“Some people are in the enviable position of loving their work. Cabrol is one of them, and it shows in this wonderfully sweeping book… This is a book for anyone with an interest in scientific discovery and a perfect choice for any budding astronomer or astrobiologist. Combining enthusiasm and knowledge, Cabrol gives a lovely guided tour of the possibilities of the cosmos.” —Kirkus, starred review

“In this cutting-edge, wide-ranging survey of a truly extraordinary subject, the celebrated scientist Nathalie Cabrol takes us on an odyssey full of astonishing possibility, crossing vast distances and many scales to tell the story of our search for extraterrestrial life. The Secret Life of the Universe weaves together the history of space exploration, planetary science, the changing technological and intellectual frameworks of SETI, and deliberations on the very nature and meaning of life. It’s a mind-altering and exhilarating read for anyone who has ever wondered: are we alone?"—Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk

“The Secret Life of the Universe delivers on the grand promise of its title. Intimate and cosmic, it is the passionate traveler’s tale of a distinguished scientist approaching the most fascinating questions of all.” —Ann Druyan, writer, producer, and director of “Cosmos”

“Of all the popular books on the search for life that are now being published, this one is quite special. Written by an outstanding astrobiologist, Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, The Secret Life of the Universe takes you step by step through each of the top candidates in the solar system and beyond into the Milky Way where life could exist, and how we are looking for it. Nathalie tackles advanced concepts and explains them with ease. I highly recommend this book!” —James L. Green, former NASA chief scientist

“In The Secret Life of the Universe, astrobiologist Nathalie Cabrol takes us on a sweeping exploration of life on Earth and the potential of the universe to harbor life beyond our planet. Drawing on the latest space missions and ground-based studies, she paints a picture of habitability over time perhaps reaching from the inner edge of our solar system to its outermost depths and from its earliest days to the present. Beyond our solar system, she charts the potential for habitability and even civilizations on countless exoplanets orbiting stars similar to and different from our sun. The nature of life as well as the practical and ethical dilemmas we face as a technological space-faring society are also part of the journey we take with her through the pages of this stimulating and provocative book.” —Carl B. Pilcher, Former Director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute