Shop portable fans
Buy new:
$19.99
FREE delivery Monday, May 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$19.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Saturday, May 24. Order within 8 hrs.
In Stock
$$19.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$19.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.97
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Very Good- This book is in great condition. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Comes with tracking, 24/7 customer service and free no-hassle returns. Very Good- This book is in great condition. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Comes with tracking, 24/7 customer service and free no-hassle returns. See less
FREE delivery Monday, May 26 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Saturday, May 24. Order within 8 hrs.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$19.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$19.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Freeman Dyson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Origins of Life 2nd Edition

by Freeman Dyson (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 61 ratings
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$19.99","priceAmount":19.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"19","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"TNHLb6TLds5GF9Nnx%2BqewSMmRuFOpz8Atb4dXhQB58GsI4a%2BntDNWZm%2F9Wv2wZga1yMik7GdFRwjSTLr7dxYQlZH%2F0AXVzV%2BUFYXM%2F3%2F6fmEpmxfYF6qaJvPU1RUpJu3bjm09pMgupI%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.97","priceAmount":8.97,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"97","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"TNHLb6TLds5GF9Nnx%2BqewSMmRuFOpz8AXoBbklC1LQk%2BqobClRy9v6o9jXvVqeHAvTriaq%2BY6OAy6N3SHa%2FKBi0JWBKWbh4%2FDAbiezEky4YDRJxqFONF6s3udZrwiFSMPrIP8eRWopPI84wSoJW0fjxvmcHEO5JsmTHTOZQIHPA%2FeBSBVlnuAmun15j2gppd","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

How did life on Earth originate? Did replication or metabolism come first in the history of life? In the second edition of the acclaimed Origins of Life, distinguished scientist and science writer Freeman Dyson examines these questions and discusses the two main theories that try to explain how naturally occurring chemicals could organize themselves into living creatures. The majority view is that life began with replicating molecules, the precursors of modern genes. The minority belief is that random populations of molecules evolved metabolic activities before exact replication existed and that natural selection drove the evolution of cells toward greater complexity for a long time without the benefit of genes. Dyson analyzes both of these theories with reference to recent important discoveries by geologists and chemists, aiming to stimulate new experiments that could help decide which theory is correct. This second edition covers the impact revolutionary discoveries such as the existence of ribozymes, enzymes made of RNA; the likelihood that many of the most ancient creatures are thermophilic, living in hot environments; and evidence of life in the most ancient of all terrestrial rocks in Greenland have had on our ideas about how life began. It is a clearly written, fascinating book that will appeal to anyone interested in the origins of life.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. ISBN-10
    0521626684
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0521626682
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  5. Publication date
    September 28, 1999
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.29 x 8.5 inches
  8. Print length
    112 pages
Next slide of product details

Frequently bought together

Origins of Life
This item: Origins of Life
$19.99
Get it as soon as Monday, May 26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Disturbing The Universe (Sloan Foundation Science Series)
$15.30
Get it as soon as Monday, May 26
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Scientist as Rebel (New York Review Books (Paperback))
$22.95
Get it as soon as Monday, May 26
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

The plural of the title is purposeful: Dyson advances the hypothesis that life had a double origin. "Either life began only once, with the functions of replication and metabolism already present in rudimentary form and linked together from the beginning, or life began twice, with two separate kinds of creatures, one kind capable of metabolism without exact replication and the other kind capable of replication without metabolism." He sees reasons to favor the second possibility, with metabolizing creatures appearing first. Dyson is a renowned theoretical physicist (professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.) who offers an "apology for a physicist venturing into biology" by citing physicist Erwin Schrödinger's maxim that "some of us should venture to embark on a synthesis of facts and theories, albeit with second-hand and incomplete knowledge of some of them, and at the risk of making fools of themselves." In this new edition of a book first published in 1985, Dyson builds his argument with characteristic skill and clarity. He views his hypothesis as "useful only insofar as it may suggest new experiments."

Review

"...he [Dyson] makes strong arguments with real substance, going beyond the level of most popular science writing. Most impressive of all, Dyson writes succinctly and lucidly, fitting an amazing amount into 90 pages without ever appearing forced or hurried. Anyone interested in abiogenesis will find Origins of Life well worth the read." Reports of the National Center for Science Education

"...provocative, entertaining, and, above all, makes one think." Episodes

"In this new edition of a book first published in 1985, Dyson builds his argument with characteristic skill and clarity." Scientific American

"...well-written, easily comprehensible monograph." Science Books & Films

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 1999
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521626684
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521626682
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.29 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Freeman Dyson

Freeman Dyson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
61 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers appreciate the book's thoughtful discussion of possible origins of life on Earth. They find it readable, with one customer noting it is written for nonspecialist readers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

9 customers mention "Premise"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the thoughtful discussion of possible origins of life in the book, with one customer noting it as a great book on the theory of life on Earth.

"...But the bulk is presenting a simple model of metabolism, the plausibility of its origin, and experiments that could give some answers." Read more

"A very thoughtful discussion of possible origins of life from a physicist's point of view...." Read more

"...I failed in this regard, but I learned much ! It is a great book that might jump - start new approaches to explaining the origin of life on..." Read more

"A great book. I mislaid my first copy so I needed another." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one noting it is written for nonspecialist readers and another mentioning it is fun to read.

