The authors argue that the Earth is more than simply our birthplace, it is the thing that gave us birth. Their book invites readers to follow the journey our planet has undergone over the the last four billion years - starting at a time when there was no dry land. Life began around volcanoes on the floor of the primordial ocean. Their eruptions formed the Earth's crust and the first living creatures appeared. But then why did the dinosaurs become extinct? How were the Himalayas formed, over seven million years ago? Was the legend of Noah and the flood based on a real event? Simon Lamb and David Sington attempt to answer these questions and others, tracing evolution to the end of the 20th century. The focus is on the views of contemporary scientists who have effectively changed the way we think about the world, elaborating on the complex relationship between human beings and our ever-changing planet.