I tried to reach out to Netgalley about this issue, but I found this audiobook unlistenable due to tracking issues in the audio. I tried all the troubleshooting options in Netgalley's FAQ, as well as reinstalling the app, to no avail. I thank the publisher for the chance to listen to an advance copy of this book, and look forward to listening to or reading a library copy in the future.

In the Complete short guide to absolutely everything, I found it to be more like an extended podcast and less like an audiobook. I found Adam and Hannah to be witty and it was fun to listen to. I totally enjoyed the topics. I love things that are based on facts in this book was definitely based on absolutely that. From the history of time to our genetic makeup, it seem like everything was on the table. I was given this book by net galley and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Please forgive any grammatical or punctuation of errors I am blind and dictate most of my review but all opinions are my own.

One of the key factors in the listenability of any science or nonfiction audiobook is the narration. Adam and Hannah have a truly lively and fun banter that keeps everything they are saying interesting and easy to listen to. Their "on air" chemistry is palpable, and I'm sure it has contributed to their success! I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It was fascinating and perfect for background listening while cleaning, cooking or doing work.

Based upon the banter between the two authors, who also provided the reading for the audiobook, it appears they also have a successful radio show or podcast.

However, either the witticisms or tone of the banter did not appeal to me, as I had a tough time completing the book. Although, I did manage to finish.

The book does contain a wide-ranging collection of topics and anecdotes from all areas and topics (hence the word “everything” in the book title).

If you are someone who is entertained by varied and seemingly unconnected streams of thought (that are eventually brought together), then you may be interested in this audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The following review will be posted on Tuesday, January 18th, a week before publication. It will be shared on Twitter and Instagram between on the publication date, but the review has already been posted on Goodreads. The blog post includes links to pre-order the books and to its Goodreads page, so readers can add it to their to-be-read books. Even though the link isn't available yet, I've added it below.

“Science has got an awful lot wrong over the years. One could argue that it is, in fact, science’s job to get things wrong, as that is the place for which you can start to be less wrong and after a few rounds get things right.”

Genre: Nonfiction, Science
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: None that I can think of.

Explained mostly in a language that can be understood by the general public, “The Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything (Abridged): Adventures in Math and Science” does its best at trying to make science accessible for all. With anecdotes and examples spread around here and there, this book is anything but monotone—something that is hard to achieve when tackling scientific writing.

Touching on subjects ranging from the concept of time (solar, atomic, circadian—measured by clocks or corals or humans) to the relativity of colors (how certain are you that the green I see is the same green you see?), this book really does try to give you countless bits and pieces of information of important science-related topics.

I personally loved the audiobook. This book is written like a conversation, and having the authors of the book read it felt more like a fun podcast rather than a heavy university textbook. Being a scientist myself, there were few things in this book that I hadn’t heard before, but I am absolutely certain that this will not be the case for everyone. And even knowing these things, I found this book incredibly entertaining.

I would highly recommend this book if you’re a science enthusiast and enjoy fun science. This book reminds me of educational videos made by ASAPScience or Crash Course in its cleverness and humor. I feel like this would be an awesome gift for senior high school students who have an interest in STEM or even adults who are generally interested in science and would like to learn more.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can pre-order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“To us, the passing of time is not fixed. No matter how accurate a clock we can build, our experience of time is subjective and depends on our psychological state from moment to moment. (…) Experience is what colors our existence.”

Adam Rutherford and Hannah Fry are perfect examples of authors who absolutely should record their own audiobooks. They are quick, engaging, humorous people who are able to translate those attributes into their writing and into their speaking. The Complete (Short) Guide to Absolutely Everything proves as much by breaking down complicated math and science into fascinating and understandable chapters. Ideas that at their introduction feel overwhelmingly huge are broken down into easy to follow lines of thought with clear examples. Concepts often accepted without a second thought are questioned, explained, and explored. This book is exactly what I want all my learning experiences to be: interesting and fun!