Worldy wisdom: The essential companion for our journey into the future Human beings are extraordinary creatures. Intelligent, agile, and curious, we have adapted and invented our way to becoming the most important species on the planet. So great is the extent of our influence, that many speak of anew geological era, the Anthropocene, an age defined by human-induced change to the blue and green globe we call home. Our lofty status comes with responsibility as much as possibility: How should we travel through this new Earth age? What knowledge should we carry with us? This illustrated anthology is aguide book for being human in the 21st century. Conceived by James Lovelock, inventor of the Gaia theory, the book encourages holistic understanding. Much as Gaia theory considers our earth as an integrated whole of living systems,The Earth and I brings together an all-star lineup of contributors from across the scientific spectrum to offer wide understanding who and where we are. True to the very best travel guides, The Earth and I takes in the intricate details as much as the immense structures. Across 12 chapters, we zoom in from our ever-expanding universe to our miniscule but mighty cells. We make stopovers in astronomy, geology, neuroscience, and economics. We seestellar explosions, consider the layers of life beneath our feet, get to grips with the facts beneath theclimate controversies, and contemplate our increasing intimacy with technology-all brought to visual life by the vibrant illustration of British artist Jack Hudson. Our expert travel escorts along the way include quantum physicist Lisa Randall, Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, Pulitzer Prize-winning biologist Edward O. Wilson, andNobel Prize-winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel. Their captivating accounts of our earth and our existence share not only essential understanding but also thrilling sparks ofinnovation, opinion, and discovery. The result is an inspiration for curious minds young and old, and atrusted toolkit for an informed and enlightened future.