Dazzle Gradually: Reflections on the Nature of Nature - Lynn Margulis & Dorian Sagan

The purpose of life is to reduce gradients. Thermodynamically speaking, that is. This collection of essays touch on the origins of life, microbial sex, the boundaries of self, the machine as an extension of self, Nietzsche, symbiogenesis, microbial cannabalism, the biosphere, vaginal yeast, God, and a bunch of other stuff. Definitely an interesting and enlightening read.