It is only the brevity of lifetimes that keeps us from appreciating the changes - Bill Bryson

• Protons are an infinitesimal part of an atom. They are so micro- scopic that about 500,000,000,000 of them could fit in a dot of ink.
• Most of the universe was created in a single, 3-minute moment.
• A universe is created when a proton shrinks down to one bil- lionth of its normal size into a space so small that the proton looks enormous by comparison. This compact space is then packed with every last mote and particle of matter. This is how a universe.
• The odds of a planet supporting life are so low that our presence on earth comes close to a miracle.
• There’s a lot that could go wrong for our planet, which makes every new day a gift.
• Look at the globe and what you are seeing is really a snapshot of the continents as they have been for just one-tenth of 1 percent of the Earth’s history.
• From the bottom of the deepest ocean trench to the top of the highest mountain, the zone that covers nearly the whole of known life, is only something over a dozen miles–not much when set against the roominess of the cosmos at large.

• Earth would have been uninhabitable if it had been just 1 percent farther or 5 percent closer to the sun. Think about Venus (sun’s warmth reaches it two minutes before us)
• We are so used to the notion of our own inevitability as life’s dominant species that it is hard to grasp that we are only here because of time extraterrestrial bangs and other random flukes.
• The one thing we have in common with all other living things is that for nearly four billion years our ancestors have managed to slip through a series of closing doors every time we needed them to.
• Observed that there are three stages in scientific discovery: first, people deny that it is true; then they deny that it is important; finally they credit the wrong person
• Modern human is still 98.4% genetically indistinguishable from the modern chimpanzee. More difference between zebra and horse.

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            “If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here–and by ‘we’ I mean every living thing. To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement. As humans we are doubly lucky, of course: We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also a singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp.”
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Reasons to read it:

• The book takes complex scientific concepts and presents them in an engaging and accessible manner, making it an enjoyable journey through the history of science.
• It covers a wide range of topics, from the universe's origins to the evolution of life on Earth, offering a comprehensive overview of scientific knowledge.
• Bill Bryson's storytelling approach weaves together history, anecdotes, and scientific discoveries, making the subject matter relatable and easy to understand.
• If you're curious about the world around you and have a desire to learn more about the universe, this book is an excellent source of knowledge and inspiration.
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Reasons to skip it:

• The book covers a lot of ground, but if you're looking for in-depth exploration of specific scientific topics, you might find it lacking in detailed analysis.
• While the book simplifies complex ideas, some readers seeking deeper scientific understanding might prefer more technically rigorous texts.