related in the present but also in its ancestry. Living Language Thomas compares language to the social behavior of termites in this essay. He thinks of language as an organism that is alive and changing. The genes of language are how words originated when you look into each of their histories. He traces multiple words to their origins to prove his point. He comments that it would be near impossible to keep track of all roots of words back to Indo-European that you use. On Probability and Possibility We should be in awe that we exist and are unique among all the humans on Earth according to probability. Though we are indeed individual organisms, Thomas argues that one's own self is a myth. He believes we are part of a larger organization of information sharing. Through this system we are adapting and creating. By being more open with communication and less restrictive we will be able to uncover even more surprising discoveries. The World's Biggest Membrane Thomas compares the Earth to a living cell, one with its own membrane that allows it to keep out disorder. He shows how the evolution of cells was closely tied to the “breath” of the Earth, the cycling of oxygen concentration in the atmosphere. The atmosphere is “for sheer size and perfection of function, it is far and away the grandest product of collaboration in all of nature.” It gives us the oxygen we need, protection from UV light, and protection from the millions of meteorites. Reception Reviewers received The Lives of a Cell positively. Many praise Thomas's writing style for its effortless eloquence and wit. Joyce Carol Oates complimented the book not only for the style and language, but also for the vast amount of scientific information that Thomas conveys. It is a pleasure to read, wrote Laura Bernell, even to those who are not as well versed in the sciences. Even though the book consists of 29 essays that were originally published separately there is a pattern that is apparent throughout the book. Not every reviewer was impressed by Thomas's writings, however. Though Thomas does use elaborate metaphors and smooth language in his writings, some thought that his underlying meaning did not hold up. C.P. Swanson wrote that even though the essays are enjoyable to read, it can be difficult to distinguish the hard scientific fact. Another reviewer, Susan Goldhor, commented that