The Mystery of Life’s Origin

The origin of life from non-life remains one of the most enduring mysteries of modern science. The Mystery of Life’s Origin: The Continuing Controversy investigates how close scientists are to solving that mystery and explores what we are learning about the origin of life from current research in chemistry, physics, astrobiology, biochemistry, and more. The book includes an updated version of the classic text The Mystery of Life’s Origin by Charles Thaxton, Walter Bradley, and Roger Olsen, plus new chapters on the current state of the debate by synthetic organic chemist James Tour at Rice University, author of more than 700 research publications; philosopher of science Stephen C. Meyer, author of Signature in  the Cell; astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, co-author of The Privileged Planet; biologist Jonathan Wells, author of Icons of Evolution; and physicist Brian Miller. The book also includes a new historical introduction by David Klinghoffer describing the history and impact of the original book on the debate over origins.

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Praise for the Original Edition

A valuable summary of the evidence against the chemical evolution of life… very well thought-out and clearly written.

Robert Jastrow, founding director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies

An important contribution to the origin of life field.

Robert Shapiro, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, New York University and author of Origins: A Skeptic’s Guide to the Creation of Life on Earth

Cogent, original, compelling.

Dean Kenyon, Professor Emeritus of Biology, San Francisco State University