Rare earth : why complex life is uncommon in the universe ([Updated ed.])

The sweeping diversity of complex life on Earth, Ward and Brownlee argue, evolved out of an extraordinary set of physical conditions and chance events that would be extremely hard to duplicate--though not impossible.

Many planets throughout the vastness of the Universe may be teeming with microbial life, but advancement beyond this stage is very rare.

Everyone with an interest in the possible extent of life in the Universe and the nature of life's evolution on our own planet will be fascinated by Rare Earth. "...likely to cause a revolution in thinkinbg..."--The New York Times "...[the book] has hit the world of astrobiologists like a killer asteroid..."--Newsday (New York) "...a sobering and valuable perspective..."--Science "...a startling new hypothesis..."--Library Journal "...Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee offer a powerful argument..."--The Economist "...provocative, significant, and sweeping..."--Northwest Science & Technology "...a stellar example of clear writing..."--American Scientist "...well thought out and intriguing..."--Icarus "...a pleasure for the rational reader ...what good books are all about..."--The Associated Press