In this engaging book, Paul Falkowski presents an authoritative and highly personal account of microbes, the tiny organisms that shape the world. From the inner workings of the cell to the broad sweep of Earth history, Falkowski weaves a tale of discovery that has profound consequences for understanding our past, our future, and, not least, our own bodies."—Andrew H. Knoll, Harvard University and author of Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth

The Industrial Revolution provided the impetus for science to catch up with technology. Industry relied on engines: devices that transform energy to achieve work, whether it be a waterwheel powering a mill or a steam engine driving a pump in a mine. In the 1820s the French military engineer Sadi Carnot realized that while post-Napoleonic France could hardly compete with Britain on technological terms, the fundamental rules of the engine — for example those that governed its efficiency — remained unconquered. Falkowski reminds us that we are living off the kindness of strangers—small ones, the microbes that are the very foundation of all life on this planet. He describes a hidden world of extraordinary complexity, taking us through the great discoveries that have taught us the rules. Life's Engines is a treasure trove of science and history that sounds a strong cautionary note about our future."—Martin J. Blaser, author of Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues What is known about the hidden world of the microbes and their fundamental roles in sustaining planetary habitability is insightfully revealed by Paul Falkowski in this authoritative, comprehensive, and delightful book. The author is uniquely qualified, perhaps singularly so, to cover topics ranging over broad time and space scales with a scholarly, transdisciplinary perspective that ranges from fundamental physics and chemistry, to Earth and ocean sciences. I cannot think of any other scientist who would accept such a challenge. . . . He is a gifted scientist and writer, and legendary storyteller. ---David M. Karl, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin A pleasure to read, the book touches on virtually every topic covered in a college biology curriculum by seamlessly weaving concepts with personal anecdotes and analogies. Presenting scientific facts and the fascinating history of their discovery, Falkowski (Rutgers Univ.) intersperses evolutionary theory with biochemistry, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, anatomy, and even anthropology and economics. He also presents a fact-based, nonpolitical vision for the future of biotechnology. . . . This reviewer came away inspired to learn more. Easily understood by anyone with a passing knowledge of science, this volume poses innumerable questions for further investigation." Martin J. Blaser, author of Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern PlaguesFor almost four billion years, microbes had the primordial oceans all to themselves. The stewards of Earth, these organisms transformed the chemistry of our planet to make it habitable for plants, animals, and us. Life's Engines takes readers deep into the microscopic world to explore how these marvelous creatures made life on Earth possible – and how human life today would cease to exist without them. Falkowski reminds us that we are living off the kindness of strangers—small ones, the microbes that are the very foundation of all life on this planet. He describes a hidden world of extraordinary complexity, taking us through the great discoveries that have taught us the rules. Life’s Engines is a treasure trove of science and history that sounds a strong cautionary note about our future.” —Martin J. Blaser, author of Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues Although Newton had previously made great progress in understanding the concepts of forces and gravity, energy was almost entirely a mystery at the beginning of the 19thcentury. The laws of thermodynamics, which Kelvin and Clausius had developed to understand the nature of heat and the meaning of temperature, gave hard definition to energy and the rules by which it could be transformed. In fact, thermodynamics ended up being a scientific revolution every bit as significant as Newton’s laws or the rise of quantum physics in the first half of the 20th century. The] wonderful and awe-inspiring universe of the microbes, unseen creatures that have shaped the planet such that we may live in it, is engagingly presented by Paul Falkowski in a remarkable text entitled Life’s Engines. . . . The book’s success is its utter simplicity. It tells the story of the history of life on our planet from a very personal perspective. . . . I was so enthralled by this book from the get-go that I invite you to have a short taste of it.” –Roberto Kolter, Cell

Not a microbial biologist, I approached this book with a bit of trepidation, imaging lengthy discussions of biochemistry. Instead, I was immediately engaged by Falkowski's conversational, fluid writing, personal anecdotes, and interesting choice of topics. . . . Life's Engines [is] easily accessible to the lay reader but engaging for the scientist as well."— American Biology Teacher Falkowski reminds us that we are living off the kindness of strangers – small ones, the microbes that are the very foundation of all life on this planet. He describes a hidden world of extraordinary complexity, taking us through the great discoveries that have taught us the rules. Life's Engines is a treasure trove of science and history that sounds a strong cautionary note about our future." Features Take a deeper look at the emerging trends and key issues within the global scientific community All Combo Life models have a low bumper height, making it an ideal car for those with dogs because it’ll be easier for them to get in and out. The tailgate is enormous and difficult to open in a tight car parking bay. This has been thought of, though, because every Combo Life has an opening glass window, for you to be able to load up the boot without having to open the whole tailgate. Towing a b c d e Ludvigsen, Karl (2005). The V12 Engine. Sparkford, Yeovil: Haynes. pp.356–358. ISBN 1844250040.Paul G. Falkowski holds the Bennett L. Smith Chair in Business and Natural Resources at Rutgers University, where he studies how microbes have shaped the history of Earth.