Published by Gaia Books, 1991, Hardback in Dust Wrapper. 1st Ed.
Condition: Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and top corners with commensurate ruffling to the dust wrapper.
Illustrated with charts, tables and diagrams. From the cover: How lucky it is for humans to inhabit such a congenial planet. Or is it just luck?
Why is earth the only planet in the solar system where life has evolved and thrived so? What makes the earth so different?
Is it going to stay a perfect planet for life?
In this, James Lovelocks most challenging book yet, he addresses these, and many more questions. The Gaia hypothesis, where he sets out the idea of a living planet, has been developed further. If the planetary biosphere is a living system, is it well? Taking this as a starting point, he subjects the planet to a thoroughgoing mid-life health check and examination. What he finds is both enthralling and frightening. Like any other middle-aged life form, Gaia has taken some knocks, some very serious, in the past. Recovery has always been complete. But Gaia is sick now, and it is serious. Humanity seems to be part of the problem, and we are only just realizing the fact.
What is the prognosis? Will Gaia survive?
If she does, will we humans still be part of her living system?
These challenges are explored with that originality of vision and scientific rigour which have brought James Lovelock such acclaim. Now, for the first time, his ideas are coupled with stunningly imaginative visuals, which allow him to present Gaias anatomy and physiology, as well as her diseases with dramatic clarity making this book an essential buy for all of us who are concerned for the planet and its life, including ourselves.
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