrophic volcanic explosions the size of the entire Yellowstone Park (it’s one gigantic volcano FYI), and pandemic scenarios (this last hit all too close to home in this post-Covid era), I guess it’s good to be prepared? I’d avoid reading about the microscopic world of mites before traveling or bedtime.

If you enjoyed this book, give Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens” a read.