"This book is original, stimulating, and charmingly modest while sketching some grand ideas. There may be better guides to thinking about the universe than Martin Rees, but not on our planet!" --Robert P. Kirshner, Harvard University and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics " Our Cosmic Habitat is certain to be widely quoted and widely read. It is beautifully written, using inspiring and stimulating analogies. While the book is intended for the nonscientist, it provides an accurate guide to the best current thinking about the nature and constitution of our universe. If I wanted to give a gift to a person I would like to become a close friend, this is the book I would choose." --John N. Bahcall, Institute for Advanced Study "In this book, Martin Rees, one of the leading figures in theoretical astrophysics, offers the reader his unique perspective on the field and introduces many of the most exciting new results and ideas in astronomy.

" --David N. Spergel, Princeton University " Our Cosmic Habitat . has an informed style and breadth of coverage that make it a joy to read. Rees's explanations are exactly right." --William G. Unruh, Science "Confident, helpful, modest and good-humored. Rees, a masterful theorist, brings readers a sheaf of insights." -- American Scientist "[An] awe-inspiring survey.

Rees is not only a world-class cosmologist but one of our best living science writers." --John Cornwell, Sunday Times "The clearest and most easily understandable account of our universe available. We should be grateful that not only has a Universe arisen that allows life, but that a scientist of the calibre of Rees is willing to explain it to us." --Ian Morison, New Scientist "Lay readers will appreciate Rees' clear, uncomplicated prose, even when dealing with tough stuff that leaves most physicists tongue-tied. Most welcome of all, he explains how scientists know what they claim to know." --K.C. Cole, Los Angeles Times "There is a lot of stuff in the universe--the estimated number of stars is 10 followed by 22 zeros.

But as to whether there are other planets with life like Earth's, Rees says the chance of two similar ecologies is less than the chance of two randomly typing monkeys producing the same Shakespearean play." --George F. Will, Washington Post.