Bill Bryson's A Really Short History of Nearly Everything won the Educational Writers' Award,
sponsored by the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society and the
Society of Authors to honor books for 12- to 18-year-olds. He will share
the £2,000 (US$3,169) prize with Felicia Law, who abridged and edited
the book.
"I am honored to be considered for this award," said
Bryson. "Any initiative that encourages young people to read is
obviously to be applauded." He bested a shortlist that included Ben
Crystal for Shakespeare on Toast, John Farndon for Do You Think You're Clever? and Liz Strachan for A Slice of Pi.