Learning Like a Curious Non-Expert: How to Educate Yourself in a World of Misinformation

I am going to talk about one of my favourite books ever, Bill Bryson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. My wonderful wife (who obviously know me extremely well), bought this for me as a wedding present back in 2003. I enjoyed it very much on the first read, and have since re-read it many times over the years. But why am I talking about a 22 year old book?

One reason is that I am super-excited about the “fully revised and updated” “A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0” which has just been released. Also, we are planning on seeing his stage show touring Australia early next year.

The main thing I want to write about though is how the curiosity of Bill Bryson is a perfect example of what society needs more of to avert our slide into misinformation, strongly held opinions with weak or no evidence, and general scientific illiteracy.

Scrolling through the news today can feel like drinking from a firehose. Headlines scream, social media algorithms pummel you with conflicting opinions, and every source claims authority. It’s no wonder so many of us feel confused—or worse, misled.

But there’s hope. Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything shows that ordinary people can make extraordinary sense of the world, even in complex areas like science, if they approach learning with curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to seek guidance. I love the philosophy revealed by the following quote in the introduction:

“I was on a long flight across the Pacific, staring idly out the window at moonlit ocean, when it occurred to me with a certain uncomfortable forcefulness that I didn’t know the first thing about the only planet I was ever going to live on. I had no idea, for example, why the oceans were salty but the Great Lakes weren’t. Didn’t have the faintest idea. I didn’t know if the oceans were growing more salty with time or less, and whether ocean salinity levels was something I should be concerned about or not …  And ocean salinity of course represented only the merest sliver of my ignorance. I didn't know what a proton was, or a protein, didn't know a quark from a quasar, didn't understand how geologists could look at a layer of rock on a canyon wall and tell you how old it was, didn't know anything really. I became gripped by a quiet, unwonted urge to know a little about these matters and to understand how people figured them out. That to me remained the greatest of all amazements - how scientists work things out.”

Curiosity is the Starting Point

Bryson, a writer, not a scientist, decided to tackle the grand question of “how the universe works.” He admits upfront that much of what he learned was beyond his initial understanding. What set him apart was his determination to learn and his willingness to ask questions, no matter how basic.

“So I decided that I would devote a portion of my life - three years, as it now turns out-to reading books and journals and finding saintly, patient experts prepared to answer a lot of outstandingly dumb questions. The idea was to see if it isn't possible to understand and appreciate-marvel at, enjoy even-the wonder and accomplishments of science at a level that isn't too technical or demanding, but isn't entirely superficial either.”

When teaching a class to pre-service Primary school teachers in teaching science, I like to really stress what science is and what science does. How it is a way of finding out about our world. I usually end up saying something like “Science is about observing the world around us, exploring it, trying to understand it, trying to explain it. This is what young children want to do naturally. This is part of being human. Science is what young children do. It takes a special kind of teacher to take that and make it boring!”

Seek the Experts

One of Bryson’s greatest strategies was connecting with people who knew more than he did. He didn’t just read books—he tracked down scientists, visited laboratories, and asked what might have seemed like naive or simple questions. Some notable anecdotes:

1. Los Alamos and the Atomic Bomb
   Bryson traveled to Los Alamos to understand the creation of the atomic bomb. He spoke directly with physicists who had been involved in the Manhattan Project. Their explanations, technical, but patiently unpacked, allowed him to grasp nuclear physics concepts and convey them to readers in plain language.
2. Studying the Age of the Earth
   In his quest to understand geology, Bryson met geologists who explained the staggering scale of geological time. One expert, recalling decades of fieldwork, described holding a rock formation in his hands and realizing he was touching a piece of the Earth older than life itself. Bryson’s recounting makes abstract concepts like billions of years tangible.
3. The Incredible World of Microbes
   Bryson visited microbiologists and learned about extremophiles—organisms that thrive in conditions lethal to humans. Meeting these scientists in their labs, seeing experiments firsthand, and hearing their excitement gave him, and his readers, a visceral understanding of life’s resilience and diversity.
4. Tracking the Elements
   To understand chemistry and the origins of elements, Bryson tracked down researchers who could explain complex processes like nuclear fusion and radioactive decay. One anecdote describes a chemist patiently showing him the periodic table not just as symbols but as a story of the universe’s creation, element by element.

These personal interactions are at the heart of Bryson’s approach: he sought guidance from experts, asked questions fearlessly, and translated their knowledge into stories that non-experts could understand.

His attitude is summed up beautifully by this quote, from when he received the 2005 EU Descartes Prize for science communication. Accepting his award, Bill Bryson said: "Never has someone been more generously awarded for his ignorance. I'm very grateful to all the scientists who, without exception, helped me to discover the wonder of their science". – from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/dec/07/scienceprizes.billbryson

Trace the Evidence

Bryson doesn’t just rely on second-hand summaries; he dives into studies, historical accounts, and original data, cross-checking and clarifying as he goes. For example, when exploring the extinction of the dinosaurs, he examines geological evidence, fossil records, and expert interpretations before presenting a clear picture.

Learn the Language

He also takes care to explain scientific terms and concepts in everyday language. Understanding the terminology of a subject, whether “plate tectonics” or “quantum mechanics”, allows non-experts to distinguish meaningful claims from nonsense,; a crucial skill in a world flooded with misinformation.

Perspective Matters

Through Bryson’s book, we see the vastness of time and space and the fragility of life on Earth. That perspective tempers overconfidence in our understanding and helps us recognize when a claim is oversimplified or misleading.

How You Can Do It

Inspired by Bryson, anyone can educate themselves and resist misinformation:

1. Follow your curiosity, not fear. Admit what you don’t know.
2. Seek expert voices—books, interviews, lectures, or even social media threads where real scientists explain things.
3. Verify claims by checking sources and cross-referencing information.
4. Learn the vocabulary of your chosen topic to separate jargon from substance.
5. Stay humble and patient—true understanding often takes time and multiple perspectives.
   

I recently re-read my original edition, and Bryson's journey reminded me that not knowing isn’t failure; it’s the invitation that begins every great discovery.

A Mini Challenge

Pick a topic that confuses you or fascinates you. Identify two or three experts (authors, scientists, historians) in that field. Read, listen, or watch their work, then try explaining the topic in your own words. You’ll quickly see that understanding, even as a non-expert, is possible—and that it’s deeply satisfying.

Misinformation thrives in confusion. But curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to learn from people who know more than we do are powerful tools to cut through the noise. Bryson’s meanderings show us that anyone, no matter their background, can grasp complex truths and make sense of the world.

Reference List

Bryson, B. (2003). A short history of nearly everything. Doubleday.

Bryson, B. (2025). A short history of nearly everything 2.0 (Fully revised and updated ed.). Doubleday.

Carr, J. (2005, December 7). Bryson scoops science communication prize. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/dec/07/scienceprizes.billbryson

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