A friend, Paul Raynault who had been partners for years with an even closer friend Tom Martin, put together an amazing book called “13.7 Billion Years in 24 pages”. Since the rate of evolution of the world has accelerated geometrically during its life, he decided that each chapter would be a three times as long as the succeeding chapter. Thus, working from beginning to end, the second chapter covers the period from 13.7 billion years ago to 4.6 years ago the third chapter covers from 4.6 billion to 1.5 billion years ago….while the 18th chapter covers 1630-1840, the next from 1840 to 1910 and so on to the last chapter, 1990 to now, followed by an epilogue about the future.
This approach of using factors of three from period to period allows the whole 13.7 billion years to be covered in 22 2-page chapters, placing emphasis on what is most meaningful to us. The design of this book demonstrates true innovation!
The book includes many other features. For example, explaining to youngsters (if not oldsters) the entire history of the earth. Unfortunately, Paul died before he could publish this book. If any editors, writers, agents, or publishers read this note and might be interested to look deeper into any opportunity for disseminating it, please contact me at to discuss. If this brief book were ever published, in its current form or perhaps expanded, it would have an impact, and of course make Paul’s family very happy.
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