The Great History of the World

The book Big History of the World follows the entire story of the universe and the Earth—from the Big Bang, through the formation of stars, galaxies and planets, all the way to the present day. In line with the modern historiographical concept of 'big history', the author presents us with a view of the entire 13.8 billion years of the cosmos from a great distance, allowing us to rise above the chaos of human affairs and see the overall shape and direction of history. We ourselves do not stand at the beginning or the end of this story—we emerged in the middle of a narrative that will continue long after we disappear from the face of the Earth. Such a perspective may evoke a sense of insignificance and transience, but it also reminds us how miraculous and wonderful life is.