Because it takes time for light to reach us, we see more and more distant regions of the universe as they looked in the successively greater past. Chris Impey uses this concept of "look-back time" to take an intergalactic tour from current-day Earth to the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang. Pausing at landmarks such as the oldest star and the first ray of light, he provides stunning descriptions but also illustrates the latest theories of the origin of everything. Along the way he introduces readers to researchers tackling such mysteries as cosmic inflation and the possibility of parallel universes. Enlivened by vivid descriptions and lucid explanations, How It Began offers a breathtaking tour from the familiar sights of the night sky to the most remote frontiers of the enigmatic early universe.