Who's a great writer on the subject and what books do you recommend?
Your local library (or chain) may have them. They're also on iTunes.
Astronomy I: Earth, Sky, and Planets
Astronomy II: Stars, Galaxies, and The Universe.
The second is more "cosmology", though the first establishes a lot relevant to our part of it.
The latest I read, "Breakthrough" includes some chapters on cosmology.
I wrote a critic in my personal blog (domain is like my nickname).
2. Every book written by Harlow Shapley
Your local library (or chain) may have them. They're also on iTunes.
Astronomy I: Earth, Sky, and Planets
Astronomy II: Stars, Galaxies, and The Universe.
The second is more "cosmology", though the first establishes a lot relevant to our part of it.