Books in the Briefings series

Telling the story of Ali Mullaie, an Afghan asylum seeker, since granted refugee status in Australia, who spent three and half years detained on Nauru, this book backgrounds his profile and his fellow detainees with a discussion of the impact of the detention center and the 'Pacific Solution' on the people of Nauru and their country.

Briefings is a new series of short books to explain and clarify complex contemporary subjects, written for non-specialists by experts in their fields. Themes and topics covered will include Feminism, Education, Cosmology, Medical Ethics, Structuralism, Quantum Physics and Comparative Religion among others. Before the Beginning is a radical attempt to explain and redefine the origins and purpose of creation. Professor Ellis deals clearly and authoritatively with new scientific theories explaining how things began and elucidates the laws which control the operation of the universe. In addition he describes the complex mechanism by which the laws of physics appear to govern and facilitate, as well as to sustain human life. His conclusions about the very meaning of life are often unexpected, but the process by which he reaches them is illuminating and scientifically sound, as would be expected from one of the world's foremost cosmologists.