Author Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveler, but even when he's safely at home, he can't stop his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything is an adventure to understand everything that has come before, from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization; how we were before, and how we got to where we are now. It's an enlightening journey of discovery, one that transcends time and space, so that the picture is more complete than ever before. "This is a wonderful educational resource, and all schools would be better places if this were the main science textbook on the curriculum." Tim Flannery, The Times Literary Supplement, Obeikan Publishing