Earth systems logical thoght processes.

books:

	• The Life and Death of Planet Earth: How the New Science of Astrobiology Charts the Ultimate Fate of Our World Peter D. Ward, Donald Brownlee Holt Paperbacks, 2004 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 26 reviews view larger image
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Fascinating read....

"The Rare Earth" is, along with Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel," one of the two or three most interesting books I have ever read. "The Life and Death of the Planet Earth" is a fascinating compliment to The Rare Earth" that makes you feel like you were in a dark room of ignorance about life and the cycle of life on earth and then someone turned on the lights and you look around and suddenly it all makes sense. As a non-scientist (lawyer) I found the book immensely enlightening and easily readable. I would not only highly recommend this book, I think it should be mandatory reading, along with "The Rare Earth," for every high school student everywhere. Truly an enjoyable and rewarding read.

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Earth systems logical thoght processes.

The ideas exposed in this book may not be shared by all astrobiologists/scientists however I find its Earth systems approach highly valuable, taking the reader through the thinking process behind most current astrobiological hypothesis on the evolution of a habitable planet. Thus it is not the conclusions it reaches which I personally find of the highest value but its underlying logical thought process and the manner in which the author approaches as well the non specialized reader by ways of powerful analogies. Ihrenes 2006.

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Very good read

Some parts of this book repeat several times (could have been edited better), but it is an eye opening book. The latest theories are represented here in a very logical progression. Very enjoyable and educational read.

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Metric Conversion Chart

I had a dream that I was transported 30 million years into the future but there were no humans; not anywhere ! Compared to 'Rare Earth' the writing is more general in nature, almost as if the book were written very quickly. I wanted the english measurements vs the metric ones being the layman that I am which I on occasion got but I'm too lazy to make conversions. ie: -65 degrees celsius is the temperature of the stratosphere when it begins but -65 degrees celsius has no meaning to me. I want to know the fahrenheit degrees and since I'm lazy, I still haven't done the conversion because I'm not a college student. Comparing the death of planet earth to Peter's dying grandmother was very sad and a little creepy. The anology may turn out to be right on the money but writing about it even now I'm feeling creeped out. There are a good number of ideas presented but not in any real detail. An example would be the intriguing notion of when plate tectonics might end due to a slowing of upwardly rising heat. A little more background would have been appreciated because the idea is so interesting but these are the kind of things that happen when you're writing to a strict deadline. I'm giving the book 4 stars because it's a decent generalist read. If you're not lazy like me you might even consider doing the conversions and following up the sections of interest with further research.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

?They deftly bring together findings from many disparate areas of science in a book that science buffs will find hard to put down.? ?Publishers Weekly

Science has worked hard to piece together the story of the evolution of our world up to this point, but only recently have we developed the understanding and the tools to describe the entire life cycle of our planet. Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee, a geologist and an astronomer respectively, are in the vanguard of the new field of astrobiology. Combining their knowledge of how the critical sustaining systems of our planet evolve through time with their understanding of how stars and solar systems grow and change throughout their own life cycles, the authors tell the story of the second half of Earth?s life. In this masterful melding of groundbreaking research and captivating, eloquent science writing, Ward and Brownlee provide a comprehensive portrait of Earth?s life cycle that allows us to understand and appreciate how the planet sustains itself today, and offers us a glimpse of our place in the cosmic order.

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