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Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth (Oxford Landmark Science) Reprint Edition

by James Lovelock (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 572 ratings
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In this classic work that continues to inspire many readers, Jim Lovelock puts forward his idea that the Earth functions as a single organism. Written for non scientists, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence in support of a radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that life is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the Earth's living matter influences air, ocean, and rock to form a complex, self regulating system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life.

Since Gaia was first published, Jim Lovelock's hypothesis has become a hotly debated topic in scientific circles. In a new Preface to this edition, he outlines his view of the present state of the debate.

Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0198784880
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0198784883
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    July 1, 2016
  6. Part of series
    Oxford Landmark Science
  7. Language
    English
  8. Dimensions
    7.6 x 0.5 x 5 inches
  9. Print length
    176 pages
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Daring, exciting, original." --Scientific American "Jim Lovelock, a man as inventive and ingenious as he is lively and unorthodox, places a daring hypothesis before the general reader, a kind of geochemical myth for our time.. [His book] is the exciting personal argument of an original thinker caught in wonder. It wins and repays attention." --Scientific American "Lovelock writes beautifully. A book that is both original and well written is indeed a bonus. Only a genius thinks of the obvious, and Lovelock deserves to be described as a genius." --New Scientist "The breath-taking sweep of his central idea - that the earth is a living, self-regulating organism - poses the most dramatic challenge to scientists, politicians, and environmentalists." --Jonathon Porritt

Book Description

Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence in support of a radically different model of our planet.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (July 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0198784880
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0198784883
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1400L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.6 x 0.5 x 5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 572 ratings

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James Lovelock

James Lovelock

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
572 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

ots
5.0 out of 5 stars Gaia is earth and us...
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
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Lovelock quite rightly is widely considered the originator or at the very least the primary popularizer and promotor of Gaia Theory. This book is a beautiful explanation and summary.

I have believed for a long time now that his theory not only makes scientific sense but should by now in 2024 simply be Common Sense. It is all a giant living self-regulating system--this planet and all its life forms, too.

We can get all caught up in arguments about what it means to say the earth is alive or has consciousness, etc. But the facts suggest it is so. Read this small book and be moved, impressed, amazed, delighted.

Gaia Theory could be the Great Myth we humans live by, the great opportunity we have as sentient human beings. To honor Mother Earth and work with her instead of against her could be the answer we unconsciously seek now through religions and all the other mad human ego games and superstitions. I'm not at all sure we humans are wise enough as a species to grasp the opportunity we have but if we continue destroying the earth, she, Gaia, may very well cast us off and continue on without us.

As for me, I will love her to whatever end befalls me. Get on board. There is plenty of room...
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Philip Carl
5.0 out of 5 stars Imagine an organism as big as Earth!
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2003
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Reading Edward Wilson's "The Future of Life" served as the spark to pick up and read this book. And its true, good things do come in small packages. The book is all of 140 pages, and is written in a lean, but not glossed-over style. Robert Lovelock (to my knowledge) is the contemporary father of the study of the earth as a complete living system.
Lovelock readily admits that the book serves more to promote the dialog about our planet as a living, breathing whole and to share key discoveries that support his concept. (He states in the Preface that his follow-on book, "The Ages of Gaia" aims to build the scientific argument to the Gaia theory.)

By no means, does Lovelock detour around the science that supports his case. With the scope of the topic requiring knowledge of both physical and biological science, and the small number of pages, he manages to instruct and create a sense of awe in a short amount of time.
The 3 major principles he brings to light about Gaia are:
1. Gaia exhibits a tendency to keep conditions (e.g., temperature, air quality) constant for all terrestrial life.
2. Like other living systems, Gaia has vital organs at the core, and expandable or redundant ones on the periphery.
3. Under the worse conditions, Gaia responses similar to other cybernetic systems (i.e., where time constant and loop gain are important)
The material is far reaching in both its scope and in shaping our understanding of where we stand. Put in the context of Gaia, we have straddled ourselves to the largest of all known living and breathing creatures.
26 people found this helpful
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Donald Mitchell
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Hypothesis in Somewhat Convoluted Form
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2000
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James Lovelock has created a powerful and interesting argument in this book that will keep scientists busy for centuries. He notices that there is an ability for the Earth to maintain relatively constant conditions in temperature, atmosphere, salinity and pH of the oceans, and reductions in pollutants that defies the simple observations of what "should" happen. From this, he concludes that there is a complex of physical, chemical and biological interrelationships that work like a living organism, which he defines as the Gaia Hypothesis. For defining that concept and providing some of the measurements to establish its premises, he deserves a 7 star rating.
Unfortunately, the argument is expressed in overlong and convoluted fashion. He deliberately limits himself to a nonscientific explanation in this book. The scientific version of the argument is in The Ages of Gaia. Although the book is not long, it certainly could have been condensed into a longish article for Scientific American or The Atlantic Monthly. My second quibble is that the editor was nowhere in sight on the organization of the book. The key point is often buried in the third sentence of the last paragraph in a chapter. The argument in between wanders into all kinds of places where it doesn't need to go. For organization and editing, I give this book a one star rating.
So the average is a 4 star rating. The writing itself is pleasant enough. Don't let the lack of organization and editing put you off, for it is worth your while to read this book. It will remind you of the benefits of the sort of sytems thinking that Peter Senge talks about in The Fifth Discipline.
The other thing you will learn is the weakness of scientific work that fails to develop enough field data and to connect enough with other disciplines. I was struck by the same observations recently while visiting environmental scientists at the Smithsonian Institution. The basics in many of these areas have yet to be measured and evaluated. This book will point countless generations forward in understanding how our plant maintains its environment that permits life to flourish. Clearly, it is a stallbusting effort to replace "stalled" thinking about the history and future of the Earth. I found the key questions (such as why doesn't the ocean become more saline?) to be irresistible. I think you will, too. Enjoy and think!
56 people found this helpful
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souls2feet
5.0 out of 5 stars Still an amazing read
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021
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I read this when it first came out. Some critics made fun of Lovelock but he sure made sense to me. Now most of them are in agreement. He explains complex concepts in very clear language and some how captures the vital, dynamic, ever-changing interactive nature of all that is 'earth', all processes living in connection and response to each other. What indigenous people who live close to nature have always understood.
5 people found this helpful
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Dominic Holloway
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect introduction into climate science
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2023
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If you want to get a deep understanding on how complex the environment is this is a must
One person found this helpful
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Antonio Ballesteros González
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnífica y lúcida teoría
Reviewed in Spain on October 19, 2021
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Aun tratándose de un libro de carácter científico, es inteligible y revelador. Excelente.
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Giulia
3.0 out of 5 stars Bel libro
Reviewed in Italy on August 30, 2021
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Offre buoni spunti di riflessione
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ANA CRISTINA KLOSTERMANN
5.0 out of 5 stars Chegou no prazo
Reviewed in Brazil on May 25, 2020
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Perfeito
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Bleadon
5.0 out of 5 stars still relevant
Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2020
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This a book written for non science types. I am still not certain the Earth is a living entity - Gaia but there are checks and balances that keep the environment habitable. As long as humans don't destroy some of the control mechanisms then the planet will support us. I liked the book because it is close to my own views on humans and climate. Th author also presents a case for the linkages between the soil, atmosphere, and oceans. It all seems reasonable. There are still holes in the arguments but it gives something to debate.
One person found this helpful
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