Rare Earth - Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe (Paperback, 2000)

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

General

Imprint:	Copernicus
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	2004
First published:	2000
Authors:	Peter D. Ward • Donald Brownlee
Dimensions:	235 x 155 x 27mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	335
Edition:	2000
ISBN-13:	978-0-387-95289-5
Categories:	Books > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy, space & time > Popular astronomy Books > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy, space & time > Cosmology & the universe Books > Science & Mathematics > Astronomy, space & time > Space travel & exploration
LSN:	0-387-95289-6
Barcode:	9780387952895

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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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