Looking back at the last few months, there’s one story about Gaia (explicitly named) that dominated the news. I first became aware of Ferris Jabr’s new book, Becoming Earth, back in April. Because I monitor mentions of Gaia in media sources, I took note when Brian Resnick interviewed Ferris Jabr for Vox.
- Is the Earth itself a giant living creature?
“An old, much-ridiculed hypothesis said yes. It’s time to take it seriously.”
That looked intriguing. I made note of the release date, June 25th in the United States. But that didn’t prepare me for the deluge of media mentions that came that week!
- Earth Is Alive, a New Book Argues. Will We Kill It? (A review in Atmos)
- Ancient, Resilient, Dynamic: Why Earth Is Life on a Grand Scale (Another review in Tufts Now)
- How Earth Went from a Sterile Rock to a Lush, Living Planet (Holy heck, it’s another review, this one in Scientific American.)
That’s when I started to realize this might be a big deal. Soon after, Jabr wrote an article in The Atlantic, The Deep Connection Between Life and Fire, and then for the New York Times, The Mysterious, Deep-Dwelling Microbes That Sculpt Our Planet. This one is a book excerpt, with nifty animated illustrations by Brian Rea.
Late August brought a few more, perhaps related to the fact that the book was officially published in other global markets on the 29th of August. (As an aside, it’s nice to have a positive association for a date that is forever cursed in my heart, because of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina. Have I mentioned I live in New Orleans?) These included a piece in New Scientist and The Guardian, which calls our planet, “a living, mutating miracle.” Nice.
Well, after all that hype, it should come as no surprise that Becoming Earth is our choice for our upcoming fall book club. This title was the clear winner when we recently surveyed Gaian community members.
The book presents a transformative perspective on our planet, arguing that life is not merely a feature of Earth but fundamentally constitutes it. Jabr posits that Earth itself is alive, a concept that should be familiar to all of us but challenges traditional views of the planet as an inanimate rock. The book explores how life has shaped the Earth over billions of years, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living organisms and their environments.
The book revisits and “rehabilitates” Gaia theory, which as we all know is a foundational concept in Gaianism. This scientific exploration could provide us with updated insights and evidence supporting our worldview.
The reception of Becoming Earth has been largely positive, with critics praising Jabr’s engaging writing style and his ability to convey complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner. Reviews highlight the book’s poetic language and rich metaphors, which enhance its narrative and thematic depth.
I think this book will provoke some interesting discussions and deepen our Gaian journey. You can find more info about the book from Pan MacMillan. And if you don’t have time to read it, do yourself a favor and at least read one of the reviews or book excerpts. I recommend the New York Times piece.
If you are interested in joining the book club, please email me directly and let me know. We’ll select a meeting time and set up a schedule that fits our participants. We aim to start the discussion in October.
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