This overview, from the beginning of the Earth to the beginning of the universe, is easy to read without being condescending. It's a good read for people who are curious about how the universe may have started. The vocabulary is not too hard to pick up on, though some of the concepts may need a couple of read-throughs to pick up on.

Is Earth unique or are there similar planets orbiting other stars? Why were two legs better than four in the development of intelligent life on Earth? John Gribbin considers these questions and other topics as he takes a grand tour of concepts that have helped shaped our ideas about the universe.