ISBN 0-929510-02-8
ABOUT THE BOOK
"A valuable summary of the evidence against the chemical evolution
of life out of non-living matter. It presents a very well thought-out and
clearly written analysis of the alternatives to the accepted scientific
theory of the origin of life."
---Robert Jastrow, Founder and Former Director of the Goddard
Institute for Space Studies of NASA, author of several acclaimed books including
God and The Astronomers.
"The authors have made an important contribution to the origin of life
field. Many workers in this area believe that an adequate scientific explanation
for the beginning of life on Earth has already been made. Their point of
view has been widely disseminated in texts and the media, and to a large
extent, has been accepted by the public. This new work brings together the
major scientific arguments that demonstrate the inadequacy of current theories.
Although I do not share the final philosophical conclusion that the authors
reach, I welcome their contribution. It will help to clarify our thinking....
I would recommend this book to everyone with a scientific background and
interest in the origin of life
---Robert Shapiro, Professor of Chemistry at New York University.
Dr. Shapiro is co-author of Life Beyond Earth.
"...arguments are cogent, original and compelling.... The authors believe,
and I now concur, that there is a fundamental flaw in all current theories
of the chemical origins of life."
---Dean Kenyon, Professor of Biology at San Francisco State
University and co-author of Biochemical Predestination.
The Mystery of Life 's Origin is a book that had to be written,
There is a critical necessity in any developing scientific discipline to
subject its ideas to test and to vigorously analyze its experimental procedures.
It is an ill-fated science that doesn't do so. Yet, surprisingly, prebiotic
or chemical evolution has never before been thoroughly evaluated.
The authors not only provide a comprehensive critique of chemical evolution
using established principles of physics and chemistry, they also introduce
some effective new tools of analysis. Well written and clear in exposition,
this book also brings together in one volume the isolated criticisms found
throughout the chemical evolution literature, The result is a severe challenge
to the accepted interpretation of chemical evolution.
The Mystery of Life's Origin is not only a necessary critique, it
is a timely one. The current evolution/creation debate has become one of
the most provocative scientific issues in history. A valuable and stimulating
epilogue explores this volatile issue, and analyzes the major alternatives
to chemical evolution including panspermia and special creation. With the
intense interest in origin of life studies caused by recent technology for
exploring the far reaches of our solar system, it becomes clear that The
Mystery of Life's Origin is a vitally important contribution
to scientific thought.
The authors anticipate controversy and reconsideration of accepted ideas.
As Professor D.H. Kenyon remarks in the Foreword, "It is very likely
that research on life's origins will move in somewhat different directions
once the professionals have read this important work."
Table of Contents