Bill Bryson has long been of great interest to the scientific thing; it is enough to be convinced to consider his trip to Shark Bay on the west coast of Australia, in that it relates "Our downstairs neighbors," just to see active stromatolites ... these biogenic and marine structures Organic currently insignificant but which are at the origin of the current composition of our atmosphere, there are a few billion years. It is, moreover, an author whose clarity of style and humor make it an outstanding popularizer. This book reads with unparalleled ease; it deserves prices that have honored. So I highly recommend despite the reservations I make on the quality of editing as explained below.
The author presents an anecdotal history of science centered mainly on its progress between the 18th and 20th centuries. No hope of finding a clear and intuitive presentation of quantum mechanics and general relativity (besides such presentations they exist?) And its references are mostly English language compilations (the most abundant and best it must be admitted) or discussions with scientists from the Anglo-American world. The consequences of this situation are manifold. All scientific advances of the Chinese, Greek, Arab (especially mathematicians, astronomers and physicians) etc are ignored; shame because there is yet much to say about it. Because of the origin of sources, the risk of perpetuating errors and legends is great ... it is likely that the specialists of this or that question find errors or approximations in their specialty and the legend of the alleged destruction plans of Satur V rocket is there Finally there is in this book an undeniable prevalence given to Anglo-American scientists is certainly not intended by the author but which obviously comes from its sources. For example, the discovery of the remains "Lucy", attributed by Bill Bryson to a team led by Donald Johanson, is in France, generally attributed to Noel Coppens ... in fact the two men were part of the same team they codirigeaient with a geologist (the discoverer of the site) and including Ethiopians researchers (nobody talks unless Ethiopia certainly ;-) ... plus it seems that the first remains of Lucy were discovered by Tom Gray, a student As Johanson lécrit Bryson, there is much disgust in the middle of anthropologists; jajouterai not only Finally, a book centered mainly on the origin of our universe and life, the author (US) economy is expose us pseudo-scientific theses of American creationists. We must salute this courage because this option had cost him some very negative assessments contained on the amazon.com site. I think reading this book provides, moreover, a real desire to know more den or by drawing labondante bibliography in which it is provided by consulting multiple sources informaTION available on the web. This is therefore a high quality that it is welcome.
Translation is very acceptable, although not free from minor errors; the translator has also cleverly integrated the notes, which are in English editing rejected end of the volume, either in the text or in the bottom. This excellent work is ruined by the editor who deleted in editing French lindex present in original editing. It's really a shame and this why? to save a few pages? because the French readers do not deserve this facility that allows easy retrieval from the book? I do not understand the authors and foreign publishers tolerate lon and degrades their work when they authorize a translation.