"He knew he was right" by john & mary gribbin

[Simon]

He Knew He Was Right: The Irrepressible Life of James Lovelock and Gaia (Hardcover)
by John Gribbin (Author), Mary Gribbin (Author).

I was a bit disappointed by this biography as was the reviewer quoted below. Lovelock has led a truly fascinating life and has a brilliant mind. At the age of 90+, having his life story package into 225 pages, I felt a bit short-changed. Having said I was disappointed, it doesn't mean that overall I didn't enjoy the book. You can't help be other than impressed by the wide range of his scientific expertise. I had reached the extremely prejudiced view that Lovelock was a hair-shirted tree-hugger and that shouldn't be taken seriously. What did I know. While his "Gaia" theory may be a bit off the wall for many, you cannot dismiss him in the prejudiced way that I had - sorry James Lovelock, I apologise. Prior to reading this book, I had dismissed Gaia as fodder for the fruit cakes. However, I now take it as a metaphor for the planet's whole ecosystem and do see some merit in it without going the whole hog and worshipping at Gaia's feet (or hugging trees for that matter).

You can read an Amazon review (copyright acknowledged) below - for me it was a worthwhile read in spite of my caveats.

Quote ....

2.0 out of 5 stars  - He Knew He was Right: The Irrepressible Life of James Lovelock and Gaia, 24 Mar 2009
By    Dr. J. Brooks "Interested Scientist" (Scotland, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
"HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT: The Irrespressible Life of James Lovelock and Gaia" was a much anticipated book by all those interested and scientifically concerned with 'climate change' and the many related ecological problems. Jack Lovelock has been an equally interesting and successful scientist for some 50 years in many different scientific disciplines. UNFORTUNATELY, John and Mary Gribbin seem to have missed a great opportunity in this biography.

Reading with anticipation provided many disappointments. Expectation of a related exposition on Jack Lovelock the "visionary, inventor, radical, free thinker and soon-to-be space traveller" was much more a routine reporting - accurately - of Lovelock's life, which does not lift the reader's appreciation of this "icon figure in British science" much above the norm.

Lovelock has a very wide ranging, extremely interesting and very successful career, which has contributed significantly to modern science and will continue to impact for years to come. These roles appear to be mostly routinely reported in this book. Although Lovelock's life is accurately reviewed, with comments by the authors, any passion or personal feelings - although mentioned - of Lovelock's thinking, reasoning and application never quite portray to the reader any excitment and passion that surely must have been present throughout Lovelock's scientific life and career.

The authors mention meeting and knowing Lovelock in their prepartion of this biography, but somehow reading the book gives the impression that they "do not really know him". This has resulted in a somewhat impersonal reporting of a very significant scientist. This is a pity.

New readers interested in an introduction and guide to thinking on 'Gaia' may find the book interesting and helpful. But those who are expecting an interesting and enlightening biography on the "irrepressible life of James Lovelock" may be disappointed.

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