This book investigates the fundamental definition of life, the mechanisms of its origin on Earth, and the scientific probability of its existence elsewhere in the universe. Josephine Marquand synthesizes biological principles and chemical theories to establish a framework for understanding life as a physical phenomenon. She examines the transition from prebiotic chemistry to self-replicating organisms, utilizing current scientific consensus to argue for the universality of biological laws. The text serves as a concise overview of the intersection between terrestrial biology and planetary science.

Experts categorize this work as a foundational introduction to the study of life's origins within the context of the Contemporary Science Paperbacks series. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex biochemical concepts accessible to a general scientific audience.