Episode · The Book Review · 2021-04-02
Carl Zimmer on The Book Review: books mentioned
Carl Zimmer on Defining Life
Pamela Paul recommended Life's Edge by Carl Zimmer and I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell, and discussed She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer and Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell. Carl Zimmer discussed A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer. John Williams recommended Visitors by Anita Brookner, and discussed Persuasion by Jane Austen.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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She Has Her Mother's Laugh
She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer is a comprehensive exploration of the biological powers, historical perversions, and future potentials of heredity and genetics.
Discussed“he was last on the podcast for his book she has her mother's laugh”
Where to get it
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A Planet of Viruses
Discussed“um actually wrote a book called The Planet of viruses a few years ago”
Where to get it
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Life's Edge
Life's Edge by Carl Zimmer is a popular science exploration that investigates the fundamental scientific definitions of what it actually means for something to be alive, pushing the boundaries of biology and astrobiology.
Recommended“Carl Zimmer's book is life's Edge the search for what it means to be alive”
Where to get it
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Visitors
Visitors is a late-career novel by acclaimed British author Anita Brookner that delves into the quiet, isolating experiences of aging, routine, and emotional detachment among middle-class Londoners.
Recommended“and I picked up a book I hadn't read before called visitors it's a novel from 1997 when Brookner herself was almost 70 years old”
Where to get it
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Persuasion
Persuasion by Jane Austen is a classic novel that follows Anne Elliot as she navigates second chances at love and regret within Regency-era society.
Discussed“and so after recalling the affair for a bit she thinks in third person it was different now she knew all sorts of Liaisons were accepted single mothers taken for granted Bishops preaching about family values merely sounded foolish the world of persuasion had been long gone”
Where to get it
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I Am, I Am, I Am
I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell is a striking memoir structured around seventeen near-death experiences that have shaped the author's life and perspective on mortality.
Recommended“I recently read this book by Maggie oeral I am I am I am 17 brushes with death now”
Where to get it
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Hamnet
Hamnet is a deeply moving historical novel by Maggie O'Farrell that imagines the domestic life of William Shakespeare and the profound grief surrounding the death of his young son.
Discussed“we were talking about it because Maggie o Farrell's new novel hamnet had just come out and everyone was saying oh you have to read her Memoir”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Carl Zimmer will join us to talk about his new book life's Edge the search for what it means to be alive”
“one thing that's kind of amazing is as I write about in life sge is that if you look for a definition of life from scientists you will find hundreds of them”
“and I I highlight a few of them in life's Edge and I I present some some really exemplary species”
“but you know for for an astrobiologist like Lori barge who I feature in life's Edge”