Science has never been more popular. This is reflected in the news, where cosmic discoveries are making headlines on a regular basis, but it’s also seen in our culture. Many of today’s most popular TV shows and movies are either based on a scientific premise, or feature scientists as main characters. There is a particular field of science, however, that invariably receives more attention than any other: astrophysics. We are naturally drawn to this field because it deals with some of our biggest questions about how the universe works, and what our place is within it. If you have an interest in learning more about the cosmos, but you’re short on time, this book was written for you.