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Buy Beyond UFOs: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Its Astonishing Implications for Our Future by Jeffrey Bennett available and for sale on Brightsurf
| View Larger Image | Beyond UFOs: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Its Astonishing Implications for Our Future
by Jeffrey Bennett
| | List Price: | $26.95 | | Price: | $17.79 | | You Save: | $9.16 (34%) |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 218960 | | Studio: | Princeton University Press | | | Binding: | Hardcover | | Number Of Pages: | 238 | | Publication Date: | February 04, 2008 | | Publisher: | Princeton University Press |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
The quest for extraterrestrial life doesn't happen only in science fiction. This book describes the startling discoveries being made in the very real science of astrobiology, an intriguing new field that blends astronomy, biology, and geology to explore the possibility of life on other planets. Jeffrey Bennett takes readers beyond UFOs to discuss some of the tantalizing questions astrobiologists grapple with every day: What is life and how does it begin? What makes a planet or moon habitable? Is there life on Mars or elsewhere in the solar system? How can life be recognized on distant worlds? Is it likely to be microbial, more biologically complex--or even intelligent? What would such a discovery mean for life here on Earth? Come along on this scientific adventure and learn the astonishing implications of discoveries made in this field for the future of the human race. Bennett, who believes that "science is a way of helping people come to agreement," explains how the search for extraterrestrial life can help bridge the divide that sometimes exists between science and religion, defuse public rancor over the teaching of evolution, and quiet the debate over global warming. He likens humanity today to a troubled adolescent teetering on the edge between self-destruction and a future of virtually limitless possibilities. Beyond UFOs shows why the very quest to find alien life can help us to grow up as a species and chart a course for the stars. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 4 reviews)
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A good introduction for the very general reader 
I do think this is a good book, though (like another reviewer) I skipped much of it for reasons given below, and have a few gripes.
Firstly, as the title only half-implies, it isn't about UFOs at all, but about astrobiology - that is, the scientific study of what the conditions might be for life (even just microbes) to exist on other planets or moons. Bennett concludes, as do many others, that it's quite likely there is a huge amount of intelligent life out there in the universe.
Though the book is apparently aimed at the general (adult) reader, its tone and content is in parts somewhat dumbed down, as if for high school students. For example, we are informed that the name Ptolemy (the Greek astronomer) is pronounced 'TOL-e-mee', and are astonished to learn that a light-year is the distance light travels in a year. There are patient, somewhat lengthy explanations of evolution, the history of astronomy, scientific method, etc. which I had to skip, and much of which educated readers could be expected to have a fair grasp of already, particularly if they have any interest in science.
On a minor point, Bennett adopts the annoyingly PC habit of referring to all people of unspecified gender (in his made-up examples) as 'she', even at one point calling a waiter 'she' - wouldn't such a person be a 'waitress'?
Finally, Bennett repeatedly pleads for scientists and religious people not to fall out with each other, making the somewhat strong claim that science is perfectly compatible with the Bible, even for fundamentalists. But surely the book of Genesis, and biblical miracles, aren't compatible with science? I assume Bennett means they are if you interpret them non-literally; that is, everything in the Bible is true, except for the bits that aren't. But given such a weak criterion of compatibility, almost anything is compatible with science; even Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.
It seems that Bennett is largely motivated here to appeal to Christian fundamentalists in the US, and devotes a fair amount of space to the topic of 'intelligent design'. It is understandable but a shame he has to do this: in places such as Europe, where more sanity prevails, such creationists barely exist, and are almost universally regarded as dangerous nutcases - and rightly so.
June 29, 2008 | |
For the scientifically illiterate
This review will probably sound elitist to a lot of readers. Oh, well. I call 'em as I see 'em.
If you're virtually scientifically illiterate and believe in flying saucers and don't believe in evolution, I highly recommend this book. It will be a profoundly educational experience and a real eye opener for you. For you, I rate this book five stars. It is scientifically accurate and it will be like a baby eating pabulum, it will be so easy for you to understand it. Just have an open mind, that's all that's required.
For the scientifically literate, you're going to have to wade through almost 200 pages of stuff you already know like the back of your hand. There will be long sections you barely skim because you'll be so familiar with the material, like what DNA is and how the various parts of the cell work, or how big the universe is and how common planets are. Yawn...
I found about 20 pages in the whole book that were actually worth reading, but chances are you're familiar with that stuff, too. The details he gives on some of the moons of the gas planets filled in a few gaps in my knowledge and his discussions about why the atmosphere of Venus is so heavy (because the carbon dioxide was unable to form carbonate rocks due to the high temperature) also filled in a few gaps. There's bound to be a few things that you may have missed in your perusal of dozens of other books on popular science. But how much of it directly addresses the interesting questions posed on the dust jacket? What is the probability that extraterrestrials are "out there" and know about us, and why haven't we detected them? He goes to lengths to show that UFOs do not actually report on these extraterrestrials, and why, but you've read all this stuff elsewhere many times before.
It's only in the last 10 pages that he discusses the Fermi Paradox: "Where is everybody?" I was hoping the *whole book* would be a discussion of this question. That's what the scientifically literate person actually needs, not this pabulum. I'll give the book 4 stars, 5 for the scientifically illiterate, and 3 for the rest of us, because at least the science is good (if tediously elementary) and up to date, even if the book itself says very little about where all the aliens out there actually are.
June 19, 2008 | |
Excellent Book about the search for extraterrestrial life 
This book details on a layman's level, the state of the science and technology being used to search for life beyond earth.
Bennett does an excellent job explaining the process of science and the development of scientific ideas starting with ancient ideas about the universe and how scientific though has progressed (in fits and starts) to the current day. He also explains how scientific thought and religious beliefs can coexist and do not inherently contradict each other.
The book continues by examining the question of "What is Life" and the process of getting life started. After looking at the requirements of life on a planetary and star system scale, the book looks at the possibility of life throughout the solar system and then beyond. Bennett looks at the probability of extraterrestrial intelligence arising an asking the question: "... If civilizations really are as common as it seems they ought to be, shouldn't we by now have some real evidence for their existence?" Finally, Bennett looks at the social and cultural changes that we could possibly face if we learn of intelligent life in the universe.
This book is easy and enjoyable, and I recommend it for anyone who has an interest in astronomy, UFOs, or science. Even non-scientists would find it interesting.
June 01, 2008 | |
GREAT WORK!
This book opens up your mind and takes you to other dimensions of discoveries. It adds 10,000 miles to the length of your knowledge. A treasure!!
May 02, 2008 | |
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