As he takes us through the astounding process of emergence, we are witness to the first tentative steps toward life - from the unfathomable abundance of carbon biomolecules synthesized in the black vacuum of space to the surface of the Earth to deep within our planet's restless crust. We are privy to the breathtaking drama that rapidly unfolds as life prevails. The theory of emergence is poised to answer a multitude of questions - even as it raises the possibility that natural processes exist beyond what we now know, perhaps beyond what we even comprehend. "Genesis" tells the tale of transforming scientific advances in our quest for life's origins. Written with grace, beauty, and authority, it goes directly to the heart of who we are and why we are here.

"What is the meaning of life? Hazen (co-author, Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy) can't answer that, but he may be able to shed light on how life started. We're all familiar with the 'primordial soup' theory: organic building blocks floating around in Earth's ocean four billion years ago combined to form the first primitive organisms. Hazen explains the many rival theories vying for public attention. The discovery of life near hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean have led some scientists to propose that life started there, while recent studies of microbes living in rock miles below Earth's surface point to even more radical genesis stories. The origin of life is a hotly contested scientific field, of which Hazen provides a balanced view, airing all the controversies, and only slightly favoring his own pet theory. He spends just as much time on the tools of the trade: the study of molecular fossils and even how we might search for life on other planets. His writing is clear and entertaining, giving a delightful look into his unpredictable experimental work without shying away from the complexity of the science. (Sept. 23)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Hazen (earth science, George Mason U.) synthesizes work from across numerous scientific disciplines in order to explain the theory of emergent phenomena and the origins of life on earth to a non- specialist audience. After introducing the conceptual framework of the theory of emergence, he describes current scientific understanding regarding the emergence of diverse biomolecules, of larger structures composed of many molecules, and of self-replicating collections of molecules (the "RNA World"). He also include a section of notes and a bibliography for readers wishing to locate more detailed discussion of particular topics.
Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Hazen (earth science, George Mason U.) synthesizes work from across numerous scientific disciplines in order to explain the theory of emergent phenomena and the origins of life on earth to a non- specialist audience. After introducing the conceptual framework of the theory of emergence, he describes current scientific understanding regarding the emergence of diverse biomolecules, of larger structures composed of many molecules, and of self-replicating collections of molecules (the "RNA World"). He also include a section of notes and a bibliography for readers wishing to locate more detailed discussion of particular topics. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)