"...first came cells and later, genes. The book is written for the nonspecialist reader...." Read more

"Very nicely written and accessible. It is a pretty short book, I didn’t realize that when I ordered it." Read more

"This was a lot of fun to read. I've been getting board with physics. Biotechnology seems to be a new direction for my interests to follow...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Spatially Mapped
    5.0 out of 5 stars The great mathematical physicist and famous essayist has looked at origins of life ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The great mathematical physicist and famous essayist has looked at origins of life in this very short book. It is based on lectures given in 1985 on work some time before then, so it would appear to be dated. And in some ways it is – some more recent books, e.g., by Nick Lane (awesome!), have much more detail and much fuller stories. But then again, that’s what it’s always like to be a theoretician. You look at physical basics, energy, etc., and build a model. And then see what falls out with respect to matching existing data and making experimentally verifiable predictions. The main question explored is on replication through information storage versus metabolism. Which came first. Dyson proposes a dual origin (of SW & HW, parasite and host). Dyson writes nicely about previous work, even if some of it is a bit biased towards the “great person” view of history. But the bulk is presenting a simple model of metabolism, the plausibility of its origin, and experiments that could give some answers.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lowell L. Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Physicist's Perspective
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A very thoughtful discussion of possible origins of life from a physicist's point of view. Dyson believes in a double origin of life, that metabolism preceded replication (which came along as a “parasite”). In the third of four chapters he outlines a mathematical model of how stability may have been achieved in metabolic cycles. In the final chapter he credits Richard Dawkins with brilliant insight, even though disagreeing with him on which came first.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • john richard shanebrook
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great book on the theory of life on Earth.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book is about the history of theories on the origin of life. It is suggested that genes came after replication of molecules. Dyson, therefore, is of the opinion that life began twice, first came cells and later, genes.
    The book is written for the nonspecialist reader. It features an abstract mathematical theory , on the origin of life, that is so simple it must not be true. However, it combines those features of life that Dyson feels are essential. That is, looseness of structure and tolerance of errors. Dyson claims this looser view of evolution is supported by past experiments in microbiology. A final point made is that ,quasi - random structures are more important in evolution, than the Darwinian competition of replicating monads.
    I cannot help but note the somewhat humorous discussion on , junk DNA, and its useless biological role in life. Perhaps jokingly, Dyson suggests an analog in human culture where , " junk culture " is replicated. Examples include television commercials and political propaganda.
    I conclude this review with my assessment that Dyson was a genius to write these 77 pages of rather challenging theories. Unfortunately, it may take another genius to fully understand this book. I failed in this regard, but I learned much ! It is a great book that might jump - start new approaches to explaining the origin of life on Earth.
    Curiously, Dyson did not mention the concept of entropy. The book needs a Glossary.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • HRV
    5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a nice gift.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very nicely written and accessible. It is a pretty short book, I didn’t realize that when I ordered it.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Carolyn Weyand
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating ideas
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    New ways of looking at how life evolved in our pre-Cambrian world.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Stephen Addison
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great book. I mislaid my first copy so I ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A great book. I mislaid my first copy so I needed another.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Babak Makkinejad
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Quantitative Model for Ideas of Oparin
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025
    After a discussion of 3 hypothesis on the origin of life, the author presents his quantitative toy model of Oparin's approach to the question of the origin of life and discusses the of results and ramifications of that toy model. This is done in chpater 3, which is the heart of the book. The discussion is based on an earliercpaper that the author had published and is included in the references.

    The book expresses ideas and opinions of a very intelligent physicist. I learnt a lot from this short book. It is worth reading.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Michael G.
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy to get through if interested
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting book, easy to get through if interested, hard to get through if not at all interested
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Per Lind
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great book
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
    Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I don't have much knowledge on the origin of life at the molecular level, so this book gave me some excellent directions to think about this problem. This book is fairly easy to understand if you have a high school background in biology/chemistry/physics, but even if you don't, the author explains the basics, so I think it is fairly accessible to most people.

    The book is a modern synthesis of past ideas and lays out the arguments for life starting off from the dynamic between organisms that are well adapted to their environments and organisms that parasitize on the former. Most scientists nowadays believe more in the RNA world hypothesis than Dyson's Dual Origin, so it was very helpful for me that he listed out numerous arguments against his opponents. I was thoroughly convinced of the Dual Origin hypothesis by the end of this book, because it is just one of those explanations that simply makes so much more sense compared to alternatives. Not everything in the book might turn out to be right like how Darwin got a lot of things wrong in his books, but I am fairly certain this is the correct direction in how we should think about how life started.
    Report
  • Derek Hanson Derek E hanson
    3.0 out of 5 stars dyson: the origins of life.
    Reviewed in France on May 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Well-written,gives me facts re theories of evolution that i hadnt come across before but not as much on information in the context of evolution (which is my current interest) as I had hoped.
    Report
  • julia m
    1.0 out of 5 stars Unbalanced, Egocentric and Dated.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This read was a considerable disappointment. In fact its only redeeming feature was that it was short, 91 pages of text.

    The first 3 pages of the book start with a description of the author's presentation of his Tarner Lecture in 1985. Thereafter some 20 pages are devoted to some earlier workers in the field, covering the 1940s to the 1990s. The next section deals with 'experiments and theories', the majority of which focus on RNA. The longest chapter in the book, 24 pages, describes the author's work on modelling and the final chapter deals with 'open questions'.

    Very little attention is paid to the fact that the origins of life must have been the result of a cascade of events over millions of years, starting with simple organic and inorganic species. Complex molecules such as RNA could only have entered towards the end of this process. The fascinating concept that 'life' may have originated in hydrothermal vents in the seabed warrants a mere two sentences!

    In summary, the book fails to provide a balanced view of the origins of life and is unnecessarily weighted toward the author's own area of expertise, at the expense of wider perspectives.
    Report