Cover of A short history of nearly everything

Book · 2003 · Science

A short history of nearly everything

2.0

by Bill Bryson · Brought up by 7 people on 6 podcasts

A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson has been mentioned in 12 episodes across 6 podcasts (5 episodes recommend it and 7 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Bill Burr (4 episodes), Lex Fridman (2 episodes) and Aman Khan (1 episode) on Monday Morning Podcast (4 episodes), How I Write (2 episodes) and Lex Fridman Podcast (2 episodes).

episodes
12
podcasts
6
people
7
episodes recommend it
5

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If this book has a lesson is that we're awfully lucky to be here and by we I mean every living thing to obtain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement.
Lex Fridman · Lex Fridman Podcast · Jun 2020 Listen at 1:01:40

Questions about A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson

Who recommends A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson on podcasts?

Bill Burr (2 episodes), Lex Fridman (1 episode), Aman Khan (1 episode) and Duncan Trussell (1 episode) have recommended A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson on podcasts. In all, 7 people brought it up across 6 podcasts (4 people recommended it).

Which podcasts mention A short history of nearly everything the most?

Monday Morning Podcast (4 episodes), How I Write (2 episodes), Lex Fridman Podcast (2 episodes), The Book Review (2 episodes) and Lenny's Podcast (1 episode), among 6 podcasts in all.

Is A short history of nearly everything recommended, or only discussed?

A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson was recommended in 5 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 7 episodes, as of 2026-07-16.

What do people say about A short history of nearly everything?

Lex Fridman on Lex Fridman Podcast (2020-06-30): "If this book has a lesson is that we're awfully lucky to be here and by we I mean every living thing to obtain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement."

When was A short history of nearly everything last mentioned on a podcast?

A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson was last discussed on Monday Morning Podcast by Bill Burr on 2026-07-16.

What they say about it

Grouped from 12 episodes
  • Reading it currently“I'm reading this book right now”
    3
  • Read and loved it
    2

The best things said about it

3 of 13 · every mention
Recommended
That book to me is so is so interesting because I'm a bit of a nerd around like science.
Aman Khan Lenny's Podcast · Nov 2024
Discussed
I read that book a few years ago and loved it.
Bill Burr Monday Morning Podcast · May 2026
Recommended
You got to read this book.
Duncan Trussell The Joe Rogan Experience · Feb 2016

Where and when it comes up

Mentions by year

12017020180201912020020210202222023220240202542026so far

Podcast episodes that discussed A short history of nearly everything, by year. One episode counts once, however often the book came up.

How it comes up

Recommended means the speaker tells listeners to read it.

Episodes, each counted once, by the strongest way it came up.

Most episodes, by podcast

6 shows

7 people who brought it up

Most recommendations first

Why people recommend it

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson is a sweeping and accessible exploration of scientific discovery, tracing humanity's efforts to understand the universe from cosmology to natural history. Bill Burr repeatedly recommended and discussed the book on his Monday Morning Podcast, praising how it translates complex science topics into engaging, highly readable narratives that anyone can grasp. Aman Khan recommended the work on Lenny's Podcast, sharing his enthusiasm for its entertaining chronicle of scientific history and the eccentric researchers behind major breakthroughs. Lex Fridman concluded an episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast by quoting passages from the book to reinforce themes of human evolution and cosmic scale. Duncan Trussell also recommended the text on The Joe Rogan Experience while exploring concepts of physics and gravity. Additionally, listener mail read on Bill Burr's podcast sparked further discussions about how deeply entertaining and informative the book remains years after its publication. The speakers collectively highlighted the title as an exceptional entry point for science enthusiasts and casual readers curious about the vast history of the natural world.

Every mention

13 quotes from 12 episodes · 2 passing or ad reads below
Bill Burr Um I'm reading this book called uh A Short History of Nearly Everything. 4
Discussed
“I'm reading this book right now. I mentioned before, Bill Bryson, a short history of nearly everything.”
Discussed
“I've been reading my science book written by that Billy guy, A Brief History of of practically everything.”
Discussed
“Last week, you talked about reading a short history of nearly everything. That's what I'm reading. Yeah. I read that book a few years ago and loved it.”
Recommended
“I do have to suggest a book that I've been reading. Oh my god. Oh my god. You want to talk about me being out off of like getting a little too, you know, look at the big brain on Brad here. [ __ ] I've been reading this book came out uh about 20 years ago. It says Bill”
Recommended
“Um I'm reading this book called uh A Short History of Nearly Everything.”
Lex Fridman And now let me leave you some words from Bill Bryson in his book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything." 2
Recommended
“And now let me leave you some words from Bill Bryson in his book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything."”
Discussed
“and now let me leave you some words for Bill Bryson in his book a short history of nearly everything if this book has a lesson is that we're awfully lucky to be here and by we I mean every living thing to obtain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement as”
Aman Khan I really love uh Short history of nearly everything by Bill brys I don't know if that's a you know that tha… 1
Recommended
“I really love uh Short history of nearly everything by Bill brys I don't know if that's a you know that that book to me is so is so interesting because I'm a bit of a nerd around like science”
Duncan Trussell you got to read this book Bill Bryson a brief history of nearly everything 1
Recommended
“you got to read this book Bill Bryson a brief history of nearly everything”
David Perell You talk to people who like Bill Bryson, Bill Bryson wrote A Short History of Nearly Everything, 1927, The… 2
Discussed
“You talk to people who like Bill Bryson, Bill Bryson wrote A Short History of Nearly Everything, 1927, The Body.”
Discussed
“He has what a short history of nearly everything. Yes. We're just talking about the history of the universe.”
Bill Bryson oh I've thought about I mean because it's a short history of nearly everything I don't want to discourage a… 1
Discussed
“oh I've thought about I mean because it's a short history of nearly everything I don't want to discourage anyone from going out and buying it”
Pamela Paul I subsequently read 1
Discussed
“I subsequently read ”
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“And now let me leave you some words from Bill Bryson, in his book, "A Short History of Nearly Everything".”
Passing
“I hate to always talk about it but a brief history nearly everything he describes it as like and this could be wrong I don't know but what we know about the ocean”

Portraits from Wikimedia Commons: Lex Fridman, lexfridman / Wikimedia Commons (CC0); Bill Burr, Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Duncan Trussell, Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).