Between Necessity and Probability: Searching for the Definition and Origin of Life

From the reviews:

"In exobiology one can never expect ultimate answers, only illumination. This is indeed what the book does, and what makes it interresting in its field, in giving an interim status report. The very extensive references list makes clear that we are far from any paradigma in exobiology, despite the fact that a lot happened since the appearance of Schroedingers booklet "What is Life?" in 1944.

"Popa’s contribution is a wide ranging critique of current thinking on life’s origin. For those familiar with the problem, this is an engaging personal viewpoint." (P J Wilkinson, The Physicist Jan./Feb. 2005, vol. 42, page 33)

"The book … aims to report new developments in research and teaching in the inter-disciplinary fields of astrobiology and biogeophysics. This encompasses all aspects of research into the origins of life – from the creation of matter to the emergence of complex life forms … . The hard cover book is nicely edited following Springer’s high-quality standards." (Roland Carchon, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)

"This is an interesting book that attempts to systematize life and its origin in an information-theoretic manner. … The two most important themes are hierarchies and phase transitions as properties of life. … In conclusion, a book for the specialist astrobiologist – trained in both biochemistry and biophysics – in search of novel ideas." (Alex Ellery, International Journal of Astrobiology, Vol. 6 (2), 2007)