THE UNIVERSE WITHIN Discovering the Common History of Rocks, Planets, and People

Listeners who've wondered about how neighboring planets turned out to be uninhabitable while ours became so bountiful will find plenty to think about as they hear Neil Shubin's account of the history of the particles that are us. Along the way, he relates the water in human bodies to that in comets and asteroids. He also takes side trips to the Big Bang and a star-mapping satellite. Marc Cashman narrates with a clear broadcaster's voice that shares the excitement of, say, discovering a tooth that shows the link between mammals and reptiles. There's a lot to digest, but between Shubin's lively writing style and Cashman's enthusiastic reading, it'll hold the interest of any listener interested in the universe. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2012]