How did a biological species on the brink of extinction, using stone axes to secure a meager survival, manage to become the dominant force on Earth? How did it manage to build a knowledge of nature that extends from microscopic atoms to the vast structures of the universe?

Leonard Mlodinow captures and narrates in a unique way the story of human progress from the time when it lived in the African savannahs to the present conquest of quantum physics. Along the way, he explores the intriguing personalities of the greatest philosophers, scientists, and thinkers, seeking the traces of cultural data - as well as random incidents - that influenced scientific discovery.

Thoroughly documented, accessible, and infused with the author's trademark humor and inspiration, Mlodinow's book is a stunning tribute to the intellectual curiosity of humanity and a valuable read for anyone interested in the scientific questions of our time.