Includes index.

The greatest story ever told -- On Earth as in the heavens -- Let there be light -- Between the galaxies -- Dark matter -- Dark energy -- The cosmos on the table -- On being round -- Invisible light -- Between the planets -- Exoplanet earth -- Reflections on the cosmic -- Perspective.

"The essential universe, from our most celebrated and beloved astrophysicist. What is the nature of space and time? There's no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson. Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day. Just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History, director of its world-famous Hayden Planetarium and host of the radio and TV show StarTalk."--Provided by publisher.