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P R A I S E F O R Lonely Planets
“David Grinspoon has written the book I wanted to write, and he’s
done it so very well that I’ll be forever thankful I never got to it!
Covering subjects that span from the Epicureans of ancient Greece to
the SETI Institute, from the Copernican revolution to the latest in
astrophysics, the origins of DNA, crop circles and alien abductions,
David is willing to address questions about how we got here that other
science writers are unwilling to touch. He discusses aspects of the revo-
lutionary field of astrobiology from a deeply scientific perspective and
delves into some more bizarre publicly held ideas, sympathetically but
without compromising his scientific grounding. David’s style is so
direct, so personal, and so punctuated with delightful humor that read-
ing this book feels like a living room conversation.”
—Russell “Rusty” Schweickart,
NASA Astronaut
“An exuberant, provocative look at the possibility of extraterrestrial life,
what it might be like, and what it might mean. . . . Wisecracks, philo-
sophical musings, and personal anecdotes make his text as lively as it is
authoritative. The best look at this subject since Carl Sagan’s Cosmic
Connection.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Grinspoon takes us on a thrilling ride through the history of well,
everything. . . . With metaphor, analogy, and clear, entertaining writ-
ing, Grinspoon helps us understand how we got here. . . . [A] terrific
book.”
— San Diego Union Tribune
“Superb. . . . Everything is here—theories of planetary formation and
evolution, the origin of life, the evolution of complex life, and even
the evolution of intelligence and technology. . . . David Grinspoon
has succeeded marvelously at producing a comprehensive, enjoyable
overview of astrobiology, the epitome of multi-disciplinary research. . . .
Anyone, even a professional scientist, who wishes to become familiar
with contemporary astrobiology should read this book. It’s a prime
place to become more than casually acquainted with one of the hottest,
most interesting fields of science.”
—Frank Drake,
Astronomy magazine
“A book that balances solid science with offbeat, often hilarious detours. . . . Entertaining.”
— Discover
“Lonely Planets is an entertaining and thought-provoking book. . . .
David Grinspoon provides a masterful synthesis of the history,
science, philosophy, and even theological implications of extraterres-
trial life. . . . His lively and engaging writing is well-suited to the
broad range of subjects encountered here.”
— Science
“In his low-key, conversational language, Grinspoon asks provocative
questions about modern science’s unyielding rigidities. . . . Definitive
proof that life on this planet is intelligent and funny.”
— Entertainment Weekly
“Grinspoon seasons the discussion with witty anecdotes, personal
experiences, and reminders of what has been demonstrated and what
is still theoretical. Fun to read, Grinspoon comes across like a buddy
in a bar, trying out ideas over a beer or few. He deserves a large read-
ership.”
— Booklist
“In Lonely Planets, David Grinspoon brings together what has never
before been synthesized: the history, science, culture, and politics of
the search for life in the universe. Along the way, you will not escape
his practical and often humorous observations of the quest; he is a
planetary scientist as well as a dreamer, borne of the space age.”
—Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and Director,
Hayden Planetarium, New York City
“David Grinspoon’s Lonely Planets is a thorough and thoroughly
readable review of our chances for finding life on other worlds, and
what this may mean to us. Breezy yet deep, fun to read, and thought-
provoking.”
—Ben Bova, President Emeritus of the National Space Society
and prolific author of science fact and fiction
“Less a popularization than a personable chat on life, the universe and
everything. . . . Grinspoon handles the wide variety of material neces-
sary for a coherent narrative with great aplomb.” — Publishers Weekly
“Grinspoon tackles E.T. in a style that will satisfy science nerds and English majors alike.”
— Wired
“Grinspoon tells engagingly the story of humankind’s long fascination
with the possibility of extraterrestrial life.”
— Scientific American
“Outstanding . . . Grinspoon does a great job of explaining what we
know so far, how we know it, and why we have quite a ways to go
before the story is complete. . . . Keen scholarship, witty observations,
and thought-provoking banter from a working scientist who, like
Sagan, can really write. . . . What sets Grinspoon apart from other sci-
entists who do a good job writing for a lay audience, i.e., Lawrence
Krauss and Brian Greene, is the attention he pays to the limitations of
science. . . . There are a number of noteworthy scientists now vying
for the crown of premier science popularizer worn with such distinc-
tion by Sagan. With the addition of Lonely Planets to his earlier Venus Revealed, Grinspoon stakes his own strong claim to that crown.
— San Jose Mercury News
“An easy to read, thought-provoking look at humanity’s unending fas-
cination with extraterrestrial life.”
—Gannett News Service
“Grinspoon steps into the Cosmos-sized shoes of the late Carl Sagan
with Lonely Planets, the best, most entertaining examination of the
possibility of other life in the universe since Sagan’s best work. . . . It’s
fascinating as pure information and made positively delightful by
Grinspoon’s willingness to be playful. . . . His writing is rife with a
kind of uppity humor. He’s like a teenager who’s just decided he
wants to be an astrobiologist, thrilled and humbled but still full of
attitude.”
— Boulder Daily Camera
“Lonely Planets is a Lonely Planet guide to the universe, packed
with useful information served up with a wry, amusing twist . . . in
a breezy, engaging style unlike anything you’ll find in most popular
science books. . . . Mr. Grinspoon steps deftly into Mr. Sagan’s
mantle . . . on this mind-altering trip through the cosmos.”
— Dallas Morning News
A L S O B Y D AV I D G R I N S P O O N
Venus Revealed: A New Look Below the
Clouds of Our Mysterious Twin Planet
Credits
Designed by Jessica Shatan Heslin
Copyright
All Images unavailable for elec tronic edition.
LONELY PLANETS. The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life.© 2003,
2004 by David Grinspoon. All rights reserved under International and
Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the requ
ired fees,
you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access
and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be
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or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval
system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical,
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permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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ISBN 978-0-06-154897-0
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