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Life's Engines: How Microbes Made Earth Habitable (Science Essentials) Hardcover – April 27, 2015

by Paul G. Falkowski (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars 23 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Series: Science Essentials
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Princeton University Press (April 27, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0691155372
  • ISBN-13: 978-0691155371
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsHow microbes rule the pale blue dot
By Molly on June 29, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Paul Falkowski is an eminent scientist who studies the impact of aquatic photosynthetic microbes on Earth's geochemical cycles and climate. This book is intended for the general reader. Without using technical jargon, he explains how microbes shaped the early planet, from the "oxygen revolution" as cyanobacteria supplied the first oxygen to the atmosphere and powered the first eukaryotes and multicellular life, to the role of microbes in interlocking and stabilizing the nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen, and carbon cycles. The perspective is fresh, even for a scientifically aware reader, from the depiction of life as a "marketplace of electrons" changing hands to the "core nanomachines" of life (evolutionarily conserved macromolecular assemblies) which are continually repurposed. His writing style is engaging and the black-and-white illustrations nice. My favorite might be his description of the photoacoustic effect as tiny molecular claps. I have a few reservations about the book. In an attempt to keep the book accessible, he avoids any discussion of quantum energy levels or thermodynamics. It's hard to explain photosynthesis without those concepts. He doesn't explain catalysis and refers consistently to "nanomachines" except where he slips and calls them enzymes, without explanation. Sometimes it's better to give a full explanation which the reader might not entirely grasp than to quit early and be sure to mystify. For instance, there is a detailed diagram of reaction centers in photosynthesis, with photosystem I and II and photophosphorylation depicted; if you're going to go that far you might as well explain why there are two photosystems and how they work together.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsGaia's Anatomy: A Remarkable Achievment
By j a haverstick on June 30, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Falkowski and I both had an aquarium and radio kits as youthful hobbies. I didn’t see any connection at all between the two. I guess that’s why I’m reading his book and he’s not reading mine.

There was a positive review in the NYRB, but with a warning that this was for the scientifically informed. I’m an interested layman and didn’t find it difficult. It’s only 180 pages long, well spaced. The first 50 pages are a breeze, and though a good background, could have easily been condensed. They relate the history of the microscope and how our knowledge has depended upon our ability to visualize microbes. Then we get into the chapter on nanomachines. This is where the speed bumps appear. At this point I had to Google some basic concepts, you know, nucleic acid, sulfide/sulphate, and the like; but only a dozen times. And frankly Falkowski does such a good job laying out the story, it’s really a matter of how deep the reader wants to go. Perhaps a glossary would have been helpful. The graphs and diagrams are also extremely well presented and helpful.

If I had to pick one main topic it’s the evolution of the nanomachines as the energy producing artifacts in all life on earth. And our old friend ATP plays a large part as well. This is a great overview of the discoveries of the last decades of the tine mechanics of life. Additionally, the subtext is the recognition - angelfish and whisker radios - that the system as a whole is like, no, IS, an incredibly large, complex, interconnected chemo-electrical system.

The gene transfers between “species” of microbes are explained and, very interesting to me, as I had not heard of it before, the notion of a concordium consisting of many microbial species.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsBest written description and explanations in this area
By Robert J. Kremer on May 18, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Best written description and explanations in this area, which should be beneficial to those not intensively educated in the area of environmental and applied microbiology but who wish to have an accurate yet understandable overview of the principles involved.
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5.0 out of 5 starsMicrobes are at the controls and we humans are tinkering with some things we do not yet fully understand.
By lyndonbrecht TOP 1000 REVIEWER on July 20, 2015
Format: Hardcover
This is perhaps the best of the "Science Essentials" series from Princeton UP. The writing is very good and the various graphics are insightful and get complex points across better than usual. The book is written for the intelligent layperson; the science is about college sophomore level, I would say. Some readers may find the content difficult, but Falkowski is very good at explaining complex concepts. I admit to not fully understanding how horizontal transfer of DNA among microbes works, and I wish he had used a better phrase than "microbial nanomachine."

The first sections of the book are really a kind of history of how science came to understand evolution, and how the existence of and then the importance of microbial life came to be understood. He describes how oxygen evolved, so to speak, in the atmosphere. He essentially sees a process combining the total activities of life, geological processes, chemistry and other elements worked together to create the atmosphere, and not only create it but maintain it over a long span. His concept isn't quite Gaia, but does see life as a major actor in the planet's history.

One thing I'd like to see more of is his discussion of viruses in the oceans. He says that in the upper ocean, there are several hundred million viruses per milliliter of water, outnumbering bacteria and other microbes ten to one. That indicates a major constituent that seems to be little studied.

A fascinating aspect of the book is what he describes as microbial consortia, a sort of allied group that works together, and may number dozens of species that in effect communicate via chemical signals, in what he calls "quorum sensing." Can microbes have evolved as groups rather than indivuduals?Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsWho are in (electronic) charge of Earth?

In this surprisingly short piece, the author manages to convince us that "microbes" are the stewards of Earth! Read more

Published 2 months ago by Serge H Ahmed
5.0 out of 5 starsFascinating and illuminating

I can't add much to the intelligent reviews already here, especially Mr. haverstick's. This is a fascinating and illuminating book for anyone willing to attempt to broaden their... Read more

Published 2 months ago by doug korty
5.0 out of 5 starsA monumental achievement

This is a historically important book, a true masterpiece. Not only was I completely unable to stop reading it, I have been thinking about it nonstop since finishing it. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Gidon Eshel
5.0 out of 5 starsMore please...

I work in a juvenile detention center and this book has made for some pretty interesting conversations on campus! Read more

Published 5 months ago by Julie Forbes
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

I am really enjoying reading this book. Clear and well written.

Published 6 months ago by kelly eckel
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Superb. Thank you.

Published 7 months ago by Thomas L. Wilborn
5.0 out of 5 starsA fantastic book for anyone interested in learning

Before I start, I should mention that I am admittedly biased as someone who is at the same university and field as Paul Falkowski. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Patrick Nosker
5.0 out of 5 starsA new subject for me and well written.

Good book; fills in a lot of blanks for me about the mechanics of evolution .

Published 8 months ago by J.Ingle
5.0 out of 5 starsRead This Book or Wallow in Your Ignorance!

There are many reasons for the non-scientist to love this book. Falkowski lays out the latest scientific knowledge about the origins of life, and how life works on a molecular... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Bootless Crier
5.0 out of 5 starsRead This Book!

Falkowski describes in very clear detail how life is dependent on microbes of various types. He goes on to write about how microbes themselves interact with each other. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Greg

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