From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Feb 13 2004 - 10:12:27 PST
>From: David Grinspoon <david_at_funkyscience.net>
>To: david_at_funkyscience.net
>Subject: Frank Drake's review of LONELY PLANETS in the new ASTRONOMY
>Magazine
>Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 14:46:31 -0700
>
>Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life
>David Grinspoon
>
>Astronomy, March 2004
>
>David Grinspoon has succeeded marvelously at producing a comprehensive,
>enjoyable overview of astrobiology, the epitome of multi-disciplinary
>research. Emphasizing the most important topics, he maintains a balanced
>view of the science as a whole. This is no mean feat in a field rife with
>personal agendas and professional prejudice.
> As the title suggests, the book contains a history of the thoughts -
>some hundreds of years old - about extraterrestrial life. the reader is
>surprised to find how many of the supposed modern ideas in astrobiology are
>- the Fermi Paradox ("Where are they?"), for example, was first expressed
>about half a century before Fermi stated it.
> Grinspoon often diverts the narrative to reminisce about his first
>contact with an idea, a discovery, or a famous person, and the effect it
>had on his thinking and interests. Professional scientists may see this as
>undesirable. However, young people contemplating an astrobiology career
>will be fascinated - they will sense Grinspoon's delight (and sometimes
>repulsion) and his realization that he still has much to learn. It will
>give them a feeling for what it is like to embark on a scientific career.
>Seeing how normal people become scientists will enlighten and, hopefully,
>encourage them.
> The enigmatic title of the book may suggest, misleadingly, that it
>rehashes Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe, a recent
>book by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee. Indeed, many chapters sound as
>thought they share Rare Earth's pessimism about the cosmic abundance of
>complex life (but not primitive life). However, Grinspoon is very
>knowledgeable about the endless complexities and oddities of biology and
>planets. Everything is here - theories of planetary formation and
>evolution, the origin of life, the evolution of complex life, and even the
>evolution of intelligence and technology. The reader slowly reaches a
>conviction, endorsed in the book's final words, that space is rich in
>intelligent creatures.
> One twist, which may seem very strange and even depressing, is a long
>section on the possible reality of UFOs. What is that subject doing in an
>otherwise scientifically sound book? Here again, we encounter Grinspoon's
>experiences. He plunges into this world, troubling to a scientist and rife
>with anecdote, misperceptions, con men, fraud, hoaxers, and the insane. He
>emerges (as I did when I made the same investigation) with the conclusion
>that there's nothing of importance here - except to psychologists,
>psychiatrists, and district attorneys.
> The writing is superb. Although unabashedly technical, it is an easy,
>if long, read. Grinspoon occasionally uses slang and "street talk", which
>may trouble older readers. However, much more often one hears echoes of
>the beautiful prose of the late and much missed Carl Sagan and Stephen J.
>Gould.
> Anyone, even a professional scientist, who wishes to become familiar
>with contemporary astrobiology should read this book. It's a prime place
>to become more than casually acquainted with one of the hottest, most
>interesting fields of science.
>
>-Frank Drake is chairman emeritus of the SETI Institute in Mountain View,
>California.
>
>
>
>--
>David Grinspoon
>Principal Scientist
>Department of Space Studies
>Southwest Research Institute
>1050 Walnut St., Suite 429
>Boulder, CO 80302
>(303) 546-6863
>(303) 546-9687 (FAX)
>david_at_boulder.swri.edu
>
>
>
>President and Rhythm Guitar
>Funky Science, Inc.
>1836 Blake St., Suite 100A
>Denver, CO 80202
>(303) 292-4853 Phone/FAX
>david_at_funkyscience.net
>
>http://www.funkyscience.net
>
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