The Whole Shebang : A State of the Universe(S) Report by Timothy Ferris  (61)
|
Coming of Age in the Milky Way by Timothy Ferris |
The Red Limit: The Search for the Edge of the Universe by Timothy Ferris  (3)
|
Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril by Timothy Ferris  (21)
|
The Mind's Sky: Human Intelligence in a Cosmic Context by Timothy Ferris  (7)
$19.00
|
This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but millions of other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in.
|
|||||||||
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rock-solid science writer Timothy Ferris has covered this ground before. In the two-hour PBS documentary that he wrote and narrated--which shares the title, text, and many of the images of this generously illustrated book--Ferris tackles two age-old questions about the potentially universal nature of life: Are we alone, and, if not, is anybody listening?
See all Editorial Reviews
Rock-solid science writer Timothy Ferris has covered this ground before. In the two-hour PBS documentary that he wrote and narrated--which shares the title, text, and many of the images of this generously illustrated book--Ferris tackles two age-old questions about the potentially universal nature of life: Are we alone, and, if not, is anybody listening?
He's quick to warn that Life Beyond Earth isn't a "textbook," that its "aim is not so much to provide answers as to help improve the quality of the questions we all ask." Given that caveat, what Ferris has put together here is a very approachable--and certainly very beautiful--survey of the evolution of life on Earth, and the implications of that for possibly finding tenacious pockets of life elsewhere, maybe even in our own solar system.
Ferris begins with the twin assumptions that we know now that life is tougher than we ever imagined, and that we "should never underestimate the scope of human ignorance." From there, he uses creatively illustrated examples to explain everything from Earth's geological and biological timeline (with a Porsche C4S on 5 kilometers of salt flats) to why Fermi's question might deserve a good-hearted poke (as he waits for an uninvited lobster to crawl onto his plate at a dinner table in Florence). Ferris has also pulled together scores of gorgeous photographs from Hubble and other sources, eye-opening if brief accounts of explorers past and present (both human and robotic), and short observations from scientists in multiple disciplines.
Unless you're already well-read in the subject, you'll likely find that Ferris achieves his goal. Life Beyond Earth doesn't just raise questions, it raises particularly interesting ones that you might not have even thought to ask. --Paul Hughes
From Publishers Weekly
Based on a TV documentary (and using the same script), this accessible study of the search for alien life translates well to audio. In a pleasant, scholarly tone, Ferris explains what scientists have learned about the origins of life on earth, evolution and the possibility of life on other planets. He dignifies the oft-mocked search for extra-terrestrials, confirming that many "serious" scientists find reason to assume that life exists elsewhere in the universe. Ferris addresses the science world's current and potential search methods, including recent space-probes sent to Mars, Europa and Titan to seek organic matter. His explanations are clear and easy to understand, but not dumbed down, and the text uses metaphors that the average listener can understand. For example, Ferris explains that when scientists notice that a particular far-off star seems to "wobble," it indicates that a planet is rotating around that star, because even a small planet exerts a gravitational pull on its star, "like a toy poodle on a leash running in circles around its owner." For the layperson, this is an excellent introduction to an intriguing topic, though listeners may miss the 100-plus illustrations in the hardcover version. Based on the Simon & Schuster hardcover.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
