Customer Reviews

James Lovelock: In Search of Gaia

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From Buddy Holly to James Lovelock in one easy bound! John Gribbin's versatility shines through in this book, suitably matching the versatility of his subject -- the some time chemist, physician, space scientist, inventor, Earth scientist and now would be astronaut (at the age of 90!) whose vision of Gaia has changed thinking about the planet we live on. This is the best explanation of Gaia theory around, as well as being an intriguing biography of one of the great figures of twentieth century science. Lovelock, it seems, has always questioned authority and never accepted received wisdom without checking it for himself. Independent-minded and working independently of any academic system, he is more like an eighteenth century scientist than a modern one, and his iconoclastic attitude has led him to his most powerful insights. This reader, at least, can only conclude that the academic system has made a wrong turning somewhere along the line.

What more can be said about this book other than it is an insightful classic. Whilst I disagree with the author on nuclear power (which has a net 2% gain over coal!), much of his information is solid, verifyable and well written for a lay audience.

I especially like that he takes the focus off the 'easy' climate change issues and highlights the more disturbing and immediate threats which will see the planet's environment altered significantly far sooner that global warming. An approachable and well written book.

For anyone interested in plaetary ecology, environmental science, climate change, mechanisms of large scale climate change or even the life and times of James Lovelock himself, this book is a worthy addition to the library.