This is a history of the universe which starts with the broadest possible perspective and narrows down. Beginning with the big bang, the book goes on to chart the story of the galaxies, supernovas, the sun, the Earth, then traces the history of human beings on Earth. The structure of the book lets the author emphasize the interconnectedness of every part of the universe, and an important - and sobering - aspect of their message is that we have reached a point where the decisions of just one species (our own) can radically alter the whole planet.