A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Extremely interesting reading. I enjoy Bill Bryson because he writes very well and with a lot of wit. This one is not nearly as humorous as his other books and in fact seems to be full of more than a little doom and gloom. Still there is much to be learned here.

My only criticism is that the book focuses entirely on the discoveries of western culture. Many of the historical discoveries described here were actually made first in the East and Middle East, but no mention are made of them here.

Still, it really puts the fragile place we hold in the universe in perspective.