Transformer
The Deep Chemistry of Life and Death
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Transformer
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Narrated by:
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Richard Trinder
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By:
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Nick Lane
About this listen
For decades, biology has been dominated by information—the power of genes. Yet in terms of information there is no difference between a living cell and one that died a moment ago. What really animates cells and sets them apart from non-living matter? This question goes back to the flawed geniuses and heroic origins of modern biology. The answer could turn our picture of life on Earth upside down.
In Transformer, Nick Lane captures a scientific renaissance that is hiding in plain sight. At its core is a cycle of reactions that transforms inorganic molecules into the building blocks of life, and the reverse—the iconic Krebs cycle that sits at the heart of metabolism. This conflicted merry-go-round of energy and matter has long taunted true understanding. Nick Lane is in the vanguard of scientists now tracing its ramifications across the tree of life.
To grasp the Krebs cycle is to fathom the deep coherence of biology. It connects the first photosynthetic bacteria with our own peculiar cells. It links the emergence of consciousness with the inevitability of death. And it puts the subtle differences between individuals in the same grand story as the rise of the living world itself.
Life is at root a chemical phenomenon: this is its deep logic.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2022 Nick Lane (P)2022 Profile Books LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Transformer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bart Pander
- 23-06-22
Yet another briljant book by Nick Lane
Best book of the year, but really needs a PDF with the figures, even I, a trained molecular microbiologist / system biologist would have liked some illustrations, the layperson definitely would want one.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ben
- 08-10-22
Terrible narration
Content of the book and Nick lanes ideas area absolutely fascinating. The narration is so bad it’s actually off putting.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard W.
- 15-12-22
Narration!
I have no idea what to say about this book as the narrator's cadence was so weird, distracting and slow I couldn't put up with it. Absolutely unlistenable. Apologies to the author. He sounded fascinating on the Event Horizon podcast which put me on to this book but honestly, he needs to speak to his lawyer about this one...I sped it up, slowed it down...everything I could think of. Finally, the only thing that made the pain stop was deleting the thing.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Y A K
- 02-11-23
Makes a complex subject legible
Really interesting .. culminates with some interesting reflections on consciousness; important with the emergence of ai as this question will become more important
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave Watkin
- 28-06-22
Excellent book but narration rather robotic
Another mind blowing book from Nick Lane that takes you on an incredible journey of the chemistry of life.
The only drawbacks are
1. The narration is strangely robotic - it was quite off-putting
2. Without the illustrations the audio version loses a lot vs the book
Probably one to read rather than listen to.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adam James Cassidy
- 18-06-22
The worst narration ever.
I’ve listened to 200 audiobooks and this is the only one I had to stop because I just couldn’t handle the narration. It…is…so…in-credibly…..slow…and…ponderous that it’s just impossible to get on board with. How the production team let this through is beyond me. I’m currently reading the book and it’s fantastic - buy the book, avoid this.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T. Reid
- 18-06-22
Interesting book, awful narration
Nick Lane’s writing is brilliant and he explains clearly and creatively the subject - however this book’s narrator is flat and monotonous - it sounds computer generated. Listening at 1.2x speed took the edge of that and made it bearable but please don’t use this narrator for future works.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-11-22
Robotic painful narration.
The subject matter is fascinating and Nick Lane through his books and lectures delivers an enthralling story about abiogenesis. That said the robotic, staccato narration made this impossible to listen to without pain. I tried different speeds, different volume through speakers, through headphones nothing made this anything less than torture. I gave up after several excruciating sessions and fruitless attempts and bought the book. I suggest everyone does the same.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Redd
- 26-05-22
Incredibly poor narration
The narration is so poor the content cannot be enjoyed. Sounds like it’s computer generated
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2 people found this helpful