Episode · Conversations with Tyler · 2025-03-05
Tyler Cowen & Carl Zimmer: books mentioned on Conversations with Tyler
Carl Zimmer on the Hidden Life in the Air We Breathe
Carl Zimmer is one of the finest science communicators of our time, having spent decades writing about biology, evolution, and heredity.
Tyler Cowen discussed Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer. Carl Zimmer discussed Life's Edge by Carl Zimmer and She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Air-Borne
Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer is a deep historical investigation into the invisible life forms that inhabit the air we breathe and how humanity has historically understood airborne diseases.
Discussed“the approximate reason for this episode is Carl's excellent new book it's called Airborne the hidden history of the life we breathe”
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.
Discussed“so in my book life's Edge I um you know I I I was writing about kind of um you know how far we can push our concepts of life and and you know can we think about life elsewhere”
Where to get it
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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“um and I I I write a lot about that in a book she has her mother's laugh which is about heredity in general and heritability really is just saying like Okay in a certain situation”
Where to get it
