The Possibility of Life: Science, Imagination and Our Quest for Kinship in the Cosmos—Exploring the Fascinating History of Our Universe and the Possibility of Life Beyond Our Planet
An LA Times Book Prize Finalist
A Washington Post Best Book of the Year
A TODAY Show Summer Book
An NPR Science Friday Book Club Pick
A "Next Big Idea Book Club" Must Read
One of the Chicago Tribune's 52 Books for Summer 2023
An Esquire Best Book of 2023
A Gizmodo New Release Pick for April
A BookRiot Science Book to Add to Your TBR
A Wired Book to Read for Spring
"A dazzling feat of imagination and synthesis."—Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of An Immense World
A spellbinding exploration of alien life and the cosmos, examining how the possibility of life on other planets shapes our understanding of humanity
One of the most powerful questions humans ask about the cosmos is: Are we alone? While the science behind this inquiry is fascinating, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of our values, our fears, and most importantly, our enduring sense of hope.
In The Possibility of Life, acclaimed science journalist Jaime Green traces the history of our understanding, interweaving into one striking narrative:
The Possibility of Life explores our evolving conception of the cosmos to ask an even deeper question: What does it mean to be human?
A Washington Post Best Book of the Year
A TODAY Show Summer Book
An NPR Science Friday Book Club Pick
A "Next Big Idea Book Club" Must Read
One of the Chicago Tribune's 52 Books for Summer 2023
An Esquire Best Book of 2023
A Gizmodo New Release Pick for April
A BookRiot Science Book to Add to Your TBR
A Wired Book to Read for Spring
"A dazzling feat of imagination and synthesis."—Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of An Immense World
A spellbinding exploration of alien life and the cosmos, examining how the possibility of life on other planets shapes our understanding of humanity
One of the most powerful questions humans ask about the cosmos is: Are we alone? While the science behind this inquiry is fascinating, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is a reflection of our values, our fears, and most importantly, our enduring sense of hope.
In The Possibility of Life, acclaimed science journalist Jaime Green traces the history of our understanding, interweaving into one striking narrative:
- the roadmap of our solar system, beginning with Galileo and Copernicus
- our contemporary quest for exoplanets
- insights from science fiction writers who construct worlds that inspire scientists
- expert interviews, cutting-edge astronomy research, and philosophical inquiry
- pop culture touchstones ranging from A Wrinkle in Time to Star Trek to Arrival
The Possibility of Life explores our evolving conception of the cosmos to ask an even deeper question: What does it mean to be human?
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Community Reviews
It took me quite some time to finish this book. It is very interesting, but it bogs down in some of the longer sections. Should we search for life among the stars or is it enough to try and figure out how life began on earth? Both may seem important and/or improbable, but the advantage we have is that there is already life on our planet, our home.
Merged review:
It took me quite some time to finish this book. It is very interesting, but it bogs down in some of the longer sections. Should we search for life among the stars or is it enough to try and figure out how life began on earth? Both may seem important and/or improbable, but the advantage we have is that there is already life on our planet, our home.
Merged review:
It took me quite some time to finish this book. It is very interesting, but it bogs down in some of the longer sections. Should we search for life among the stars or is it enough to try and figure out how life began on earth? Both may seem important and/or improbable, but the advantage we have is that there is already life on our planet, our home.
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