Books like A new history of life by Peter D. Ward

Astrobiologists Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee argue that while microbes may be common across the cosmos, advanced life is extraordinarily rare—perhaps unique—due to the complex, fragile conditions required for its emergence.

Charles Darwin knew that there was a significant event in the history of life that his theory did not explain. In what is known today as the "Cambrian explosion," 530 million years ago many animals suddenly appeared in the fossil record without apparent ancestors in earlier layers of rock. In Darwin's Doubt Stephen C. Meyer tells the story of the mystery surrounding this explosion of animal life -- a mystery that has intensified, not only because the expected ancestors of these animals have not been found, but also because scientists have learned more about what it takes to construct an animal. Expanding on the compelling case he presented in his last book, Signature in the Cell, Meyer argues that the theory of intelligent design -- which holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection -- is ultimately the best explanation for the origin of the Cambrian animals. - Back cover.

A fascinating exploration of the nature of consciousness and its evolution.

"Thousands or millions of years into the future, what will our species be like? Will it change radically? Or will we become builders of the next dominant intelligence on Earth - the machines?". "These and many other seemingly fantastic scenarios are the very real possibilities explored in Peter Ward's Future Evolution, a penetrating look at what might come next in the history of the planet. Looking to the past for clues about the future, Ward describes how the main catalyst for evolutionary change has historically been mass extinction. While many scientists gloomily predict that humanity will eventually create such a situation, Ward argues that one is already well under way - the extinction of large mammals - and that a new age of humanity is coming that will radically revise the diversity of life on Earth. Finally, Ward examines the question of human extinction and reaches the starting conclusion that the likeliest scenario is not our imminent demise but long-term survival - perhaps reaching as far as the death of the Sun."--BOOK JACKET.

Richard Fortey traces the story of life from the first microbial traces in primordial hot springs to the emergence of humans, weaving paleontological evidence with scientific debates to reveal how our understanding of evolution has evolved.