A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson

My favourite quotes from the book A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson:

Once in a great while, and few times in history, a human mind produces observation so acute and so unexpected that people can’t quite decide which is more amazing, the fact or the thinking of it.

Scientists dealt with this paradox in the handiest possible way – they ignored it.

Sometimes world just isn’t ready for a good idea.

The good news appears is that it takes an awful lot to extinguish species. The bad news is good news can never be counted on.

Three stages in scientific discovery: 1: people deny that it’s true. 2: then they deny that it’s important. 3: finally they credit the wrong person.

It’s an unnerving thought that we may be the living universe’s supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.