A book rec!
OK! *dips toe in water*
Here's a rec for a nonfiction book. I did squee about this a couple of weeks ago on my LJ, but now that I've finished it, I can't help but squee about it once more.
Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Author: Bill Bryson
Genre: Non-fiction, Science
Approximate length: 475 pages
Rating: 10
Summary: A non-scientific overview of all the sciences, their history, as well as all the wacky characters that created them, and how they all fit together. A overall view of the sciences for the non-scientist.
Assessment: This book continuously cracked me up, plus I learned tons from it. It briefly covers absolutely everything: astronomy, geology, paleontology, chemistry, physics, etc., etc., in a wonderfully entertaining way - no math required whatsoever.
I've read Bryson before as a travel writer, but this book is just awesome. It had me at the intro, which I'll put behind a cut.
I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know. In fact, I suspect that it was a little tougher than you realize.
To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It's arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of deft, cooperative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience the supremely agreeable yet generally underappreciated state known as existence."
*adores*
Here's a rec for a nonfiction book. I did squee about this a couple of weeks ago on my LJ, but now that I've finished it, I can't help but squee about it once more.
Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Author: Bill Bryson
Genre: Non-fiction, Science
Approximate length: 475 pages
Rating: 10
Summary: A non-scientific overview of all the sciences, their history, as well as all the wacky characters that created them, and how they all fit together. A overall view of the sciences for the non-scientist.
Assessment: This book continuously cracked me up, plus I learned tons from it. It briefly covers absolutely everything: astronomy, geology, paleontology, chemistry, physics, etc., etc., in a wonderfully entertaining way - no math required whatsoever.
I've read Bryson before as a travel writer, but this book is just awesome. It had me at the intro, which I'll put behind a cut.
I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know. In fact, I suspect that it was a little tougher than you realize.
To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and intriguingly obliging manner to create you. It's arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of deft, cooperative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience the supremely agreeable yet generally underappreciated state known as existence."
*adores*