“Microcosmos” / “Symbiotic Planet” by Margulis + Sagan: Let’s read and discuss!

Welcome back readers, it’s the non-fiction round and we’re reading “Microcosmos” by Lynn Margulis and Dorian Sagan, tracing the origins of life and looking at evolution from a perspective of cooperation, symbiosis and interconnectedness, rather than “survival of the fittest”.

Synopsis
> “Microcosmos is nothing less than the saga of the life of the planet. Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan have put it all together, literally, in this extraordinary book, which is unlike any treatment of evolution for a general readership that I have encountered before. A fascinating account that we humans should be studying now for clues to our own survival.”
> From the Foreword by Dr. Lewis Thomas

> Microcosmos brings together the remarkable discoveries of microbiology in the later decades of the 20th century and the pioneering research of Dr. Margulis to create a vivid new picture of the world that is crucial to our understanding of the future of the planet. Addressed to general readers, the book provides a beautifully written view of evolution as a process based on interdependency and their interconnectedness of all life on the planet.

You can find reviews on GoodReads and TheStoryGraph.

About Lynn Margulis (from Wikipedia)
> Lynn Margulis was an American evolutionary biologist, and was the primary modern proponent for the significance of symbiosis in evolution. […] Margulis was also the co-developer of the Gaia hypothesis with the British chemist James Lovelock, proposing that the Earth functions as a single self-regulating system.

How to get your copy and a shorter alternative read!
Microcosmos can be a bit tricky to get hold of: It’s readily available in online book shops, but it can be on the pricey side (up to 35 USD/EUR, varies by region). There is of course an ebook version at roughly half the price, if you’re reading digitally. A few used copies are available on Abebooks, but they are mostly based in the US. The entire book is available online for free, if you’re comfortable to read it as a PDF (or want to print your own copy). See the list of links below.

An alternative pick would be “Symbiotic Planet”, another book by Margulis and Sagan: It’s shorter, newer and more affordable, readily translated into many languages, and discusses similar ideas. Albeit, according to reviews, its language is not as accessible as “Microcosmos”. Feel free to do your own research and choose it as an alternative, if you’re looking for a shorter read. We will discuss both books together.

Curious to join us? Then get your copy at your local book shop or online:

• Microcosmos on Bookshop
• Microcosmos on Amazon
• Microcosmos used books on Abebooks
• Free copy of Microcosmos as a PDF
• ––
• Symbiotic Planet on Bookshop
• Symbiotic Planet on Amazon
• Symbiotic Planet used book on Abebooks

Translations into various languages are also available.

Our meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2025 and we usually discuss in English, for 1.5-2 hours. You definitely don’t need a literature degree to participate! It’s important to us to listen to each other, to treat everyone with respect and to create a safe setting.

The discussion takes place virtually in Zoom and the meeting link will be added to this event on the day it happens. Just check back here half an hour before the meetup starts!

It doesn’t matter if you have actually finished the book – everyone is welcome, as long as you have read at least a few pages and bring your impression.