BOOK · [2511]
The Vital Question
Popular Science
A bioenergetics-first account of why complex life is rare and how the proton gradient at the heart of every cell shaped evolution. Karpathy points to Lane's books as the ones that made him feel the 'cosmic story' of life in technical detail.
Endorsed By
5 People-
Matt Ridley
“In this, his third book about energy and life, [Lane] comes triumphantly close to cracking the secret of why life is the way it is, to a depth that would boggle any ancient philosopher's mind.”
Ridley's own review on his official site (orig. The Times, 2015): 'he comes triumphantly close to cracking the secret of why life is the way it is.'
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David Friedberg
“It was a really good read”
From a YouTube episode of the All-In Podcast.
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Andrej Karpathy
“So. Good.”
Karpathy's terse Twitter endorsement of Nick Lane, whose work he repeatedly cites as foundational to his interest in origins-of-life biology.
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Bill Gates
“This biology book blew me away. A compelling case for how energy made us who we are.”
Bill Gates reviewed the book on his Gates Notes blog.
- Patrick Collison