Latest news with #AShortHistoryofNearlyEverything
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Beyond the classroom: 5 books that make general knowledge fun for students
Sometimes, studying feels like a task you just want to get over with—pages of notes, long chapters, and facts that are hard to remember. But learning new things doesn't always have to be boring or stressful. In fact, it can be fun, exciting, and even addictive if you're reading the right kind of book. Some books are so well-written and interesting that you don't even realise how much you're learning while reading them. They spark your curiosity, make you think, and fill your mind with fascinating facts without making it feel like school. If you're looking to boost your general knowledge in a fun, easygoing way, here are five books that can help you do just that. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson This is a book for the curious. Bill Bryson takes complex scientific topics—like how the Earth formed, what atoms are, and how humans evolved—and explains them in a simple, often funny way. Even if you're not a science lover, you'll be drawn in by his storytelling. You'll learn about the universe, the Earth, and life itself, all while being entertained by quirky facts and interesting people from science history. Factfulness by Hans Rosling If you think the world is getting worse every day, this book might surprise you. Hans Rosling explains how the world has actually improved in many ways—less poverty, better health, more education—and why most people don't realise it. With simple language, clear charts, and real-world stories, Factfulness helps you see the bigger picture and understand global trends better. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo It also teaches you how to think more clearly and avoid common misconceptions. The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay This book is perfect for students who are always asking, 'How does that work?' From airplanes and computers to zippers and refrigerators, this book explains the mechanics behind everyday objects. What makes it really special are the detailed drawings and clear explanations. Even complicated machines become easy to understand. Whether you're into engineering or just curious about the world, this book will open your eyes to the hidden science around you. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari This book takes you on an incredible journey through the history of our species, from the earliest humans to the modern world. Harari explains how humans evolved, created societies, invented languages, and shaped the planet—all in a way that's easy to understand and super engaging. It's packed with fascinating stories that make you think about who we are and how we got here. It's like a history and science class rolled into one, but without the boring parts. Plus, it helps you understand the world and your place in it. Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe Imagine trying to explain a rocket ship using only the 1,000 most common words in English. That's what Randall Munroe does in this clever book. With simple explanations and cartoon-style diagrams, he breaks down big ideas—like computers, the solar system, and the human body—into easy-to-understand language. It's not only fun to read, but it also shows how simple words can explain even the most complex systems. Ready to empower your child for the AI era? Join our program now! Hurry, only a few seats left.
Buzz Feed
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"It Made Me More Resilient And Made Life Seem Less Dire" – 11 Books That Changed People's Perspective On Life
Recently, u/UDSHDW asked r/booksuggestions, "What's a book that changed your perspective on life?" And we thought we'd share some of these recommendations. Sony Pictures Releasing 1. When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi Vintage "It gave me the courage to love despite the fear of losing." – Late-Elderberry5021 About the book: This life-affirming book chronicles the life of Paul Kalanithi, from being medical student, questioning how to live a meaningful life, to neurosurgeon, to becoming a father, and to being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He discusses what it's like to face your own morality, and the relationship between doctor and patient, from someone who was both. 2. The Courage To Be Disliked – Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi Allen & Unwin "We have more control over our lives than we realise." – CountryAromatic About the book: This book, framed as a conversation between and their student, is a mindset-changing book that discusses the freedom of self-validation and how to achieve it. Including boundary-setting and fighting the urge to please others, this book reveals how lasting peace happiness can be something generated individually. 3. Parasite Rex – Carl Zimmer Simon & Schuster Ltd "A fascinatingly gross book about parasites. There's so little we know about them. Every living thing functions as its own little world. And even some parasites have parasites. It freaks me out and I can't stop thinking about it." – CityRhymez About the book: This book is a deep dive into the minuscule, marvellous, and sometimes mortifying world of parasites. We discover how they operate, survive, and travel, and the major impact they hold over the world around us. 4. A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson Crown Publishing Group (NY) "It's a statistical anomaly that we're even here, and we are such a small part of the history of the universe that it made me realise so many little things are really insignificant in the grand scheme of things." – redog92 About the book: This is an engaging, fun, and informative scientific look back through history that teaches us how we know things as much as what we know. This book covers a whole lot, from the Big Bang, all the way through the formation of civilisation and scientific discovery itself. 5. Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut "It was helpful for me as a teenager, right in the midst of that adolescent angst. It was a comfort, a widening of perspective. It made me more resilient and made life seem less dire, the weight of pressure to escape my circumstances seemed lighter and the future less loaded." – Junimo-Crossing About the book: This American classic anti-war novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, who draftee who is caught up in the firebombing of Dresden. Slaughterhouse Five combines historical and science fiction to recount what Vonnegut himself experienced as a prisoner of war. 6. Turtles All the Way Down – John Green Penguin "This book has changed my life, because I don't think people consider mental illness in the correct way; they may not be intentionally disrespectful, but I feel that many are simply just misunderstanding. Turtles represents how people should perceive those that think differently than others in a more accurate manner, in this case OCD. And as someone who was recently diagnosed with this exact disorder, the book has really opened up my mind to the reality of mental illness. It helps when the author also has OCD." – Nerdfighter333 About the books: Turtles All the Way Down follows Azra Holmes, as she and her best friend Daisy endeavour to solve disappearance of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett. The story is about their pursuit, their friendship, and how Azra is attempting to life and relationships whilst managing the spiral of her own thoughts. 7. Stoner – John Williams Vintage Classics "It really put into perspective that even what seems to be a mundane life can still make a story worth telling." – Smooth_Solid_6345 About the book: This delicately sad novel tells the story of William Stoner, a professor who's life is marred by a series of setbacks and disappointments in both his professional and personal life. What comes across is Stoner's quiet perseverance in the face of his continuous challenges. 8. Return to the Brain of Eden – Tony Wright Inner Traditions "I think about it every day. It is now embedded in the way I see the world." – saltedhumanity About the book: This book takes us, and specifically our brains, back to a time before hierarchical societies, and suggests that our cognitive functions were more peaceful and fundamentally different when humans lived more harmoniously with nature. 9. The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin Canongate Books "Rick Rubin's book on creativity is outstanding. As a life long artist, so much of this work resonated with me. Also, it is very well written." – JeffCrossSF About the book: This is an inspection of creativity itself, Rubin sees creativity as its own force, existing in everyone and affecting the way we interact with the world around us. It suggests leaning into our creative, vulnerable, and instinctual processes. 10. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari – Robin Sharma Harper Thorsons "I wouldn't say it changed my life. It does make me think of some things in life differently. I highly recommend it." – ryrhino00 About the book: This book tells the story of Julian Mantle, who, after a life-altering incident, sets out of an mission to find enlightenment. His journey takes him to India, and teaches him lessons of balance, inner-peace, and finding purpose in his life. 11. The Road – Cormac McCarthy Picador "The stark portrayal of survival and the bond between father and son made me appreciate the little things in life and the importance of human connection." – darklightedge
