120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

๐ŸŽ‰ Our new Hobsonville bookstore opens tomorrow! Order now and it ships tomorrow ๐Ÿš€

The Short Story of the Universe

A Pocket Guide to the History, Structure, Theories and Building Blocks of the Cosmos
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Short Story of the Universe by Mark Fletcher and Gemma Lavender explores the vast history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the possible futures of the cosmos. It offers insights into the birth of stars, the formation of galaxies, and the emergence of life on Earth. This science and nature book skillfully distils complex concepts into accessible narratives, making the universe's story both engaging and understandable.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Short Story of the Universe. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the grand scale of the cosmos and enjoy exploring complex scientific concepts in an accessible format. It offers an intriguing journey through the universe's history, breaking down complex topics with straightforward explanations and stunning visuals, making it suitable for both enthusiasts and newcomers to the subject.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From the Big Bang to black holes and supernovas, this is the complete story of the universe unravelled into one concise narrative.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Short Story of the Universe is a new introduction to the subject of the universe. Covering 130 key components that make it up - from dwarf galaxies and spiral arms to red giants and the planets of the solar system - and linking these to the universe's structure and the theories that help us understand it, this book simplifies this riveting yet mind-boggling subject, telling the story of how it came into being and how it will eventually be no more.

Accessible and concise, generously illustrated throughout, and with all the essential information presented without jargon, readers are given all the tools they need to enjoy the fascinating history of the deepest depths of the universe.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The reviews suggest that The Short Story of the Universe is an accessible guide for both amateur astrophysicists and students, offering clear explanations suitable for a wide readership. The authors are praised for their ability to simplify complex cosmic concepts, making the beauty of the universe understandable to both adolescents and adults.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857829382

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Laurence King Publishing

Illustration: 118 colour, 15 black and white

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 212.0mm

Weight: 550g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Gemma Lavender (Author)

Gemma Lavender is Content Director of Knowledge & Education at Future Plc, Editor of All About Space magazine and an Editor at the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory. She holds a PhD in astrophysics, degrees in astrophysics and the physical sciences and is a researcher in physics education at Cardiff University. She is the author of several books on space and physics, including Quantum Physics in Minutes.

Also by Gemma Lavender

View all
  • Clearance
    Milky Way Owners' Workshop Manual
    From our special place in the Orion Arm to the Milky Wayโ€™s future collision with the Andromeda Galaxy, this book looks at the structure, formation, and evolution of our home galaxy and its place in the universe. Find out how it compares to other galaxies, why it could be unique, and discover the most exciting and perplexing phenomena within it,...
    Hardback
    $4699
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Quantum Physics in Minutes
    Quantum Physics in Minutes offers the fastest way to understanding quantum physics, providing insights into how our universe works within minutes. Quantum physics is the most fundamental, yet the most bewildering, of sciences. From simultaneously dead-and-alive cats, teleportation, antimatter to parallel universes, it not only underpins all digital technology but also life itself. This clear and compact book, illuminated with...
    Paperback
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Navigating: Quantum Physics
    What with anti-matter and positrons, quarks and neutrinos, entanglement and parallel universes, the landscape of quantum physics is a bewildering and mindboggling place to explore. So, how are you expected to navigate this uncertain world? Navigating Quantum Physics provides the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt replies written by an expert...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by Mark Fletcher

View all
  • The Short Story of Science
    The Short Story of Science is a new introduction to the complete subject of science. Covering 60 key experiments, from Archimedes' investigations of buoyancy to the discovery of dark matter, and then linking these to the history of science, as well as to the key theories and methods, the book simplifies and explains all the key breakthroughs. Accessible and concise,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Science & Nature

View all
  • Raising Hare
    THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE HATCHARDS AND BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE HAY FESTIVAL, SUNDAY TIMES, THE TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, SPECTATOR AND iNEWS 'A beautiful book' - ANGELINA JOLIE 'I...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • What If? 10th Anniversary Edition
    CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF THE MILLION-SELLING POP SCIENCE CLASSIC WITH A SPECIAL EDITION. THIS IS WHAT IF? . . . x10. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Nerd royalty' โ€” BEN GOLDACRE 'Totally brilliant' โ€” TIM HARFORD 'Required reading across the world' โ€” NEW YORK TIMES From the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, experience hilarious and informative answers to important questions...
    Hardback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhoodโ€”and all human relationshipsโ€”from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spacesโ€”communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Prisoners of Geography
    Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present, and future to offer crucial insights into one of the major factors that determine world history โ€“ because if you donโ€™t know geography, youโ€™ll never have the full picture. Originally published in 2015, this completely revised and updated edition brings it up to date with the events and trends of the past...
    Paperback
    $2899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    16% off
    Ultra-Processed People
    Launching the runaway bestseller with ambitions to be the biggest non-fiction paperback of the year IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THE FOOD. "If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one" - Bee Wilson "You've got to get this book in your life . . . Completely compelling . . . Read a page...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Kitchen Confidential
    The classic bestseller from the star of Parts Unknown and No Reservations: 25th Anniversary edition, with a new introduction by Irvine Welsh. BEFORE THERE WAS THE BEAR, THERE WAS BOURDAIN. โ€˜Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantinoโ€™ โ€” A.A. Gill โ€˜Fantastic: as lip-smackingly seductive as a bowl of fat chips and pungent aioliโ€™ โ€” Daily Telegraph After twenty-five years of sex,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Invisible Women
    Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez is a groundbreaking and meticulously researched exploration into the pervasive gender bias that infiltrates every aspect of our society. Through compelling case studies and thorough analysis, this book unveils the hidden ways women are systematically disadvantaged in a world predominantly designed by and for men. Perez's revelations stretch across various sectors including government policy,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Talk
    A Harvard professor shows how we can become better talkers - and why effective conversation will help us all thrive. Conversation is at the heart of our relationships and decision-making, but the science behind our everyday interactions, and how to improve them, is little known. In Talk, Harvard Professor Alison Wood Brooks provides fascinating insights into the power of effective...
    Paperback
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    20% off
    Clean & Green
    Simple swaps and innovative ideas for cleaning and maintaining your home that won't cost the Earth. Learn how easy it is to make simple swaps in your cleaning and tidying methods for a more eco-friendly home. This beautifully illustrated black and white guide with 101 hints and sustainable, natural cleaning tips and hacks will help you take small steps that...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Usually:
    $2999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Genetic Book of the Dead
    From one of the worldโ€™s great science writers, a book that explores the deepest principles of evolutionary history. In this groundbreaking new approach to the evolution of all life, Richard Dawkins shows how the body, behaviour, and genes of every living creature can be read as a book โ€“ an archive of the worlds of its ancestors. A perfectly camouflaged...
    Hardback
    $4900
    Elsewhere:
    $5499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Coming Wave
    The instant Sunday Times bestseller from the ultimate AI insider - the only book you need to read on this subject. An Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, Prospect and Sunday Times Book of the Year Shortlisted for the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year This is the only book you need to understand our new world - from the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Breath
    Discover the transformative power of breathing in Breath by esteemed journalist James Nestor. This revolutionary book delves into the science and history of one of the most fundamental human activities - breathing. From the bustling streets of Sรฃo Paulo to the serene temples of India, Nestor embarks on a global journey to uncover the secrets of ancient breathing techniques such...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.