The Big Bang was the hottest moment in world history. The rest is cooling down. And this had consequences: atoms and stars formed, the Earth and us. Embedded in the history of the universe is also the history of humanity. David Christian narrates the history of the world through eight pivotal moments: from the emergence of life to photosynthesis, from language to human-caused climate change. His book is a brilliant synthesis of insights from astronomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. It is a breathtaking modern origin story that concludes with a look towards the future, where we must finally take responsibility for the planet Earth.