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Origin Story: A Big History Of Everything Paperback – 14 May 2018

by David Christian (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,681
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How did we get from the Big Bang to today's staggering complexity, in which seven billion humans are connected into networks powerful enough to transform the planet? And why, in comparison, are our closest primate relatives reduced to near-extinction?

Big History creator David Christian gives the answers in a mind-expanding cosmological detective story told on the grandest possible scale. He traces how, during eight key thresholds, the right conditions have allowed new forms of complexity to arise, from stars to galaxies, Earth to homo sapiens, agriculture to fossil fuels. This last mega-innovation gave us an energy bonanza that brought huge benefits to mankind, yet also threatens to shake apart everything we have created.

This global origin story is one that we could only begin to tell recently, thanks to the underlying unity of modern knowledge. Panoramic in scope and thrillingly told, Origin Story reveals what we learn about human existence when we consider it from a universal scale.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Allen Lane
  4. Publication date
    14 May 2018
  5. Dimensions
    15.3 x 2.6 x 23.4 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0241338379
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0241338377
  8. See all details
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Review

If you read one book this year, make it this one -- Fareed Zakaria, CNN

A journey through billions of years that nails home the point: Life is a miracle ... [A] remarkably cogent and compelling history of everything ― Washington Post

Rather like the Big Bang, the book is awe-inspiring. The processes it describes are all familiar, but I'd never seen them explained with such clarity and verve ... Superb -- Gerard Degroot ― The Times

[Origin Story is] long-haul science with wit and oomph ― Nature

Christian tells this story very well, providing, in effect, a short course in modern science. This is a brief history of the universe, and an excellent one ― Wall Street Journal

I have long been a fan of David Christian. In Origin Story, he elegantly weaves evidence and insights from many scientific and historical disciplines into a single, accessible historical narrative -- Bill Gates

In Origin Story, David Christian has found a spectacular way to use history to put order in the entire set of our knowledge about the world. This is a wonderful achievement -- Carlo Rovelli ― author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and The Order of Time

Origin Story is a majestic distillation of our current understanding of the birth of the universe, of the solar system, of the oceans, of mountains and minerals, of all life on earth and of the driving dynamics of human cultureand achievement. All of this in just over 300 pages of captivating prose that weaves together innumerable insights from the sciences, arts and humanities. With fascinating ideas on every page and the page turning energy of a good thriller, this is a landmark work that comes at a time when it has never been more important for humanity to have a clearer, more informed understanding of our place on earth and of the earth's place in the cosmos. A spellbinding synthesis -- Ken Robinson ― educator and bestselling author of The Element and You, Your Child and School

A remarkable book that puts us self-important humans in our proper place in the cosmos, yet also explains why the story of human culture and knowledge - what Christian calls collective learning - matters for understanding our present world and shaping its future -- Merry Wiesner-Hanks, President of the World History Association

Book Description

This is the epic story of the universe and our place in it, from 13.8 billion years ago to the remote future.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allen Lane; 1st edition (14 May 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241338379
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241338377
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.3 x 2.6 x 23.4 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,681

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David Christian

David Christian

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4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,681 global ratings

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Top reviews from Australia

D. Hawthorne
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book for the General Reader
Reviewed in Australia on 12 July 2018
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This is a very good book for the general reader as it puts various sciences into a coherent story. The explanations are accessible by anyone with a basic high school science education.

The author has divided the history of the universe into epochs defined by thresholds of differing levels of complexity. The model he uses is one of emergent properties of complexity: as matter and energy organise themselves into more complex structures, new properties emerge.

I found the author's descriptions to be readable and comprehensible.
2 people found this helpful
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Ralph Monley
4.0 out of 5 stars The biggest picture
Reviewed in Australia on 6 August 2018
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This is an integration of science and history at the largest possible scale. It is the opposite of provincial or local history and is not caught up up politics, war or economics. Starting with the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planetary systems, the conditions for the beginning of life, going from single cell to multicellular life, the emergence of large animals, the arrival of humans and the development of civilization. A written source to supplement the sorts of amazing stories you will hear from Brian Cox or Neil deGrasse Tyson. If you want the ultimate strategic perspective, this will provide it.
One person found this helpful
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John Townsend
5.0 out of 5 stars Factual, complete but easy to read for all
Reviewed in Australia on 14 August 2018
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The kind of book that everyone should have to read, to digest basic facts that are available to the world. After reading this you get to understand so much more about the natural universe and realise it's much more incredible than the so-called supernatural.
One person found this helpful
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Jon M
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant.
Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2018
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An outstanding read and a true feast for the inquisitive mind. I want to read it all over again immediately.
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barry
4.0 out of 5 stars a great read
Reviewed in Australia on 22 August 2019
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very readable
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H
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in Australia on 3 December 2019
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Great one, I like it.
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Pixfan
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive work
Reviewed in Australia on 27 September 2018
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Very comprehensive and detailed publication covering how we are here- recommend.
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Cali
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Australia on 14 October 2018
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Simple summary - very readable
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Top reviews from other countries

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JaredC
5.0 out of 5 stars A great eye opening and mind bending scientific based rendering
Reviewed in the United States on 20 February 2024
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I appreciated this update on my understanding of the formation of the universe, planet earth, diverse life forms and their transitions. Yes, it challenges religiously based origin stories and reinforces the wonder of life itself.
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Ralito M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book .....
Reviewed in Canada on 7 February 2022
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Once you started reading the book, you'll never want to put it down again. Very interesting.
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Naveen
5.0 out of 5 stars Close-your-eyes-and-buy type
Reviewed in India on 21 January 2022
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I've read the introduction and am well into the first chapter and every page that I turn opens my eyes to a new perspective of our world and of me as human or a living being in it.
This is one of those books which widen your perspective, give depth to your thoughts and inevitably make you a kinder,more compassionate version of youself. If you are thinking of reading this book then just buy.
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rcavesta
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesantísimo y facil de leer
Reviewed in Spain on 30 May 2021
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Es sorprendente porque es la historia desde el big bang, pero al final entronca con la historia de los humanos
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Henrique
5.0 out of 5 stars A great new way of perceiving ourselves
Reviewed in Brazil on 21 January 2019
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I came across this book while checking Gates' Notes. The idea of the book really appealled to me because it was the history of the mankind as a whole and not about single countries or single events. Also, mankind is not the protagonist, since it shows up late in the book, with the universe and planet earth being there most of the time. The writing is very good and concise, since it can discuss about relatively complex topics (ranging from astronomy to geology and antropology) in a manner that we can easily assimilate. Definetely recommend this one, a great new point of view about ourselves and our relation with our planet and the universe.
One person found this helpful
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