A Short History of Nearly Everything

摘要

This book is without question the best layman's guide to modern science that I have ever read. Though written by one outside the golden circle of professional scientists, it bears comparison with, for example, Sir James jeans' presentation of the amazing advances in physics in the first quarter of the 20th century in his The New Background of Science, or more recently Stephen Hawkins' A Brief History of Time, both of which won accolades for presenting complex science to the educated reader in clear and comprehensible language. Both these authors were acknowledged experts in their fields at the time of writing, whilst Bryson is an author best known as a travel writer. However, a skim through the 74 pages of notes and bibliography will confirm that he is no mean scholar. Although his sources are mainly derivative or explanatory works, they are all highly reputable, and it would be impossible to criticize him for the breadth of his study. He has consulted more authors than many a doctoral thesis, and has personally spoken with many current experts in the various field of science. Yet he covers almost everything with a light touch, without attempting to persuade the reader to accept a specific point of view, in contrast to other highly regarded commentators such as Richard Dawkins, or Stephen Jay Gould. He repeatedly lays out the alternatives with an almost wry sense that any gathering of half-a-dozen experts may produce at least six alternative views on the subject in question.