Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It)

Malik Sarah Alam

New
Book cover for Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It)
Image for variant 9780063476523
Book cover for Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It)
Image for variant 9780063476523

Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It)

Brief History of the Universe (and Our Place in It)

Malik Sarah Alam

View full details

Description

"A sweeping tour of the laws of physics, the scope of the universe, and the place of life within it." --Sean Carroll, New York Times bestselling author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe

An elegant exploration of humanity's continuous search to find the hidden truths of the universe and comprehend our place in the cosmos.

We have always looked up at the night sky and wondered. Ever since the ancient Babylonians began to track celestial objects on clay tablets, scientific inquiry has been driven by the innate human desire to understand what is out there, and where we fit into it all.

Renowned particle physicist Dr. Sarah Alam Malik, whose research has brought her to the cutting edge of scientific advancement, takes us on a journey through the discoveries that have at once propelled and overturned our perception of the cosmos. From Copernicus launching a helio-centric revolution to Ernest Rutherford uncovering the world inside the atom, to Vera Rubin confirming the existence of dark matter, each generation has built upon, and then upended, the knowledge of those who came before.

Even today, as ninety-five percent of the universe remains unknown to us, we cannot help but chase the fundamental truths of our world, as we witness the fiery deaths of faraway suns, probe the nature of dark energy and search for extraterrestrial life in the most unexpected places.

Beautifully written and accessible, A Brief History of the Universe (And Our Place in It) is a celebration of our story so far, one of discovery and an endless curiosity that has taken us far beyond the boundaries of the world we know.

Critical Reviews

"Even as someone already familiar with the basic story, Sarah Alam Malik's book was a thrilling reminder of how much we know about the universe and what a marvelous journey it has been to discover it. With just the right amount of detail and human interest, this is a sweeping tour of the laws of physics, the scope of the universe, and the place of life within it." --Sean Carroll, New York Times bestselling author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe

"A bold and fast-paced history of the cosmos from Babylon to life beyond Earth. Sarah Alam Malik captures the wonder and mystery of life in the universe in a style reminiscent of Carl Sagan." --Dr. Jeffrey Forshaw, award-winning professor of theoretical particle physics at the University of Manchester and coauthor of Black Holes

"This especially engaging history of how humans have tried to understand, interpret, and corral the mysteries of the cosmos does a creditable job of tracing evolving beliefs, theories, and research from the beginning of recorded history through today. . . . Malik is a great storyteller, writing in a style well suited to conveying awe while evoking unimaginable sizes, distances, and phenomena. . . . This is popular science at its best, authoritative and thought-provoking." --Booklist

"Dr. Sarah Alam Malik offers an accessible exploration of the history of the cosmos and how human curiosity continues to shape that history and our futures." --Ms. Magazine

Publishing Information

Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Pub date: 2026-05-05
Length: 256 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.