Just got done reading Rare Earth ( 5 stars see my review) by the same authors. Peter Ward is a Paleontologist and Donald Brownlee is an Astronomer. Together they use their collective expertise to create 2 great books. Both books read well, have no boring parts and are page burners. The reader wants to learn more. Read both books in two days each.
We see in The Life and Death of Planet Earth the different past ages and how long it took for primitive one cell life to evolve and then the great difficulty for planets and animals to evolve and last man. We see how fragile the planet is and the past extinctions where up to 90% of life at that time became extinct. We see ice ages and glaciers cooling the earth and greenhouse gases from Vulcanism and Plate Tectonics to keep earth warmer. We see a series of warming and cooling with different plants and animal becoming extinct. Later we see the loss of CO2 in the atmosphere, death of plants and animals. Finally only bacteria and single cell organisms left. We see the loss of the oceans until finally the earth is so hot all life perishes. Much later the sun expands into a red giant and swallows and destroys the Earth. Peter shows us the different cycles the earth has...CO2, water, Continent development and weathering and how each contribute to keep earth's climate in a range for liquid water to exist and plants and animals to survive.Lots more!
Donald shows use the death of stars, our sun becoming a red giant and swallowing up most of the inner planets including Earth, super novas, gamma ray bursts and more. Lots of ways our fragile Earth can be destroyed.
Later the authors tell us different ways we might try to escape Earth's final destruction. One go to Mars and terraform it. Two, move the Earth by deflecting comets and using their gravitational assist to move the Earth into Mar's orbit but first moving Mars out of the way. Seems far fetched to me. Then seeding different far away planets with our DNA and lastly the difficulty in stellar rocket travel.
I liked the part where we are told yes the world will end just like every human being. Enjoy, protect and cherish the planet while we can. A very interesting book, on a fascinating subject with input from a paleontologist and an astronomer. 5 stars and recommended.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
What do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
Jean-Lucien Gloor
Very good book. But page 91 is missing, replaced by page 95 appearing twice
Reviewed in Germany on August 16, 2022
E. L. Wisty
Downhill all the way? Another belter from W & B!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2008Juergen Bartholomae
Good book, but there's a huge printing error
Reviewed in Germany on July 22, 2020
