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This Is Life

How the Science of the Cosmos Explains What We Are
Brief Description
Embark on a breathtaking journey to uncover the secrets of life itself, from the author of the international bestseller, The Universe in Your Hand. In this immersive and mind-expanding book, acclaimed physicist Christophe Galfard takes you on an adventure like no other to answer the fundamental... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3900
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Releases 20th October 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "This Is Life" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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From the author of the international bestseller The Universe in Your Hand, a riveting and comprehensive guide to everything we know about life, from the impossibly intricate workings of cells to the mind-boggling mechanics of evolution.

From the author of the international bestseller The Universe in Your Hand, a riveting and comprehensive guide to everything we know about life, from the impossibly intricate workings of cells to the mind-boggling mechanics of evolution.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Embark on a breathtaking journey to uncover the secrets of life itself, from the author of the international bestseller, The Universe in Your Hand.

In this immersive and mind-expanding book, acclaimed physicist Christophe Galfard takes you on an adventure like no other to answer the fundamental question: what is life? You'll travel back in time to witness the cataclysmic asteroid impact that doomed the dinosaurs, experience the tumultuous forces that shaped our planet, and discover how the first stirrings of life emerged from inanimate matter.

But your journey won't end there: you'll be shrunk down to the microscopic level and explore one of your own cells, witnessing the complex and awe-inspiring machinery that powers your very existence. Along the way, you'll be introduced to the groundbreaking ideas of scientific legends like Charles Darwin, Marie Tharp, Watson & Crick, Barbara McClintock and a whole host of other geniuses from both the past and the present.

A truly comprehensive and deeply accessible guide to the living world, This Is Life will ensure that you'll never look at living things the same way again.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529032048

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 June 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Contributors:

  • Cover design or artwork by Stuart Wilson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 39.0mm

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 620g

Pages: 512

About the Author

Christophe Galfard holds a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Cambridge, where he was Stephen Hawking's graduate student from 2000 to 2006, researching the so-called black hole information paradox. With Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking, he co-authored George's Secret Key to the Universe. His own book, The Universe in Your Hand, has been translated into over twenty languages.

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