A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters

A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters is a nonfiction science book by Andrew H. Knoll that presents Earth’s history as a deep-time narrative, moving through major stages of planetary evolution over roughly 4.6 billion years. The book is described by HarperCollins as a sweeping history of Earth that places the planet’s environmental crisis in deep context and frames Earth’s past through an accessible, chapter-based structure. The title and publisher listing identify it as a hardcover science book with 272 pages, issued as a Mariner Books imprint title. The format and subject positioning indicate that it is aimed at general readers interested in geology, Earth history, and the long-term development of life and environments on our planet. Secondary listings also confirm the author, title, ISBN-13, and publication date, aligning the book with Andrew H. Knoll’s work as a geologist and science writer. The book’s structure, as suggested by the subtitle, divides Earth’s 4 billion-plus years into eight chapters, making complex planetary history more approachable for non-specialists while still grounded in scientific interpretation. The book was published in 2021 and is presented as a hardcover trade title in the science category.