In this classic work that inspires 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 searching for evidence in support of a radically different model of our planet. In contrast to the 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, automated system that can 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.
