Rare Earth (book)
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| Author | Peter Ward and Donald E. Brownlee |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Astrobiology |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Copernicus |
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Publication date
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2000 |
| Media type | Print, e-book |
| Pages | 338 pp. |
| ISBN | |
Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe is a 2000 popular science book about xenobiology by Peter Ward, a geologist and paleontologist, and Donald E. Brownlee, an astronomer and astrobiologist, both faculty members at the University of Washington. The book is the origin of the term 'Rare Earth Hypothesis' which, like the book, asserts the concept that complex life is rare in the universe. The book was eventually succeeded by a follow-up book called The Life and Death of Planet Earth, also by Ward and Brownlee, which talks about the Earth's long term future and eventual demise under a warming and expanding Sun, showing readers the concept that planets like Earth have finite lifespans, and complex life is not just rare in space, but also rare in time, and is more likely to die out within a short time on geological timescales, while microbes dominate most of the planet's history.
The book argues that the universe is fundamentally hostile to complex life and that while microbial life may be common in the universe, complex intelligent life (like the evolution of biological complexity from simple life on Earth) required an exceptionally unlikely set of circumstances, and therefore complex life is likely to be extremely rare. The book argues that among the essential criteria for life are a terrestrial planet with plate tectonics and oxygen, a large moon, magnetic field, a gas giant like Jupiter for protection and an orbit in the habitable zone of the right kind of star.
Rare Earth attracted substantial attention, both in the media and academically. It has been cited by many subsequent articles in the field of geology and astrobiology. Christopher McKay wrote a positive review titled 'All Alone After All?', in the journal Science.The Times proclaimed it as an answer to the Copernican Principle.Discover described it as a "a wet blanket for E.T. enthusiasts". The book's rationale was also praised by media outlets including Newsday and The Economist. CNN described it as an answer to the Fermi paradox. Several astronomy sources also praised the book including Sky & Telescope, Astronomy magazine. Other science media also praised the book including American Scientist, Popular Mechanics, Physics Today and Science. Ward & Brownlee's Rare Earth Hypothesis has been further popularised in books along the same theme.
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