You and DD might enjoy some DVD series like The Human Universe with Brian Cox. You can order it online. There are others like it. David Attenborough has First Life. Easier to absorb maybe than a book. Even if it doesn't all sink in quite a bit will.

There a multitude of similar series on all kinds of topics, including ,at us and science, that are meant to be engaging for the general public but lead in to further study of the areas.