Mankind is a child of the cosmos. The atoms in our bodies originate in the interiors of other stars, and we cannot regard our existence separately from the evolution of the universe. Without the Big Bang and the formation of galaxies, planets and organic molecules, we simply would not have happened. In this fascinating book, science journalist Govert Schilling takes the reader on a whirlwind journey through time. He describes the evolution of the cosmos, from the beginning of space and time fourteen billion years ago, to the creation of the Earth and mankind. The book ends with a glance into the distant future of the universe, because the here and now are only fleeting moments in its biography. A combination of compelling text and breathtaking photographs provide an impressive vision of the place of man in the cosmos.