Today we know what no previous generation knew: the history of the universe and of the unfolding of life on Earth. Through the astonishing combined achievements of natural scientists worldwide, we now have a detailed account of how galaxies and stars, planets and living organisms, human beings and human consciousness came to be. And yet we thirst for answers to questions that have haunted humanity from the very beginning. What is our place in the 14-billion-year history of the universe? What roles do we play in Earth's history? How do we connect with the intricate web of life on Earth?

In Journey of the Universe, Brian Thomas Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker tell the epic story of the universe from an inspired new perspective, weaving the findings of modern science together with enduring wisdom found in the humanistic traditions of the West, China, India, and indigenous people. The authors explore cosmic evolution as a profoundly wondrous process based on creativity, connection, and interdependence, and they envision an unprecedented opportunity for the world's people to address the daunting ecological and social challenges of our times.

Journey of the Universe transforms how we understand our origins and envision our future. Though a little book, it tells a big story - one that inspires hope for a way in which Earth and its human civilizations could flourish together. This book is part of a larger project that includes a documentary film, an educational DVD series, and a website.

More about this title

The accompanying film Journey of the Universe won the best documentary for the 41st Annual Northern California Area Emmy Awards

Brian Thomas Swimme is professor of cosmology, Program in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. He is author, with Thomas Berry, of The Universe Story, and creator of an eleven-part DVD series, The Powers of the Universe. Mary Evelyn Tucker is senior lecturer and senior research scholar, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Yale Divinity School, Yale University. She is co-founder and co-director of the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University and author of Wordly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase.

"Strikingly, the co-authors managed to fit 14 billion years of grandeur along with humanity's most fundamental questions into small spaces... [The film and book] are both perfectly tailored for classroom use and various communal venues--offering a common ground for discussion among people of myriad points of view."--Julianne Lutz Warren, Journal of Environmental Studies and Science

"Captivating in its narrative and imagery… Brian Swimme is a great storyteller who uses down to earth illustrations such as the comparison between an egg and the crust of the Earth in order to convey his understanding." David Lorimer, The Scientific and Medical Network

Watch the related video

Trailer for Journey of the Universe, The Epic Story of Cosmic, Earth, and Human Transformation the documentary. Filmed on the Greek island of Samos, evolutionary philosopher Brian Thomas Swimme weaves a compelling story of the unfolding universe and humanity's evolving place in it. This engaging narrative combines scientific discoveries in astronomy, geology, biology, ecology and biodiversity with humanistic insights concerning the nature of the cosmos. Big science, big history, big culture, the Journey of the Universe project was created by Brian Thomas Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker with a team of expert scientists, scholars, and filmmakers.

Related links

Visit the Official Journey of the Universe Website