Unilluminating
There is not much to learn from this book if you are interested to understand physical reality. The book starts well with the second law of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy, but the key aspects of information processing and the role of non-equilibrium thermodynamics is very briefly discussed. Chapters 6-11 did not make significant additions to the general discussions. It merely diluted the discussion relevant for the organization of matter (atoms and molecules) to form a living cell (organized system). Life seem to defy the concept of entropy and laws of physics because of the existence of free will, mind and consciousness. In addition, the idea that the past determines the future challenges the traditional ideas of classical and quantum physics.
The second law of thermodynamics; entropy and the flow of time, from past to future, and the available energy to perform useful work are some of the highlights of this book. Nature has provided a universal mechanism for coaxing certain molecular systems to get up and dance the entropic two-step. A living cell take in high-quality energy, use it, and then return low-quality energy in the form of heat and other wastes thus increasing the entropy of the universe. But internally it creates a high degree of order. This type of dissipative adaptation may be essential to the origin of life. The replication of biomolecules is a tool of dissipative adaptation: if a small collection of particles would become adept at absorbing, using, and dispensing energy. Then molecules that can replicate in larger numbers will be responsible for system-wide dissipative adaptation that is a key in the Darwinian evolution.
Despite the author’s other successful books and popular TV documentaries about cosmos, he has not lived up to his reputation as a good narrator of physics stories. Chapters 6-9 does not offer a path for intellectual stimulation.
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