What We Are Reading Today: ‘Becoming Earth'
Author: Ferris Jabr
Published in 2024 and written by Ferris Jabr, 'Becoming Earth' talks about how the planet we know and live in started and came to life.
One of the significant thoughts Jabr argues through his book is the idea that billions of years ago, life transformed from a collection of orbiting rocks into what we now know as our cosmic oasis. This process released oxygen into the atmosphere, formed seas and oceans, and shaped rocks into fertile soil.
Through the book, the author also discusses various environmental systems and how they operate. He talks about the roles of microbes in shaping continents, the Amazon rainforest's self-sustaining rain cycle and the impact of human activities on planetary systems, all connected to other natural events.
Surprisingly, as Jabr discusses the disadvantages of human activity leading to environmental crises, he also highlights the importance of humans in improving ecosystems. Despite the negative impacts people have had on the environment, humanity has expended a great deal of energy to understand and mitigate environmental problems, he argues.
However, the book has received some criticism, with reviewers arguing that Jabr may have conflated his personal perspective on Earth with scientific research and evidence in the process of using metaphors to explain science.
Other reviewers said that a few sections of 'Becoming Earth' may need improvement and more in-depth scientific evidence to support the conclusions Jabr makes.
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