The Universal History of Us

'Step aside Star Wars – ours is the most astonishing origin story you’ll ever hear and its beautifully told by Tim Coulson.'

Professor Ken Norris, Deputy Director of Science at the Natural History Museum

‘A gangbuster science book. A can't-put-down read. I don't think I have learned more from a single book.'

Douglas W. Smith, Former Senior Wildlife Biologist, Yellowstone National Park

'What have we learnt about the past 13.8 billion years that resulted in you looking at this book? Tim Coulson, a fun scientist who has no limits to his brain’s boundaries takes us on a free spirited intellectual romp through every aspect of what we know about our universe. A highly readable and super enjoyable book.'

Peter Hudson FRS Willaman Professor of Biology at Penn State

'A charming, engaging and erudite account by a distinguished biologist of all the things that had to happen for you and me to exist and be as we are.'

David Christian, author of The New York Times Bestseller Origin Story (2018)

‘Achieves something almost impossible, lucid explanation without dumbing down. I would defy any scientist not to read this and learn something. For those with no science beyond the stuff at school which you hated, the author hated school too and has you covered. You can read this for fun and accidentally you will know as much general science as any Professor.’

James H Naismith FRS FRSE FMedSci MAE, Head of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division at Oxford, Professor of Structural Biology

‘Exceptional. A highly infectious read. From the first page I found it impossible to put down. An erudite, witty, and highly intelligent romp through the history of life as we know it’

Professor Baroness Kathy Willis, Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford

‘With wit, wisdom and humility, Tim Coulson takes us on an incredible journey from the Big Bang to life as we know it on planet Earth. The prose is of a perfect weight, and an absolute joy to read.’

Sunetra Gupta, Professor of Theoretical Epidemiology at the University of Oxford

'An extremely enjoyable read, written in a very engaging way, and sprinkled with often very funny anecdotes. Will appeal to a broad variety of readers and inspire new generations of scientists for years to come.'

Quentin Paynter

'Sapiens but for science'

Martin Rees