I've been reading Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I would urge everyone to go out and get a copy of this book from the bookstore of the library. Bryson covers cosmology, atomic physics, geology, the history of chemistry, evolution, and cellular biology in a very funny and entertaining way.
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything-Illustrated/dp/0307885151/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291535501&sr=1-1
Probably the most amusing parts are the descriptions of many scientists' eccentricities. For example, Newton once stuck a needle in his socket to see what would happen! Amazingly, his eye ended up being fine. The Swedish chemist, Karl Scheele was known for tasting poisonous substances (e.g. mercury, prussic acid, and hydrocyanic acid) which sadly led to his death.
If you ever wondered about the history of the universe, the Earth, and human life, definitely check out Bryson's book.
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