'A dispatch from the front, urgent and engaged, as only a participant could write it, and the best of its genre since James D. Watson's The Double Helix ' Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University On May 20, 2010, headlines around the world announced one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in modern science: the creation of the world's first synthetic life form. In a fascinating and pioneering study, J. Craig Venter shares the dramatic account of how he led a team of scientists in this pioneering effort, and provides us an opportunity to ponder anew the age-old question "What is life?" at the dawn of a new era of biological engineering. 'In his characteristically brash, lively book, Craig Venter gives us nature-as-computer . His vision is to code, debug and compile synthetic organisms that will make us and our environment healthier, more harmonious, better' Nathaniel Comfort, Nature 'A guide to the future of life from one of the scientists helping to create it' Washington Post 'A landmark account' George Dyson, author of Turing's Cathedral.