The inventor of Biosphere 2, a glass domed ecosystem in which eight people lived in the Arizona desert from 1991-93, is considered either a visionary or a mad scientist. In this engaging memoir, Allen discusses how his early love of nature and later immersion in diverse cultures led to this experiment in human existence with minimal impact on the Earth (biosphere I), with a view toward future space travel. Numerous b&w and color photos feature his family, travels, and the Biosphere project. The bibliography includes scientific papers, poetry by Allen under the pen name 'Johnny Dolphin,' and documentary films. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)