Greenblatt Preface

The stuff of the universe, Lucretius proposed, is an infinite number of atoms moving randomly through space, like dust motes in a sunbeam, colliding, hooking together, forming complex structures, breaking apart again, in a ceaseless process of creation and destruction. There is no escape from this process. When you look up at the night sky and, feeling unaccountably moved, marvel at the numberless stars, you are not seeing the handiwork of the gods or a crystalline sphere detached from our transient world. You are seeing the same material world of which you are a part and from whose elements you are made. There is no master plan, no divine architect, no intelligent design. All things, including the species to which you belong, have evolved over vast stretches of time. The evolution is random, though in the case of living organisms it involves a principle of natural selection. That is, species that are suited to survive and to reproduce successfully endure, at least for a time; those that are not so well suited die off quickly. But nothing—from our own species to the planet on which we live to the sun that lights our days—lasts forever. Only the atoms are immortal.

Greenblatt's writing is incredibly interesting and grabs your attention very well. The use of imagery early in this paragraph enables the reader to visualize the concept and see those infinite numbers of atoms colliding with each other in a never-ending process of destruction and creation, like the particles of dust you can see flying around in a beam of light.
The second unique part of this paragraph is the complete denial of a god or gods and any intelligent design at all. When you look into the sky, you are not seeing something magical or something created by a god. By coming out and flatly saying "There is no divine architect," Greenblatt surprises the reader and you become immersed in what he has to say. He follows Lucretius' beliefs and argues for things like evolution and natural selection, while dismissing intelligent design and religion. It is a fact of life that death must follow; even those who adapt quickly and are "suited to survive" eventually will die, just like the ones who do not adapt well. Absolutely nothing is immortal, except for the atoms of the universe. Everything will someday cease to exist. Therefore, we should not be afraid of death or be intimidated by death. Dying is just as important as life. I enjoy Greenblatt's writing in that it is able to so quickly take its reader's attention by coming out with big claims as if they were mere facts. The writing flows very well and it's a great paragraph to read.