Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History

"This is the big book on big history. And it is a masterpiece. David Christian takes you from the big bang through to the present day, tracing our best understanding of the way events develop over time. He does this through a series of telescoping time periods, from a lifeless universe to the rise of life, humans, civilisation and ultimately industry. He explains the big picture of each period, with a good mixture of rigour and clarity."