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  • Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth 

  • By: James Lovelock
  • Narrated by: Gary Telles
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (50 ratings)
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Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth  cover art

Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth 

By: James Lovelock
Narrated by: Gary Telles
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Summary

In this classic work that continues to inspire its many fans, James Lovelock deftly explains his idea that life on Earth functions as a single organism. Written for the non-scientist, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the Earth's living matter - air, ocean, and land surfaces - forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life.

Since Gaia was first published, many of Jim Lovelock's predictions have come true, and his theory has become a hotly argued topic in scientific circles. Here, in a new preface, Lovelock outlines the present state of the debate.

©1995 J. E. Lovelock (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth 

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Community service

This book is clearly read by someone who doesn't want to be doing it, he sounds like he was forced to do it as some sort of community service. He reminds me of that jaded university lecturer who can't think of anything worse than lecturing first years. I've read the book before and enjoyed it, but this audio book is a hard listen.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A good way to digest a dense book!

I had been trying to read this book for a while and by having it piped straight into my ears worked wonders. I could zone out at the irrelevant sections and bookmark and make notes in the relevant parts.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not an easy book to listen to

The science and ideas in the book are fascinating. For a non scientist it is impossible to know if the science he puts forward is correct or not. He does not explain how or why he thinks Planet Earth has achieved its state of Gaia.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Insightful overview of Gaia theory

Great book, chapter 5 and 6 in particular on the atmosphere and the oceans are detailed and very interesting. The book is sometimes a bit too emotional but it seems that tmis the way the author wanted it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating book

As others have commented, I wasn’t a fan of the readers pace or delivery for this audio book, which was a shame as the writer was clearly way ahead ahead of his time in his thinking.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating idea completely ruined

The idea behind it is extremely interesting but when even the narrator sounds bored of his own unenthusiastic, monotone delivery, it’s best to avoid this one

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Pseudo Intellectual Scientific confusion

Extremely disappointing book which starts on an Environmental footing and then gets into Climate Science denial. Most of the science quoted is out of date and has been proven is factually incorrect. Corals are supposed to save us, but who will save the Corals. Fungi and Bacteria will save us but who will save them. Krill and Oceans will save us but who will save the Oceans. Please dont read this book as it neither accepts or denies Climate Change and just confuses the entire argument

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I couldn't get anywhere near the finish

I thought I would be really interested in this book. I really wanted to enjoy it. The performance however is so akin to a dry, university professor that I just switched off. I left it for a couple of weeks and tried again, but I didn't even last another minute. I don't know if the content is again good, because I just couldn't listen to this narrator.

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