This book presents both the history and scientific background leading to the LHC, the world's collider. The story, as I see it, is an unlikely one - without some unexpected developments, we might not have ended up asking the right questions or organized, in the right way, the building of such a large scientific apparatus. Understanding the science is as important as understanding the history, both of which are presented at a level appropriate for an educated layperson or general undergraduate. The historical treatment starts with the discovery of radiation in 1895 and ends with the end of 'naturalness,' the LHC's most troubling revelation.