<DIV><DIV><DIV><B>A Leading Figure in the Development of the New Cosmology Explains What It All Means</B><BR>&nbsp;<BR>Among his peers, Alex Vilenkin is regarded as one of the most imaginative and creative cosmologists of our time. His contributions to our current understanding of the universe include a number of novel ideas, two of which&#8212;eternal cosmic inflation and the quantum creation of the universe from nothing&#8212;have provided a scientific foundation for the possible existence of multiple universes. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>With this book&#8212;his first for the general reader&#8212;Vilenkin joins another select group: the handful of first-rank scientists who are equally adept at explaining their work to nonspecialists. With engaging, well-paced storytelling, a droll sense of humor, and a generous sprinkling of helpful cartoons, he conjures up a bizarre and fascinating new worldview that&#8212;to paraphrase Niels Bohr&#8212;just might be crazy enough to be true.</DIV></DIV></DIV>