Life in Darwin's Universe: Evolution and the Cosmos

by Gene Bylinsky, Wayne McLoughlin

Examines the creation of the universe, the origins of life on Earth, the many paths of evolution, and the possibilities of life on other planets with environmental conditions similar to those on Earth

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Evolution, Biology

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1987

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever. I remember my father having this book back when I was born, 1981, same year as it was published. When I was younger I was into the imaginative drawings of the creatures that may crop in non-earth environments. These fond memories got me to search out the book and buy it as an adult. While the book may be outdated it is still fascinating and informative on evolution and what life may be possible in our universe. An easy winner of my Best Book Ever award.

[Aaron Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since there were no characters per say i would say how the author explained everything really added a easy view into what darwinism was. My favorite part of the book would have to be when life first started and DNA was first getting made with the deoxyribose and phosphate backbone and the base pairs getting made. the writing style was straight to the point and that really helped understand everything going on because there was nothing that had to be side explained to make to confusing. the novel moved a little quicker than most people would want but it goes back billions and billions of year to the big bang theory when (i believe) the universe started. i can make a connection because u believe in the big bang theory and how life started with the deoxyribose and phosphates.

[James Bylinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

gene bylinsky is my grandfather, he died in 2008 when i was 3. i didn't know him that much so all of my memories of my grandfather are in this book which i finished yesterday after seeing it on my dads bookshelf. there might be some bias in this review, and this might be note much to say, because if i was 3 in 2008 you can do the math to how old i am now, but this is one of the most interesting books i have ever read, and if i have to remember my grandpa by only this book, which i am pretty much already doing, it wont be the worse thing in the world.

[Kasey Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather simplistic, and unavoidably outdated overview of evolutionary and earth history, setting up grounded speculation on some of the evolutionary paths alien life might be expected to take, and why technological intelligence is in no way inevitable. He makes a good argument against the likelihood of non-carbon biochemistries, but has an oddly fervent predilection towards tetrapodal chauvinism.

An excellent companion book for Civilized Life in the Universe by Basalla, and Extraterrestrial Civilizations by Asimov.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

There but for fortune

We start out with speculation on how real-life began in the universe and expand to speculation of what could have been and maybe.

Contents:
Building Life’s Stage
The Curtain Rises
Conquest of the Land
The Turns and Twists of Evolution on Earth
Dictates of the Environment
The Look of Life
Ocean Kingdoms and the Insect Wolds
Life beyond Darwin
Future Man
Planet Search
Contact!

This is a good starter book but keep in mind the copyright is 1981 and concepts (even history) changes constantly.

[Timothy Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, extremely original book. Written in the early 80s, this book uses the continents (especially Australia) and their varied plant and wildlife as a sort of "microcosm" to imagine what life might be like on other planets. There is an old audio book out there somewhere, which has that sort of "transports you" quality.

[Michelle Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review pending