Books A Short History of Nearly Everything: The bestselling popular science book of the 21st Century by Bill Bryson (Author)

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is an engaging and accessible popular science book that explores the history of the universe, Earth, life, and human knowledge, from the Big Bang to the present day.​

Bryson sets out to explain how our world and everything in it came to be, taking readers through scientific disciplines such as astronomy, geology, chemistry, and biology. He covers topics like the birth of the cosmos, formation of the Earth, evolution of life, mass extinctions, and the development of humanity. The book is known for demystifying complex concepts—such as atomic theory, plate tectonics, and quantum mechanics—making them approachable for general readers.​

A major theme is the improbability and fragility of existence: Bryson emphasizes that life, and particularly human life, is only possible due to a remarkable and highly contingent series of cosmic and planetary events. He injects humor and humanity by sharing anecdotal stories about eccentric scientists who made key discoveries, highlighting their quirks and the tangled process of scientific progress.