The Secret Life of the Universe

An Astrobiologist's Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life

By: Nathalie A. Cabrol

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

One of Scientific American’s Best Books of 2024

One of the world’s leading astrobiologists takes us on an awe-inspiring journey across the cosmos to investigate some of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe? And how did life on Earth begin?

We are in a golden age in astronomy, living on the cusp of breakthroughs that will revolutionize our understanding of our place in the cosmos. Yet a profound question remains: Are we alone in the universe?

We have never been closer to answering this question. In The Secret Life of the Universe, celebrated astrobiologist and the director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute Nathalie A. Cabrol takes us to the frontiers of the search for life. The book’s odyssey begins by exploring how life began on Earth in order to understand what’s necessary for its existence elsewhere. What role did our moon play? And could life on Mars have seeded life on Earth?

Cabrol continues this dazzling interplanetary tour, illuminating the likeliest places for life in our neighborhood: While Mars and the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn are among the top contenders, recent missions are redefining the limits of habitability to include unexpected worlds. Finally, we seek life beyond our solar system, becoming witness to a revolution in the night sky: the realization that there are as many planets as stars in our galaxy. With more than 300 million exoplanets in the habitable zone of their stars in the Milky Way alone, to think we are alone, or the only advanced intelligent civilization, may be little more than nonsense.

The Secret Life of the Universe is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the search for life—“a mind-altering and exhilarating read for anyone who has ever wondered: are we alone?” (Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk).

Critic reviews

"Narrator Cassandra Campbell guides listeners through the universe’s biological past, present, and potential future in this accessible production by the director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute. The ever-present existential and practical questions about how life began and whether we’re alone in the cosmos lie at the heart of this audiobook. Campbell excels at grounding listeners while delving into discussions of the origins of life on Earth and planetary explorations for biosignatures indicating life elsewhere. Her assured delivery allows for engagement with missions to Mars and echoes of its past; Saturn’s massive moon, Titan, and its vast liquid regions; and exoplanets light years away. Even as humanity ponders the stars, listeners are encouraged to care for our own biologically diverse world."

Sustain and Survive

I liked:
How our species' survival rests on recognizing and accepting as real & fundamental the concepts of Earth First and becoming/being human Planetary Citizens

Perspective of life

Great perspective, we need to act or we are doomed , good reference to Carl Sagan

Incredible Book

We all think about how life might have started. Nathalie nails the explanation. An absolute must listen and read!

Very solid science (then a little goofy at the end)

The author covers a lot of important topics related to life on different planets. The very last little bit she covers more “speculative” ideas that are much more pop-sci than the rest of the book (and in my opinion not as compelling).

Omg insufferably boring cliches

I rarely write reviews but I have to say that this is an attempt to emulate Carl Sagan by someone who is no way qualified to do so. Insufferably boring, using ten words where one will do. Tell me things I don’t know. There is nothing special about this book