Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth

“One of the most impressive popular science books I’ve ever read was Stephen Jay Gould’s Wonderful Life. That was a lovely book about the development of complex life, the Cambrian explosion. Knoll’s book is in the same category. It’s very well written and has a broad sweep of 3 billion years of history. He’s a very preeminent geologist and paleontologist and his expertise covers a number of fields. He’s at the top of his game and he lays out the subject beautifully….He’s a good writer, and I like the fact he’s not hyperbolic. He avoids dramatic statements…He’s quite cautious. I appreciate that, because in his field we’re dealing with slender evidence.” Read more...

The best books on Exoplanets

Chris Impey, Scientist

“Knoll shows the intimate relationship between the evolution of life and the evolution of the planet.” Read more...

The best books on Evolution of the Earth

Andrew Scott

“What Andy has done is really exposed us to the world before animals and plants, when there was strong evidence of life but the world was totally controlled by single celled organisms, the protists.” Read more...

The best books on Microbes

Paul Falkowski, Biologist

“It’s very important, when we muck around with the atmosphere as we’re doing, to realise that what we have is actually a product of this ineffable and long period of planetary evolution.” Read more...

The best books on Palaeontology

Richard Fortey, Biologist