This highly unusual book is a serious inquiry into Schrodinger's question, "What is life?", and at the same time a celebration of life itself. It takes the reader on a voyage of discovery through many areas of contemporary physics, from non-equilibrium thermodynamics and quantum optics to liquid crystals and fractals, all necessary for illuminating the problem of life. In the process, the reader is treated to a rare and exquisite view of the organism, gaining novel insights, not only into the physics but also into "the poetry and meaning of being alive". This book is intended for all who love the subject.
From Scientific American "The layman may not understand half of this book, but he will understand more than he expects to or may feel he has any right to. The author, whether discussing 'quantum-entanglement', or 'energy-flow', 'dynamic order' or life as 'collective response to weak signals', has the gift of making the reader dream."
From The New Yorker "The book is recommended to all scientists who are interested in understanding life. It shows that life is more than a complex chemical reaction and, written by an author who understands life not only through the narrow tube of our ratio, that life is worth living with loving care. The book can be easily understood, because it is written in a way that the basic scientific terms are repeated step by step before they are used for discussing the essential questions. Fifty years after Schrodinger's "What is Life?", this book is a worthy instalment, since it intensifies the original matter of Schrodinger."

Memory of the World Librarian: Quintus

2025-02-18