The Search for Life on Other Planets [Paperback]

Bruce Jakosky (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521598370 | ISBN-13: 978-0521598378 | Publication Date: November 13, 1998 | Edition: 1

In The Search for Life on Other Planets, Jakosky offers a scientific foundation for thinking there may be life elsewhere in the Universe. Using the early history of the Earth and the conditions that would allow life to exist, he creates a sound, scientific foundation for the possibility of life on planets other than our own. Jakosky integrates the mechanics of planets and recent findings from our planetary exploration program to create a rich and accessible look at the likelihood of extraterrestrials and the possibility of life on other planets. His prose is authoritative but avoids technical jargon and is well illustrated throughout. For all those interested in understanding the scientific evidence for and likelihood of extraterrestrial life, this is the most comprehensive and readable book to date. Bruce Jakosky is active in spacecraft observations, and has been involved with the Viking, Solar Mesosphere Explorer, Clementine, Mars Observer, and Mars Global Surveyor missions. Currently, he teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in terrestrial and planetary geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Scholarly but accessible, University of Colorado geology professor Jakosky's study of the possibility of extraterrestrial life has an organization that reflects its origin as an undergraduate course called "Extraterrestrial Life." Each chapter reads like a self-contained lecture that builds carefully on the preceding ones. Most chapters end with a section of "concluding comments" reminiscent of a skilled instructor's lecture summary, tying threads of evidence together yet leaving open questions for the next class period. After opening with a look at the development of and requirements for terrestrial life, Jakosky conducts a tour of the universe, steadily progressing toward more speculative venues. The first stop is Mars and the controversial evidence of bacterial life there in ancient epochs. Then it's onward to Venus, the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, and then to possible terrestrial planets in orbit around other stars. We now know that such planets are likely to exist, but are habitable environments common? Is biology rare, or is life an opportunistic and tenacious phenomenon, almost certain to spring up where conditions are right? If life appears, is intelligence a natural consequence? The excitement of those questions, says Jakosky, is not that the answers are at hand, but that the quest has moved from theory to observation and experiment. He leaves his readers eagerly awaiting the next discoveries. 64 halftones; 73 line drawings.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Jakosky has done an excellent job conveying the excitement and depth of astrobiology...[the book] is a cleverly written account that is easily digested. Jakosky is to be congratulated on what will become a classic work." Science Spectra

"...offers readers an entry point to the latest ideas and issues in astrobiology....Jakosky's considerable experience as a geologist and teacher thinking about this material is evident in the book's superb organization and progression of ideas." Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

"...the treatment is clear, authoritative, well illustrated, and thorough." Choice

"...a well-illustrated guide to the biological universe." Physics Today

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (November 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521598370
• ISBN-13: 978-0521598378
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,042,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to a rapidly advancing field, February 29, 2000

By 

Michael Tice - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for Life on Other Planets (Paperback)

Bruce Jakosky has done an excellent job of pulling together recent thinking from many of the different disciplines that contribute to looking for life on other planets. It would be extremely difficult to find another book that does as good a job at discussing such up-to-date material at an introductory level without sacrificing too much depth. The material in this book should be understandable to advanced undergraduates in biology, geology, chemistry, or physics. It is probably best read by skipping from topic to topic rather than straight through from cover to cover. The "Additional Reading" section at the end provides very good references for more advanced discussions. Overall, I found "The Search for Life on Other Planets" to be an extremely helpful introduction and a good launching board for further reading.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A strong endorsement for the SETI program., November 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Search for Life on Other Planets (Paperback)

Mr. Jakosky has presented his optimistic view for life on other planets, not just life, but intelligent life. His conclusions are in contrast to those reached by Stuart Ross Taylor's "Destiny or Chance: Our Solar System and its Place in the Cosmos". He has gone into a more exhaustive investigation of the creation of Earth and subsequent life than Taylor did in his book. However, I found it somewhat laborious to plow thru, tending to skip some passages. For anyone with an interest in the subject, I would recommend both books.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive treatment of a fascinating topic, April 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Search for Life on Other Planets (Hardcover)

Bruce Jakosky has made a marvelous contribution to a subject that will inevitably command increasing attention. His book is well organized, it is well written and the many photos and diagrams add significantly to its value. His explanations of relevant topics are clear whether they involve the fields of geology, chemistry, biology or astronomy. All in all, he does a great job in presenting an objective assessment of the likelihood of finding life within our solar system. Highly readable and it's well worth it.