Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr is a fantastically written nonfiction book about Earth, specifically the elemental parts of it. It goes through different parts of the Earth, such as the soil, water, air, etc. and how these basic parts of our Earth have changed drastically over time.

I would like to preface this review by saying that I am not typically a nonfiction reader, especially when it comes to reading digital books. I would rather listen to a nonfiction book, or actually hold the book in my hands because I think it helps me focus more. This book, however, captivated my interest despite it’s format. I felt it was well-written and had a great mix of personal anecdotes and scientific information.

One of the things I did notice pretty early on is that this book uses a lot of jargon that may be difficult for someone who is entirely disconnected from the sciences to understand. I am currently working towards a STEM major in college and had absolutely no issue, but when I looked back on some of the words, I realized I may not have known them in high school. Apart from this, I really have no complaints and loved the book.

Overall, I would give this book 3.25/5 stars. It was enjoyable and I feel like I learned a lot from it, giving me a better understanding about how our world got to where it is today environmentally. It also goes into how this impacts us on a larger scale. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys nonfiction and would like something a little science-y.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr is an impressively concise book describing the interconnectedness of Earth, life, and everything in between. The book is broken down into three sections: Rock, Water and Air. Jabr postulates that each of these three components have fundamentally transformed Earth as we know it, both bringing Earth to life and life to Earth. Each section transports us to new locations, introduces us to new individuals, and uses evidence, both empirical and anecdotal, to justify Jabr’s claims.

Jabr’s writing is clearly written and should be easily consumed by most audiences. When items might be complex, he elaborates and explains as appropriate. There are many facts within this book that I highlighted or noted externally to reference back later. I also made notes of many adjacent subjects and individuals that piqued my interest and hope to learn more about. To these points, I give Jabr credit for introducing so much unique information in such a short book.

I would recommend this to my friends and family looking to further their knowledge of Earth, the Gaia hypothesis, and the interconnectedness of rocks, water, air, and life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr is an intriguing comprehensive study of the dynamic nature of earth. Central to Mr. Jabr's message is the Gaia hypothesis from the 1970's that postulates that life transforms earth, including non-living elements of earth in a self-regulating symbiotic cooperative process. Because of this relationship, changes to all forms of life have significant impacts on the inert components of earth. Becoming Earth is organized into three sections: Rock, Water and Air. Each section has 3 chapters that cover the original microorganisms, the impact of more complex organisms and finally the consequences of dramatic changes in recent history.

Mr. Jabr impressively covers a vast body of knowledge with clarity and conciseness. For a scientific book, the writing is very accessible, and I recommend this book to those interested in a well-researched and broad exploration of the complex relationship between the earth and all life forms from simple unicellular microorganisms to plants to humans. Becoming Earth covers a wide spectrum of ecosystems from agriculture to wetlands.

While I appreciate the conciseness and ease of reading of this book, I often felt that some of the points were supported by anecdotal evidence. I felt that the arguments could have been stronger with more examples. However, I recognize that including many more examples would make it nearly impossible to achieve the conciseness that allows this book to be so accessible. I have studied climate change for many years so my desire to delve into more detail may not be reflective of the typical reader. I highly recommend this fascinating book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.