In language accessible to a lay audience, neurobiologists Klarsfeld (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Gif-sur-Yvette) and Revah, with a French biotechnology company, explore the subtleties of what the life sciences have to say about natural death. In so doing, they challenge some deeply embedded ideas: that death is inevitable and that it is undeniably beneficial to ongoing life. They suggest that just as views of the universe underwent profound upheaval as Copernicus' ideas took hold, prevailing ideas about death (in the sciences) are ripe for similar change. Discussion includes various aspects of cell physiology involved with aging, longevity, disease, and death as well as concepts of biological time, and death's purposes. Biologie de la Mort was published by Éditions Odile Jacob in 2000. The bibliography is a mix of English and French works; a glossary is provided. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)