Biogenesis: Theories of Life's Origin
"Before we can even address the origin of life, there looms the question of what life is anyway.  In Biogenesis, Lahav quotes definitions of life culled from the scientific literature from 1855 to 1997.  We see the special concerns of each, from Spenser's emphasis on evolution, to Schrodinger's on the law of physics, to Kauffman's on complexity theory.  In pursuit of answers, scientists are using every technique from laboratory experiments to deep sea exploration to computer simulations.  The most complete account of every approach and each important concept, theory, and experiment is found in this book. It is an invaluable resource for all serious students of origin-of-life research. Although much of this book is very  technical, it is written in a highly accessible style. It is an outstanding contribution to the field." - Lucy Horwitz,Boston Book Review, March 2000