This is an amazing, readable, interesting, important book. You will gain insights into how a particular fireball from an exploding star happened to cool in a certain way ... And our world came to be. Hazen shows how life didn't just come from the mineral earth, but that the rocks' evolution is always influenced by life. After explaining billions of years of earth history and climate cycles he uses the last section to project what will happen in the future. His prognosis: the planet doesn't need to be saved. It will go on, but we are surely tipping earth's climate to a point where we will destroy ourselves, and bring many species down with us. The story of earth will continue, just not with us. Highly recommended book.