A Short History of Nearly Everything

A great overview of the history of science and scientific thought. The great part is that it doesn't only go through different discoveries, but also includes and describes the social context of the era. From astrophysics through geology to genetics and environmental sciences the author tries to show you the world through a scientific eye and how many concepts, once unimaginable, were evolving and influencing our lives. I particularly like the fact, that the book has a message to it.