This book explores the close ties between our aesthetic appreciation and the basic nature of the Universe, challenging commonly held views that our sense of beauty is entirely free and unfettered.

This new, expanded edition includes eight new sections and many other updates to the text.

1: Tales of the unexpected
2: The impact of evolution
3: Size, life, and landscape
4: The heavens and the Earth
5: The natural history of noise
6: All's well that ends well