by Ursula Goodenough
This eloquently written book blends science, spirituality and philosophy into rich poetic prose. As a cell biologist and a self-described religious naturalist, Goodenough finds joy and solace in science and sees in it the mystery, awe, and purpose that most people find in religion. The author writes about life from the perspectives of a cell biologist and a woman of spirit. For example, on Origins of Life she writes: “I take the concept of miracle and use it not as a manifestation of divine intervention but as the astonishing property of emergence.” For Goodenough, the study of evolution provides a feeling of communion with all creatures. For her, acknowledging bloodier invokes a sense of reverence and dependence on all creatures. “We are called to acknowledge our dependency on the web of life both for our subsistence and for countless aesthetic experiences.”