Here is a concise, understandable guide for everyone who has long wondered what the cosmologists are talking about. Succinctly and simply, Craig Hogan explains what happened in the Big Bang (and how we know), why we think the universe is expanding, and what its fate may be. He explains such terms as "cosmic inflation", "cosmic background radiation," and "dark matter" and shows why they're important. Everyone who is mystified by news stories about the universe (and reports that "the Big Bang theory is in trouble") can get a quick, painless grounding in the basics from this entertaining little book.