A New History of Life: The Radical New Discoveries about the Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth

Charles Darwin's theories, first published more than 150 years ago, still set the paradigm of how we understand the evolution of life—but scientific advances of recent decades have radically altered that. Now two pioneering scientists draw on their years of experience in paleontology, biology, chemistry, and astrobiology to deliver an eye-opening narrative using a generation's worth of insights culled from new research.

Writing with zest, humor, and clarity, Ward and Kirschvink show that ma...