A Journey from the Big Bang to the Big Brain. "Parallel journeys of mind-boggling proportions a 225-mile raft tour of river runners, and an expertly guided trip back through time to trace our origins. As the author explores such natural wonders as fossils, waterfalls, rapids and stars, he visits nearly every popular science topic… Presented as a day-by-day and mile-by-mile diary, offers intriguing glimpses into the physical, natural, and social sciences, as well as excursions into history, linguistics, and philosophy." The New York Times Book Review.