Reddit reviews A Really Short History of Nearly Everything

I've read in here that we are wearing about 2 kg of dead skin with us. IIRC all skin is dead, at least the outside tissue. So you wouldn't be that happy without your skin.

He is was one the funniest story tellers there is. His book A Short History of Nearly Everything sparked my deep fascination with science in my teenage years. I highly recommend the book to anyone who has the slightest interest in how the Big Bang, Galaxies, Evolution, Cells, etc work. He point of view is that of a layman just trying to figure out simple questions like "How did the scientists find out how old the earth is?"

tl;dr, everyone should read A Short History of Nearly Everything

Are you reading them the kids version of this book titled "A Really Short History of Nearly Everything" (no joke)

There's a kid-friendly version of the Bill Bryson book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385738102?pc_redir=1407091727&robot_redir=1

Bill Bryson wrote a shorter version of his book that is aimed at kids. I did not read it, but I read his other work and it is fantastic, and the amazon reviews are very positive.
[A Really Short History of Nearly Everything](http://www.amazon.com/Really-Short-History-Nearly Everything/dp/0385738102/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1290524524&sr=1-1)

I would also recommend a simple children's encyclopedia like:

DK's First Encyclopedia

Scholastic Children's Encyclopedia

Although what I recommend is you get a nice little experiments book, and do experiments with him, that is simply the best and the most fun way to get a kid hooked on science. I suggest a chem kit, and you help him out and do experiments with him. Examples:

The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science

Theo Gray's Mad Science(WARNING:SERIOUSLY dangerous but really cool)

You can also look at this website and do experiments with him. I highly recommend this:

The Naked Scientists Kitchen Science

"They [atoms] are also fantastically durable. Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms – up to a billion for each us, it has been suggested – probably once belonged to Shakespeare."

-Bill Bryson, a Short History of Nearly Everything

Essentially, within a few hundred years, billions of your grandfather's atoms will be a part of every living organism on this planet.

All of these ideas, but also making sure to focus on all of it, not just evolution. I'm trying "A Really Short History of Nearly Everything" with my 6 year old. I also try not to make too big of a deal about it. Just reading some of it on and off.

I had lots of dino, anatomy, field guides, nature encylopedia etc. for my two older kids, they are now 19 and 21. It had a positive effect, my son is very science oriented.

Don't forget to take your kids outside for firsthand experience. If they can see the world around them and avoid religious threats and promises they will figure it out for themselves and take an interest later.

I love getting science books for my religious niece and nephew for Xmas. I do it every year and love their annual look of frustration when they see I spent money on something they never plan to read. I'm ever hopeful though as they are approaching that rebellious age where kids question everything.

I think the best book is probably Richard Dawkins Magic of Reality but I'm sure the author's name alone will turn off a longtime religious person. One of my other favorites is a Short History of Almost Everything by Bill Bryson. It is very approachable as he is not a scientist but the book is not as rigorous as Dawkins. Both books are written for a pre-teen reading level for maximum readability.

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything – by Bill Bryson

Here's another sciency one for kids I'd recommend: http://www.amazon.com/Really-Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/0385738102

A Short History of Nearly Everything.