On My Radar (Thursday Edition)

If you have read this blog more than once you have probably seen me mention Bill Bryson. He is practically one of the patron saints of my ramblings here--not that he'd be proud of that distinction. I feel it is my civic duty to point out every literary move he makes, however small.

New from HarperPress is SEEING FURTHER: The Story of Science and the Royal Society, edited by Mr. Bryson. From the book website:

In Seeing Further, New York Times bestseller Bill Bryson takes readers on a guided tour through the great discoveries, feuds, and personalities of modern science. Already a major bestseller in the UK, Seeing Further tells the fascinating story of science and the Royal Society with Bill Bryson’s trademark wit and intelligence, and contributions from a host of well known scientists and science fiction writers, including Richard Dawkins, Neal Stephenson, James Gleick, and Margret Atwood. It is a delightful literary treat from the acclaimed author who previous explored the current state of scientific knowledge in his phenomenally popular book, A Short History of Nearly Everything.

I tell people Bill Bryson is like the professor you wish you had. In the aforementioned A Short History of Nearly Everything, the reading is so fun and skillful that you have no idea how much you've just learned. If college professors were like this, all the fun in our universities wouldn't be outside of class. For this reason, I trust Bill Bryson and his editorial decisions.

The Royal Society website

-30-