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.