SKU: 83433786148

Planetary Dreams: The Quest to Discover Life Beyond Earth

Sale price$12.97 Regular price$14.41
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $3.60 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 23 - Jul 28

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Planetary Dreams: The Quest to Discover Life Beyond EarthThe Quest To Discover Life Beyond Earth. ""The 'dreams' that I write of are not the usual ones, the images that come up in our minds involuntarily during certain stages of sleep, but rather the hopes and expectations that we have lavished upon other worlds around us."" from the Preface. The surprisingly long history of debate over extraterrestrial life is full of marvelous visions of what life ""out there"" might be like, as well as remarkable stories

The Quest To Discover Life Beyond Earth.

""The 'dreams' that I write of are not the usual ones, the images that come up in our minds involuntarily during certain stages of sleep, but rather the hopes and expectations that we have lavished upon other worlds around us.""-from the Preface.

The surprisingly long history of debate over extraterrestrial life is full of marvelous visions of what life ""out there"" might be like, as well as remarkable stories of alleged sightings and heated disputes about the probability that life might actually have arisen more than once. In Planetary Dreams, acclaimed author Robert Shapiro explores this rich history of dreams and debates in search of the best current answers to the most elusive and compelling of all questions: Are we alone?

In his pursuit, he presents three contrasting views regarding how life might have started: through Divine Creation, by a highly unlikely stroke of luck, or by the inevitable process of a natural law that he terms the Life Principle. We are treated to a lively fictional dinner debate among the leading proponents of these schools of thought-with the last named group arguing that life has almost surely formed in many places throughout the universe, and the others that life may well be entirely unique to our own blue planet. To set the stage for a deep exploration of the question, the author then leads us on a fantastic journey through the museum of the cosmos, an imagined building that holds models of the universe at different degrees of magnification. We then journey deep into inner space to view the astonishingly intricate life of a single cell, and learn why the origin of such a complex object from simple chemical mixtures poses one of the most profound enigmas known to science.

Writing in a wonderfully entertaining style, Shapiro then reviews the competing theories about the start of life on Earth, and suggests the debate may best be settled by finding signs of life on the other worlds of our solar system. He takes us on a guided tour of the most likely sites, from the underground hot springs of Mars to the ice-covered oceans of Jupiter's airless moons.

Along the way, he shares a wealth of fascinating stories about the ways in which our views of the heavens have changed, from the theories of ancient philosphers, who argued that the Moon was inhabited, to the current Origins and Astrobiology initiatives of NASA. He describes the probes that will be sent out in the near future in pursuit of the first compelling physical evidence of life beyond Earth, and concludes with a radical suggestion about how this quest might be supported through the next millennium. As we launch into an exciting new era of space exploration, Planetary Dreams offers a thoughtful and entertaining exploration of both the history of our hopes and expectations and a vision of a possible future in which the discovery of life elsewhere will provide a new view of our place in the universe.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Wiley (TP)
Published: 05/01/2001
ISBN: 9780471407355
Pages: 324
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.10w x 0.88d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 83433786148

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 26 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
M
Verified Purchase
Mimie Hull
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Great kids sandals
Size: 9 Toddler, Color: Taupe
These are cute and my kids say they’re comfortable! We got a few colors. Definitely would purchase again. They’ve got good quality.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jenna Smeyne
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 1
Super wide
Size: 13 Little Kid, Color: Taupe
They are oddly very wide. Great for kids with wide chunky feet but for us it was not cute
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kindle Customer
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 2
Nice but runs small
Size: 7 Big Kid, Color: Navy
The sandals are nice and not to hard or flimsy but they are cut very small.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
A
Alexandria Knox
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 4
Solid Kids Sandals, Overpriced Like Most Kids Shoes 🌞
Size: 11 Little Kid, Color: Brown, Size: 11 Little Kid, Color: Brown
My son hasn’t worn these yet since it’s December in Indiana and sandals + snow obviously don’t mix. 😂 So this review is based on first impressions rather than long term wear. That said, these seem wider than a lot of typical kids’ sandals, which I REALLY appreciate since we tend to have wider feet in our family. #hobbitfeet The quality feels pretty decent overall. They’re described as lightweight, and while they’re not insanely lightweight, they do have enough weight to feel semi-sturdy and not flimsy or cheap. I like the style and color, and I think they’ll work well for my son once warmer weather hits. My main complaint is the price. At just under $24 at the time of this review, it feels a little high for kids’ sandals and for what these are. I really feel like $20 MAX would make more sense. Kids shoes are almost always priced like adult shoes, even though they clearly use less material, and that’s hard for me to understand and wrap my mind around. Overall, these seem solid for daily wear, I just wish the price was a bit more reasonable and affordable.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2025
J
Job
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Great basic and timeless design
Size: 12 Little Kid, Color: Brown
These sandals are a great find! They’re super easy to get on and off thanks to the Velcro straps, which is a huge win for little ones learning to be more independent. The fit is adjustable and secure, so they stay in place well during all kinds of play. The cork-style footbed is comfortable and gives good support, and the overall design feels sturdy enough to handle everyday wear. They’re lightweight but still durable, and have held up really well so far. They also have a classic, versatile look that goes with just about everything, perfect for summer outfits. Overall, a reliable, comfortable sandal that’s great for active kids. Would definitely buy again!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026

recommand products