Nature and science writer Bill Bryson examines some of mysteries of science, and attempts to understand not only what scientists know, but how they know it. Covers the creation of the universe, the size of the Earth, the origins of life, and other topics.

This is the story of all of us. The unauthorised biography of you (abridged). Charting your incredible journey from Big Bang to birth (in about the time it takes to eat your breakfast), this is a book created to raise more questions that it answers.

"It has taken billions of years for Earth to become the planet it is today. When Planet Earth Was New looks back to the very beginning, using a poetic approach grounded in scientific fact to give an overview of how the planet has changed over time: from hot lava to the formation of oceans to the evolution of living things in water and on land. The book also includes the relatively recent evolution of humans - who are just a tiny speck in the sweep...

"With decades of scientific knowledge behind him and a ... sense of fun in his approach, Jan Paul Schutten rewards curiosity with ... explanations about some of the most complicated scientific issues that exist, and tells readers that there is much left to discover. For example: Why does the paramecium deserve a standing ovation? How do you build a planet? Does a tree want to be tall? How does a bacterium turn into a blue whale?"--