Author Bill Bryson has made a name for himself as a travel writer. He's examined the culture of Kenya, trekked across Australia, and wandered the backwoods of the United States. But in "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bryson sets out to explore the great mysteries of the universe. The book investigates everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. Bryson spent three years pestering scientific experts to find answers to life's most profound questions. Bryson says his grade-school textbooks convinced him science was boring and incomprehensible. But he says while hiking the Appalachian Trail a few years ago, he became embarrassed by just how little he knew about the planet he calls home.