Episode · Dwarkesh Podcast · 2025-10-10

Books mentioned on Nick Lane – Life as we know it is chemically inevitable

1 book · With Nick Lane · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Nick Lane has some pretty wild ideas about the evolution of life. He thinks early life was continuous with the spontaneous chemistry of undersea hydrothermal vents.

Dwarkesh Patel recommended Vital Question by Nick Lane.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   Vital Question

   Nick Lane · at 1:16:40

   Vital Question by Nick Lane is a landmark biochemistry book exploring the deepest origins of life and how biological energy evolved.

   Recommended

   “For the audience, this conversation has been most coupled with Nick’s book, The Vital Question. I would recommend getting that if you want to better follow the argument here.”

   Dwarkesh Patel Nick Lane – Life as we know it is chemically inevitable 2025-10-10 Listen at 1:16:40

   Where to get it

   AmazonListen on Audible