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A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves

Walter Álvarez

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A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves

by Walter Álvarez
Save up to 27%
Compare to estimated retail price: S$45.00  

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A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves
A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves

Big History reveals our universe's grand narrative.

Dive into Walter Alvarez's 'A Most Improbable Journey' if you're looking to have your mind expanded by the immensity of our history, not just as humans but as a part of this vast universe. Alvarez stitches together the realms of science and history to chart a path from the Big Bang to modern society, making this a fascinating read for anyone curious about the colossal chain of events that has led to our existence.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

A Most Improbable Journey: A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves

by Walter Álvarez
Save up to 27%
Compare to estimated retail price: S$45.00  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780393292695
Author: Walter Álvarez
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date of Publication: 2016-11-15
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: History, Nature, Science
Related Topics: Biology, Astronomy, Nature, World History, Evolution, Natural History
Goodreads rating: 3.93
(rated by 349 readers)

Description

Famed geologist Walter Alvarez expands our view of human history by revealing the cosmic, geologic, and evolutionary forces that have shaped us. One in a million doesn’t even come close. Not when we’re talking about the odds that you would happen to be alive today, on this particular planet, hurtling through space. Almost fourteen billion years of cosmic history, over four billion years of Earth history, a couple million years of human history, the rise and fall of nations, the unbroken string of generations necessary to lead to you—it’s staggering to consider. Yet behind everything in our world, from the phone in your pocket to even the force of gravity itself, lies a similarly grand procession of highly improbable events. This panoramic viewpoint has captured the imagination of historians and scientists alike, and together they’ve created a new field—Big History—that integrates traditional historical scholarship with scientific insights to study the full sweep of our universe and its past. Famed geologist Walter Alvarez—best known for the impact theory explaining dinosaur extinction—has championed a science-first approach to Big History, and A Most Improbable Journey is one of the first Big History books to be written by a scientist rather than a historian. Alvarez brings his unique expertise and infectious curiosity to give us a new appreciation for the incredible occurrences—from the Big Bang to the formation of supercontinents, the dawn of the Bronze Age, and beyond—that have led to our improbable place in the universe.
 

Big History reveals our universe's grand narrative.

Dive into Walter Alvarez's 'A Most Improbable Journey' if you're looking to have your mind expanded by the immensity of our history, not just as humans but as a part of this vast universe. Alvarez stitches together the realms of science and history to chart a path from the Big Bang to modern society, making this a fascinating read for anyone curious about the colossal chain of events that has led to our existence.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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