Out there in the cold, dark silence of space, the planets have been quietly rewriting the story of our existence. In The Planets, Brian Cox takes you by the hand and launches you into that story—part cosmic road trip, part scientific detective tale, and part love letter to the universe.

From the scorching surface of Mercury to the icy winds of Neptune, Cox explores each planet not just as a distant rock or gas giant, but as a character with a dramatic past. You’ll discover worlds shaped by violent collisions, runaway greenhouse effects, frozen oceans, and colossal storms that have raged for centuries. Along the way, he connects these alien landscapes back to Earth, showing how understanding other planets helps us understand our own fragile home.

What makes this book special is its sense of wonder. Brian Cox writes science the way it should be written: clear, thrilling, and full of big, jaw-dropping ideas, without ever talking down to the reader. Whether you’re a casual stargazer, a science enthusiast, or someone who simply loves asking “how did we get here?”, this book will leave you looking up at the night sky with fresh eyes.

It’s astronomy with heart, scale, and awe—the kind of book that reminds you just how small we are, and how extraordinary that is.

Product details
Author: Brian Cox
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780007488841
Publisher: William Collins
Dimensions: 246 x 286 mm