"Life Ascending" is one of the best biology textbooks written for a wide audience that I have ever read. At one level it is a breezy and easy read, filled with clever illustrations that make the underlying, heavy-duty chemistry seem simple. The heart of his approach to "popularizing" science can be seen by reading some of that primary literature, and then reading Lane's non-technical, but precise interpretation. He is a master at distilling detailed, complex and difficult chemical processes into prose that reveals their essence. Finally, this book could have benefited from a glossary. True, Lane defines terms in his narrative but I think a glossary would have made this textbook easier to read.
In conclusion, this textbook is essential reading for anyone who has wondered about our very existence or ever questioned the science underlying evolution!! This book is cheap, useful and offers new information that was very useful for everyone.