A Most Improbable Journey Audiobook By Walter Alvarez cover art

A Most Improbable Journey

A Big History of Our Planet and Ourselves

 Preview
Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2026 11:59pm PT
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just $0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible Premium Plus.
1 audiobook per month of your choice from our unparalleled catalog.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Most Improbable Journey

By: Walter Alvarez
Narrated by: Adam Verner
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends January 21, 2026 11:59pm PT.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.69

Buy for $13.69

LIMITED TIME OFFER | Get 3 months for $0.99 a month

$14.95/mo thereafter-terms apply.

Big History, the field that studies the entire known past of our universe to give context to human existence, has so far been the domain of historians. Geologist Walter Alvarez - best known for his Impact Theory explaining dinosaur extinction - makes a compelling case for a new, science-first approach to Big History. He brings a scientist's view to the human story, from the creation of our universe and our planet, the rise of life, the movement of our continents and its effect on human migration, to humanity's ascendance due to our mastery of Earth's natural resources. Alvarez's illuminating observations will give listeners a new appreciation of the events, from the Big Bang to the Bronze Age and beyond, that have led to the human situation.

©2016 Walter Alvarez (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC Astronomy & Space Science Biological Sciences Cosmology Earth Sciences Environment Evolution Evolution & Genetics Physics Science World Natural History Paleontology Astronomy

People who viewed this also viewed...

T. Rex and the Crater of Doom Audiobook By Walter Alvarez, Carl Zimmer - foreword cover art
T. Rex and the Crater of Doom By: Walter Alvarez, and others
All stars
Most relevant
Loved this entertaining, highly informative tour of our Big History. From the big bang theory to the uniqueness of each of us humans, captivating!

big history made accessible

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An incredibly clear and understandable presentation of an amazingly complex story/ This is the goal of Big History. It is just that Alvarez does it a step further. A must read for anyone interested in who we are and how we got here!

The Best Big History Presentation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great, and easy to understand, narrative on how improbable our current earth is as we know it today and us who live upon this planet. It should be required reading for all of our high school students!

A must read!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Terrifically informative. Will listen to it again and would recommend it to anyone interested in geology and history.

Learned so much

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What disappointed you about A Most Improbable Journey?

Alvarez is a world class scientist with a wealth of information all about him at UC Berkeley. Yet he produced a grade-school version of Guns Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond- who really did open a fascinating view of history and mankind. Alvarez produced no insights nor a single "aha!" moment.

So deeply disappointed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.