--- product_id: 62856529 title: "What is Life? (Canto Classics): With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches" price: "NT$1330" currency: TWD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tw/products/62856529-what-is-life-canto-classics-with-mind-and-matter-autobiographical store_origin: TW region: Taiwan --- # Classic science masterpiece Philosophy meets physics Pioneering DNA insights What is Life? (Canto Classics): With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches **Price:** NT$1330 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🧬 Unlock the secrets of life and mind with a Nobel classic that shaped modern science! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** What is Life? (Canto Classics): With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches - **How much does it cost?** NT$1330 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tw](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/62856529-what-is-life-canto-classics-with-mind-and-matter-autobiographical) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Autobiographical Insights:** Personal sketches revealing the life behind the Nobel laureate’s genius. - • **Timeless Scientific Vision:** Erwin Schrödinger’s groundbreaking ideas that sparked molecular biology’s birth. - • **DNA Decoded Before Its Time:** Predictive reasoning on genetic code decades ahead of discovery. - • **Enduring Academic Influence:** Referenced in top-tier physics exams and revered by scholars worldwide. - • **Philosophy & Physics Fusion:** Explores mind-matter relationship with profound intellectual depth. ## Overview What is Life? by Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger is a seminal 20th-century science classic that inspired molecular biology and DNA research. This edition pairs the iconic essay with Mind and Matter and autobiographical sketches, offering a rare glimpse into the mind of a scientific pioneer. Celebrated for its profound insights and lasting academic impact, it remains a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of physics, biology, and philosophy. ## Description Nobel laureate Erwin Schroedinger's What is Life? is one of the great science classics of the twentieth century. It was written for the layman, but proved to be one of the spurs to the birth of molecular biology and the subsequent discovery of DNA. What is Life? appears here together with Mind and Matter, his essay investigating a relationship which has eluded and puzzled philosophers since the earliest times. Brought together with these two classics are Schroedinger's autobiographical sketches, which offer a fascinating account of his life as a background to his scientific writings. Review: Great Intuition for Fundamental Ideas - This book inspired me to study a degree in physics with biology. Four years later and I can read/write all the complicated equations but still think about "what it means" in the ways outlined in this book****. The overview of statistical mechanics is brilliant and exactly on point - the example using the magnetisation of oxygen captures the essence of thermodynamics perfectly. Regarding his predictive powers on DNA - it's worth noting that a lot of research had already been done in this area. At the time he wrote this, it wasn't known if proteins were responsible for the "genetic code" or this funny little acid chain that seemed to be in all the cells but these were the two best candidates. The book contains his reasoning for why he believed it likely to be the acid "quasi-crystal" (ie DNA). Watson, Crick and Franklin's contribution was working out exactly what the chemical composition and structure of DNA was. Sorry to be "political" but Franklin was undermined by a suboordinate who resented working under a woman and shared her results without permission - I would encourage you to verify this for yourself. ***I just had a flick through the book and noticed the equation on page 15 was in my final physics exam at Cambridge. They wanted us to give a physical interpretation (as well as mathematical working) and my answer was essentially the same as the description he gives in the footnote on page 16 - just with slightly more modern wording. If you're curious go to Camphys.com and look at Part II Physics Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2024, which will be publicly viewable a few months after the exam. See question 6d. Whilst in a different context, it's the same equation! Review: I love it in that it shows the power of reason ... - This book is actually magnificent. It's a bit hard to read, i.e. you can't read more than a few pages at a time without losing concentration, but it's not long and is worth it - the guy basically describes DNA 20-odd years prior to its actual discovery from just thinking about it (as in he tells exactly what to look for...). I love it in that it shows the power of reason and logic, unlike what I think of modern 'science' which relies too much on bulk studies without much thought, and doesn't seem to accomplish too much except the publication of semi-conclusive journal papers that no one actually reads. ## Features - New Store Stock ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 154,663 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 35 in Philosophy of Science 220 in Popular Science Physics 282 in Science & Religion | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,181 Reviews | ## Images ![What is Life? (Canto Classics): With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+K0eJPF3L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Intuition for Fundamental Ideas *by H***Y on 2 June 2024* This book inspired me to study a degree in physics with biology. Four years later and I can read/write all the complicated equations but still think about "what it means" in the ways outlined in this book****. The overview of statistical mechanics is brilliant and exactly on point - the example using the magnetisation of oxygen captures the essence of thermodynamics perfectly. Regarding his predictive powers on DNA - it's worth noting that a lot of research had already been done in this area. At the time he wrote this, it wasn't known if proteins were responsible for the "genetic code" or this funny little acid chain that seemed to be in all the cells but these were the two best candidates. The book contains his reasoning for why he believed it likely to be the acid "quasi-crystal" (ie DNA). Watson, Crick and Franklin's contribution was working out exactly what the chemical composition and structure of DNA was. Sorry to be "political" but Franklin was undermined by a suboordinate who resented working under a woman and shared her results without permission - I would encourage you to verify this for yourself. ***I just had a flick through the book and noticed the equation on page 15 was in my final physics exam at Cambridge. They wanted us to give a physical interpretation (as well as mathematical working) and my answer was essentially the same as the description he gives in the footnote on page 16 - just with slightly more modern wording. If you're curious go to Camphys.com and look at Part II Physics Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics 2024, which will be publicly viewable a few months after the exam. See question 6d. Whilst in a different context, it's the same equation! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love it in that it shows the power of reason ... *by P***N on 22 January 2018* This book is actually magnificent. It's a bit hard to read, i.e. you can't read more than a few pages at a time without losing concentration, but it's not long and is worth it - the guy basically describes DNA 20-odd years prior to its actual discovery from just thinking about it (as in he tells exactly what to look for...). I love it in that it shows the power of reason and logic, unlike what I think of modern 'science' which relies too much on bulk studies without much thought, and doesn't seem to accomplish too much except the publication of semi-conclusive journal papers that no one actually reads. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Definitely worth reading *by N***K on 26 January 2019* I was attracted to this book by a “throwaway” line in the tv programme of the same title. With an interest in philosophy and as a Christian I was fascinated by the approach to this subject from physics and chemistry. it is a hard read even with my limited knowledge of the sciences. However the author attempted to write without using too much technical knowledge. Some pages I had to reread and I dare say I still haven’t grasped all the content! It is an excellent read and I would have given five stars had I been able to understand it!! ## Frequently Bought Together - What is Life?: With Mind and Matter and Autobiographical Sketches (Canto Classics) - Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science - 'Nature and the Greeks' and 'Science and Humanism' (Canto Classics) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tw/products/62856529-what-is-life-canto-classics-with-mind-and-matter-autobiographical](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/62856529-what-is-life-canto-classics-with-mind-and-matter-autobiographical) --- *Product available on Desertcart Taiwan* *Store origin: TW* *Last updated: 2026-09-30*