Children of Light: The Astonishing Properties of Sunlight That Make Us Possible

by Michael Denton

We associate light with the radiant beams that make the world visible to us. But the visible spectrum is only a tiny percentage of an electromagnetic spectrum that extends unimaginably far in both directions. And, as biologist Michael Denton carefully documents, that tiny band of visual light is crucial to life on Earth. In Children of Light, Denton elucidates the miraculous convergence of properties on the tiny band we call the visible spectrum that has allowed intelligent life to flourish on Earth. Follow the journey of light as it beams down from our Sun, through the protective blanket of our atmosphere, to the Earth. Once here, it powers photosynthesis and unlocks the oxygen needed for life. It allows the high-acuity vision that led us to civilization and technology. Light is just one more part of the epic story of our fine-tuned universe, fit for us to flourish here and come to understand it.

Genres: Biology, Science

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

Michael Denton holds an M.D. from Bristol University, as well as a Ph.D. in biochemistry from King’s College in London. A Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, Denton has had a critical impact on the debate over Darwinian evolution.

Reviews

[Marvin Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the other books in "The Privileged Species Series", the conclusions can be summed up as found on page 120 ("the cosmos as revealed by modern science is a cosmos which is extraordinarily fit in
so many ways for beings of our anatomical and physiological design") and page 121 ("man was no epiphenomenal, contingent product of deep time and chance, as he is widely considered today, but rather its [the universe's] very end and purpose.")

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

When trying to discuss intelligent design, it's easy to get sidetracked into just talking about Darwin. Then the name calling starts and communication ends.

Refreshingly, this author is trying to point our all the celestial structures and events that have made our unique life possible. The coincidences in our planet and solar system are way too numerous to dismiss as random. There is something incredible going on and it should give us all pause.

The writing is particularly exciting, but the points he's making are.

[Frank Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the other two books in this series, this book was mixed. It was poorly edited, with excessive repetition, but also filled with really useful information. For example, the number of statements and graphs used to emphasis how small the visible light spectrum is within the overall electromagnetic spectrum was excessively excessive (written this was on purpose). So, if you can read the book as a reference book, it is excellent. But, it is not a pleasant book to read due to the writing and editing quality.

[M11B222INF8791 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scientifical and philosophical view of the sun.

Very good book about all the positive benefits to sunlight. A great read for those squiring knowledge about the benefits the sun provide to mankind.