When Jim Lovelock published his startling new theory of Gaia, which sees the Earth, its rocks, oceans and atmosphere, and all living things as part of one great organism, many critics said it lacked evidence. In this revised edition he expands his theory and discusses it in the light of recent findings and developments, such as acid rain, the depletion of the ozone layer, and the destruction of tropical forests.
"This book describes a set of observations about the life of our planet which may, one day, be recognized as one of the major discontinuities in human thought. If Lovelock turns out to be as right in his view of things as I believe he is, we will be viewing the Earth as a coherent system of life, self-regulating and self-changing, a sort of immense living organism."
– Lewis Thomas