In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," author Bill Bryson discusses the notion of life’s randomness and improbability. He cites paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who highlights that our species' existence may be a result of sheer chance rather than a predetermined path. Gould suggests that if you were to rewind and replay Earth's history, the odds of human intelligence emerging again are exceedingly slim.

This perspective challenges the idea of linear progress in evolution, presenting it instead as a series of fortunate events. It invites readers to consider how contingent and unpredictable life can be, emphasizing that our presence on the planet is not guaranteed under repeated circumstances, but rather a remarkable anomaly in the tapestry of existence.