A Short History of Nearly Everything author: Bill Bryson rating: asin: 076790818X binding: Paperback list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $16.19 USD

Bill Bryson, a popular travel writer, in this book turns his attention to the history of how we (Homo Sapiens) and our planet came to be.

It is not, as you might suspect, a hard core science book. Rather it is a breezy layman's summary of what we know about Earth and our place on it. Those of us who regularly consume publications like New Scientist or Science magazine, or who have read more in depth popular science books may find the book too light, and a review of what they already know well.

However for those who want to know more about science and how we came to know what we think we do, the book is an excellent and light-hearted read. It would make a great introductory tome for young adults wanting to get a taste of science. It also does an excellent job of conveying the wonder and majesty of the universe - the vastness of space, the depth of the oceans, and so on. Perhaps most importantly, it stresses what we don't yetknow and understand, which is a great deal.

Even for the well-versed science reader, the book is chock full of interesting anecdotes and background stories of the big and little players in the quest for knowledge. In short, the book warrants its national bestseller status and would make a good gift for anyone wanting to introduce another reader to science.