About the Author

Bill Bryson's bestselling travel books include THE LOST CONTINENT, NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND, A WALK IN THE WOODS and DOWN UNDER. His acclaimed book on the history of science, A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, and won the Aventis Prize for Science Books and the Descartes Science Communication Prize.

Reviews

‘Provocative, admirable and highly readable’ Sunday Times ‘This is a book with cerebral riches, heavy with history, to be consumed at leisure…it is also beautifully illustrated’ Guardian ‘This book makes abundantly clear what was best about the society 350 years ago, and remains so today, is an unshakeable commitment to the value of rational inquiry and evidence as the basis for good decision making…lavishly illustrated, it manages to strike just the right note between celebration and provocation’ Financial Times ‘Beautifully produced and sumptuously illustrated book…gem-like contributions, from a heady mix of FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society)…a fitting memorial to the Royal Society and all it stands for…this beautiful book showcases distinguished scientists making difficult concepts exciting and accessible, and eloquent narrators diverting us with page-turning tales, all in their own distinct ways’ Independent on Sunday ‘This weighty tome, celebrating 350 years of the Royal Society, is a must read for any lay scientist, but it is also accessible for curious non scientists… in a vivid introduction, Bill Bryson highlights some of the many interdisciplinary discoveries made by notables such as Isacc Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Lister and Isambard Kingdom Brunel… a pleasingly thematic appraisal of this centuries-old institution brought to you by 20 esteemed writers… lets look forward to another 350 years of groundbreaking discovery’ Time Out ‘’Seeing Further’ is a handsome book – it is beautifully illustrated – containing thoughtful insights, eloquently expressed…as a celebration of 350 years of modern science, it is a worthy tribute’ Economist