A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a fantastic romp through the complete history of all branches of science. Bill Bryson writes with the clear ease of a master in his field and has been acclaimed by authors and the scientific community. It is no small feat to summarize the universe and all the discoveries of mankind from astronomy to biophysics. Far from being dull, Bryson includes colorful characters and larger than life personalities from history to add both great enjoyment to the reader as well as giving perspective to the times in which they lived. This book seeks to answer all the great questions of the universe from the smallest quark to the beginnings of the universe itself. Whether you are a scientist or just fascinated by the world around you, this book has something to offer. I've read it multiple times now and also own the book on tape; I highly recommend it.