With 'Vital Dust', the biochemist Christian de Duve has produced a book on the grand scale which I so enjoy. A Nobelist, he explains his topic with clarity; however, when he starts talking about thioesters and autocatalysis, the book is rather hard going for my level (informed layman & mini-Jack of various scientific trades). When he moves outside his area of expertise, however, the book is well-researched, readable and informative. I think that some scientists might question the ease with which his account of early evolution flows; as Cairns-Smith (see above) pointed out - and I think his objections are still relevant - many gaps still exist in the reconstruction of early terrestrial evolution.

It is worth bearing in mind that this kind of book passes its sell-by date relatively quickly (it was written in about 1995); new hypotheses are continually being generated and tested, and old ones rejected.

That said, 'Vital Dust' is comprehensive in its scope, and I think that anyone with an interest in biology, evolution and the possibility of extraterrestrial life would find much to chew on herein.

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