The sweeping diversity of complex life on Earth, Ward and Brownlee
argue, evolved out of an extraordinary set of physical conditions
and chance events that would be extremely hard to duplicatea "a
"though not impossible. Many planets throughout the vastness of the
Universe may be teeming with microbial life, but advancement beyond
this stage is very rare. Everyone with an interest in the possible
extent of life in the Universe and the nature of life's evolution
on our own planet will be fascinated by Rare Earth. .,."likely to
cause a revolution in thinking..." The New York Times .,."[the
book] has hit the world of astrobiologists like a killer
asteroid..." Newsday (New York) .,."a sobering and valuable
perspective..." Science .,."a startling new hypothesis..." Library
Journal .,."Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee offer a powerful
argument..." The Economist .,."provocative, significant, and
sweeping..." Northwest Science & Technology .,."a stellar
example of clear writing..." American Scientist
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Review This Product
Fri, 17 Jun 2005 | Review
by: Hein S.
A fascinating book to be enjoyed by both the novice and scientist. The authors systematically, and in a clear, logical and easy to read manner takes the reader on an epic journey through earth's history from hostile barren and inhospitable habitat for animal life to its more recent past as a piece of prime real estate in our galaxy (and perhaps the universe) for the developent of complex animal life. Many varied points of view, theories and hypotheses, from the earliest scientific realisation that earth has an ancient prehistory of life, to modern astrobiology, are presented in a rational, easily digestible manner. The many physical and biological changes which shaped our earth and ultimately directed evolution and the explotion of diverse species and Recent scientific findings that life (at least simple microbial life) is extremely enduring and may exist in previously unimaginable extremes, seems to indicate that such life may be quite common in the universe, our galaxy and perhaps even our own solar system. However, the miriad of seemingly unrelated (yet intimately tied and perfectly timed) factors required to play in perfect harmony for complex animal life to evolve, leaves one with an awstruck realisation that maybe we really are alone! Once started it is very difficult to put this thought-provoking spell-binding book down!
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