The solar system. Dinosaurs. Donkey Kong. The missing link? Surprisingly enough, it's meteors. They explain our past, constructed our present, and could define our future. Impact argues that earth would be a lifeless, inhospitable piece of rock without being fortuitously assaulted with meteorites throughout the history of the planet. These bombardments transformed Earth’s early atmosphere and delivered water and complex organic molecules that allowed for life to develop on our planet. While meteorites have provided the raw materials for life to thrive, they have radically devastated life as well, most famously killing off the dinosaurs and paving the way for humans to evolve to where we are today. As Brennecka explains, meteorites did not just set us on the path to becoming human, they helped direct the development of human culture. Meteorites have influenced humanity since the start of civilization. Over the centuries, meteorite falls and other cosmic cinema have started (and stopped) wars, terrified millions, and inspired religions. Using humor, interesting facts, and many previously unknown but important stories to delight and inform readers about the most important rocks on Earth, Brennecka proves that these rocks shaped both the evolution of our planet, and the evolution of human culture.