# Wanted: Books which (attempt to) explain EVERYTHING. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995 "2012-04-06T12:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/21 "2012-04-06T16:35:55Z")
for some technology, Connections by James Burke based on the tv series is good. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/22 "2012-04-06T16:37:33Z")
Most of what I came here to suggest has been covered, but you might have a little bit of interest in _A Renegade History of the United States_ by Thaddeus Russell. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/23 "2012-04-06T17:32:42Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Bill Bryson’s [A Short History of Nearly Everything](http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything-ebook/dp/B000FBFNII/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1333718359&sr=8-12) is one of these. > > I’ve heard criticism about its accuracy, but I can tell you it’s a good read. > [@Ken001](#): > > Snap! My thought too. > > And its pretty accurate coming from a layman writer. I couldn’t fault it at all. I also enjoyed it. And [Ke$ha](http://m.people.com/newsitem.rbml?item=20339437&feed=2%5Burl%3DdlUrl%5D&dlUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.people.com%2Fpeople%2Fmediarss%2Fmobile%2Farticle%2F0%252C%252C20339437%252C00.xml) agrees with us. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/24 "2012-04-06T19:26:28Z")
Critical Path, by Buckminster Fuller. Trust me, you’ll love it. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/25 "2012-04-07T03:53:05Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Ah, yes, but see what _really_ gets my juices flowing is when the book has, at its center, some kind of grand theory which, in the author’s eyes, explains how _all the different parts fit together_. You have got to read _Orthodoxy_, by G. K. Chesterton. It has the advantage of being [available online for free](http://www.fullbooks.com/Orthodoxy-by-G-K-Chesterton1.html), being one of the most amusing books ever written, and short enough that you could probably finish it in an hour or two or three. ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/26 "2012-04-07T04:03:51Z")
_The Ascent of Man_ - also made into a BBC series. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Ascent\_of\_Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Man) ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/27 "2012-04-07T04:08:03Z")
_The Road to Reality_ by Roger Penrose is an attempt to explain how the real world works for a non-technical audience; that being said, you’ll likely want a Web browser or at least a few other reference works to expand upon various ideas that are new for you. ---
**Author:** ![ScaryJane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@ScaryJane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScaryJane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/28 "2012-04-07T04:40:13Z")
If you live in the US, you might enjoy _Albion’s Seed_ by David Hackett Fischer. It is about the cultural history of the US and describes architecture, religion, vocabulary, food, social structure and more. His premise is that four early distinct migrations of people from Britain have left lasting influences on regional American culture. It is a big fat book with lots of illustrations and citations. [http://www.amazon.com/Albions-Seed-British-Folkways-Cultural/dp/0195069056/ref=sr\_1\_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333772830&sr=1-1](http://www.amazon.com/Albions-Seed-British-Folkways-Cultural/dp/0195069056/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333772830&sr=1-1) ---
**Author:** ![Lusus\_Naturae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Lusus\_Naturae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lusus_Naturae)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/29 "2012-04-14T12:05:26Z")
I can’t belive\* Cosmos\* by Carl Sagan has not been mentioned. In my opinion, the best exploration of how humans are involved with everything and vice versa. Get the book (hardcover if possible) and the DVDs as well, because some things covered in one are not covered in the other. I always feel kinda bad-but-good for my hardcover, because it has these HUGE margins that I unabashedly take notes in. I’ve underlined vast passages in that book. It’s a bit tatty now. But why? Because Carl Sagan would WANT you to return to certain passages, reflect on them again. RECONSIDER why you thought that was important at a given time, and reflect again and again. Plus it’s a damn good book. I always find some new idea each time I read it. Highly recommend, would buy again, A+++++, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/30 "2012-04-14T16:10:05Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I’ve heard criticism about its accuracy, but I can tell you it’s a good read. I disagree. It’s an excellent, well-written, entertaining and amusing read. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/31 "2012-04-14T17:47:53Z")
James Burke did video’s called Connections. I’m sure ther’s book versions… It’s a lot of things but not _eveything._ 😉 [http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=connections+james+burke&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3280760191&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8078651351643083244&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd\_sl\_296d70nnm8\_b](http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=connections+james+burke&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3280760191&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8078651351643083244&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_296d70nnm8_b) - ok second’ed then - ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/32 "2012-04-14T19:27:53Z")
Sagan’s _Cosmos_ is an excellent suggestion. I’d also recommend _The Varieties of Religious Experience_ by William James. [http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/james/toc.htm](http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/james/toc.htm) ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/33 "2012-04-14T21:09:47Z")
_[Please Explain](http://www.amazon.com/Please-Explain-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0440968046)_ by Isaac Asimov. Asimov on…well…just about everything. And he writes in lay terms. Seems to be out of print, but plenty of used copies still available. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/34 "2012-04-14T22:18:42Z")
> [@Lusus\_Naturae](#): > > I can’t belive\* Cosmos\* by Carl Sagan has not been mentioned. In my opinion, the best exploration of how humans are involved with everything and vice versa. Get the book (hardcover if possible) and the DVDs as well, because some things covered in one are not covered in the other. > > I always feel kinda bad-but-good for my hardcover, because it has these HUGE margins that I unabashedly take notes in. I’ve underlined vast passages in that book. It’s a bit tatty now. > > But why? Because Carl Sagan would WANT you to return to certain passages, reflect on them again. RECONSIDER why you thought that was important at a given time, and reflect again and again. > > Plus it’s a damn good book. I always find some new idea each time I read it. Highly recommend, would buy again, A+++++, etc. My original **Cosmos** suffered water damage during a rogue Nor’easter that blew through when we were out of town. The book smells of mildew, but its content still smells of awe. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/35 "2012-04-15T01:26:12Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I came in expecting someone to have recommended _Guns, Germs, and Steel._ I haven’t read it yet, but from reading _about_ it seems like it might be up your alley. Having read it, I’d describe it as an attempt to explain why human history has taken the course it has (i.e. Why Spanish conquistadors in the Americas rather than Australian “conquistadors” in China?). I found it to be a really good read. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/36 "2012-04-15T13:44:57Z")
I haven’t actually read it, but I recall that _God’s Debris_ by Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams was him trying to define God and the universe in a serious/comical way. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995/37 "2012-04-15T15:25:54Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > I haven’t actually read it, but I recall that _God’s Debris_ by Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams was him trying to define God and the universe in a serious/comical way. Based on what I’ve seen of his serious works, I’d say that Scott Adams is a brilliant cartoonist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-books-which-attempt-to-explain-everything/617995.md?page=1)