Chardin (1881-1955) was a Jesuit priest, paleontologist, anthropologist, theologian, and geologist who wrote about everything from Christian mysticism to ecology. This book explores the birth of our planet, through the emergence of life, the birth of thought and socialization, and the unique ways in which humanity interacts with this creation on a planetary scale. Editor-translator, Appleton-Weber, provides an introduction reviewing Chardin's works and thoughts, but primarily discusses the need for a new English translation due to the fundamental errors in previous editions.