James Lovelock continues, in his 95th year, to be the great scientific visionary of our age. This book introduces two new Lovelockian ideas. the first is that three hundred years ago, when Thomas Newcomen invented the steam engine, he was unknowingly beginning 'accelerated evolution', which is bringing about change on our planet roughly a million times faster than Darwinian evolution. the second is that as part of this process, humanity has the capacity to become the intelligent part of Gaia, the self-regulating Earth system whose discovery Lovelock first announced nearly fifty years ago. In addition, Lovelock gives his reflections on how scientific advances are made, and his own remarkable life as a lone scientist.Lovelock argues that instead of feeling guilty, we should recognise what is happening, prepare for change and ensure that we survive as a species so we can contribute to - perhaps even guide - the next evolution of Gaia. the road will be rough, but if we are smart enough life will continue on Earth.'The man who conceived the first wholly new way of looking at life on earth since Charles Darwin.' Independent'The most profound scientific thinker of our time.' Literary Review