---
product_id: 29566967
title: "Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life"
price: "€ 41.11"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/29566967-vital-question-energy-evolution-and-the-origins-of-complex-life
store_origin: PT
region: Portugal
---

# Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life

**Price:** € 41.11
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life
- **How much does it cost?** € 41.11 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/29566967-vital-question-energy-evolution-and-the-origins-of-complex-life)

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## Description

“One of the deepest, most illuminating books about the history of life to have been published in recent years.” ― The Economist The Earth teems with life: in its oceans, forests, skies and cities. Yet there’s a black hole at the heart of biology. We do not know why complex life is the way it is, or, for that matter, how life first began. In The Vital Question , award-winning author and biochemist Nick Lane radically reframes evolutionary history, putting forward a solution to conundrums that have puzzled generations of scientists. For two and a half billion years, from the very origins of life, single-celled organisms such as bacteria evolved without changing their basic form. Then, on just one occasion in four billion years, they made the jump to complexity. All complex life, from mushrooms to man, shares puzzling features, such as sex, which are unknown in bacteria. How and why did this radical transformation happen? The answer, Lane argues, lies in energy: all life on Earth lives off a voltage with the strength of a lightning bolt. Building on the pillars of evolutionary theory, Lane’s hypothesis draws on cutting-edge research into the link between energy and cell biology, in order to deliver a compelling account of evolution from the very origins of life to the emergence of multicellular organisms, while offering deep insights into our own lives and deaths. Both rigorous and enchanting, The Vital Question provides a solution to life’s vital question: why are we as we are, and indeed, why are we here at all? 37 illlustrations

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #70,975 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #20 in Biochemistry (Books) #125 in Evolution (Books) #178 in Biology (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,796 Reviews |

## Images

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## Available Options

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## Frequently Bought Together

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*Product available on Desertcart Portugal*
*Store origin: PT*
*Last updated: 2026-11-02*