Grinspoon, David Harry

For the first time in Earth's history, our planet is experiencing a confluence of rapidly accelerating changes prompted by one species: humans. Climate change is only the most visible of the modifications we've made--up until this point, inadvertently--to the planet. And our current behavior threatens not only our own future but that of countless other creatures. By comparing Earth's story to those of other planets, astrobiologist David Grinspoon shows what a strange and novel development it is for a species to evolve to build machines, and ultimately, global societies with world-shaping influence.

Uses the topic of extraterrestrial life to view human beliefs, evolution, history, and aspirations, discussing humans' expanding awareness of other planets, cosmic evolution, and the limits of humans' abilities to communicate and conceptualize with intelligent aliens.

Presents information about Venus gained from the Magellan mission, with photographs that show a planet of active volcanoes, mountains, and river valleys carved by lava, and discusses how conditions found on Venus may provide insight into some of Earth's environmental problems.