The Medea Hypothesis: Is Life on Earth Ultimately Self-Destructive?

by Peter D. Ward

Book Overview

In The Medea Hypothesis, renowned paleontologist Peter Ward proposes a revolutionary and provocative vision of life's relationship with the Earth's biosphere--one that has frightening implications for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691130752
• ISBN13: 9780691130750
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Dark, difficult and somewhat depressing

Ok I am a big fan of Peter Ward, and I read everything of his. But this book is very different than the others that are decorating the paleontology section of my bookshelf. Most of his books are Saganesque - they celebrate science and I always feel like I'm on an adventure in the life of the mind when I read his stuff. This book is a polemic, much more so even than Rare Earth was. It is a direct attack on a certain modern myth - the Gaea hypothesis - that has been embraced by the international environmental movement. Evaluating this book therefore transcends simple science appreciation, and enters a very different realm - the world of power politics. While I don't think Peter Ward knows a tremendous amount about that world, certainly he is aware of his myth making role - hence the playful title. Bobby Seale once told me that the functional definition of power was "the ability to define reality in such a way as to make it act in desired manner". If you accept this political truth, than it is more important to evaluate whether the Gaea hypothesis affects reality in a way you want, than it is to address its accuracy. And this makes the topic very tricky. Ward handles it with real skill however - and while this is a somewhat less accessible work than some others it is a lot of fun to read. It started a three day argument with my girlfriend that had us both scouring the internet for information to bolster our arguments. I recommend it - but it requires work on the part of us non-paleontologists...and it ain't pretty

The Medea hypothesis

Excellent and daring (in these turbulent times). Valuable book. My opinion on the content: the path to future, the ideas should be considered seriously.