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.