Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 CST 2022)

An award-winning particle physicist delivers an appealing explanation of the origins and evolution of the universe.It's a mystery that has plagued great thinkers for centuries: How did the universe come to be? Many theories, scientific and otherwise, have been put forth, but the true story of the universe's first moments is still emerging. Tonelli, who played a role in the discovery of the Higgs boson, argues that new discoveries in physics are able to provide the clearest picture yet of how the universe emerged and where it's going. From his descriptions of the Big Bang to human creativity and storytelling, the author's writing is lush and inviting, offering countless points of entry even for those readers unfamiliar with fundamental concepts of physics. "Our lives," writes Tonelli, "are conditioned by the story of the origins of the universe told by science: it profoundly shifts the foundations on which we will build new social arrangements, opening up vistas full of opportunities and risks, and shaping the future for coming generations." In a concise yet action-packed narrative, the author organizes his survey of the cosmic beginnings into seven days, mimicking the biblical timeline of creation-from "Day One: An Irresistible Breath Produces the First Wonder" to "Day Seven: A Swarming of Complex Forms." With clarity and just the right amount of technical language, Tonelli tackles complex subjects such as supersymmetry, dark matter, and the births of stars and planets. He also masterfully conveys the scientific and epistemic profundity of "how we look at the world, and therefore our place within it." Entangled within his pursuit of scientific truth, the author's overarching outlook is one of awe. The magnificent ideas he presents allow us "to understand our deepest roots, and to find ideas with which to face the future." The book was a bestseller in Italy in 2019.An exhilarating exploration of the cosmos that is both poetic and cutting-edge.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

An award-winning particle physicist delivers an appealing explanation of the origins and evolution of the universe.It's a mystery that has plagued great thinkers for centuries: How did the universe come to be? Many theories, scientific and otherwise, have been put forth, but the true story of the universe's first moments is still emerging. Tonelli, who played a role in the discovery of the Higgs boson, argues that new discoveries in physics are able to provide the clearest picture yet of how the universe emerged and where it's going. From his descriptions of the Big Bang to human creativity and storytelling, the author's writing is lush and inviting, offering countless points of entry even for those readers unfamiliar with fundamental concepts of physics. "Our lives," writes Tonelli, "are conditioned by the story of the origins of the universe told by science: it profoundly shifts the foundations on which we will build new social arrangements, opening up vistas full of opportunities and risks, and shaping the future for coming generations." In a concise yet action-packed narrative, the author organizes his survey of the cosmic beginnings into seven days, mimicking the biblical timeline of creation-from "Day One: An Irresistible Breath Produces the First Wonder" to "Day Seven: A Swarming of Complex Forms." With clarity and just the right amount of technical language, Tonelli tackles complex subjects such as supersymmetry, dark matter, and the births of stars and planets. He also masterfully conveys the scientific and epistemic profundity of "how we look at the world, and therefore our place within it." Entangled within his pursuit of scientific truth, the author's overarching outlook is one of awe. The magnificent ideas he presents allow us "to understand our deepest roots, and to find ideas with which to face the future." The book was a bestseller in Italy in 2019.An exhilarating exploration of the cosmos that is both poetic and cutting-edge.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

-Where does all this come from?- asks particle physicist Tonelli in his elegant, accessible English-language debut. The author guides readers through a metaphorical seven days of genesis, a -collective adventure- of scientific exploration stretching from before the Big Bang to the rise of humans on Earth. Tonelli begins with the mystery of time before the Big Bang, making parallels to Greek myth in Hesiod-s Theogony, where -Chaos was first of all.- The author describes astronomer and priest Georges Lemaître-s work on forming the Big Bang theory in 1927, when the idea of an expanding universe disturbed scientists who envisioned one that was a static and unchanging, as put forth by Aristotle. Tonelli covers the formation of atoms, the onset of light, and the distribution of stars in the Milky Way. He also describes how particle accelerators and -super-telescopes- reveal the physics behind elementary particles, stars, and black holes. Tonelli-s storytelling successfully weaves curiosity, Greek mythology, and scientific discovery: -From quantum foam something even more astounding than the goddess of love and beauty will be born: an entire universe.- Already a bestseller in Italy, Tonelli-s lyrical story of creation is sure to ignite the imaginations of American readers. (Apr.)