<i>What Is Life?</i> Revisited

By: Daniel J. Nicholson

Write A Review

Hardcover | 13 November 2025

At a Glance

Hardcover
104 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.86 x 15.24 x 0.79

Hardcover

RRP $110.95

$96.99

13%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $24.25 with

or

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

Erwin Schr¶dinger's What Is Life? is one of the most celebrated scientific works of the twentieth century. However, like most classics, it is far more often cited than read. Efforts to seriously engage with Schr¶dinger's arguments are rare. This Element explores how well his ideas have stood the test of time. It argues that Schr¶dinger's emphasis on the rigidity and specificity of the hereditary material (which stemmed from his attempt to explain biological order from physical principles) influenced how molecular biologists conceptualized macromolecules, resulting in a deterministic, engineering view of the cell that is still popular todayâ"even if it is increasingly at odds with experimental findings. Drawing on archival sources, this Element also uncovers Schr¶dinger's motivations in writing What Is Life? and suggests that his biological proposals are best understood in the context of his longstanding dispute with other physicists regarding the interpretation and extension of quantum mechanics.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.