What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBecoming Earth
Ferris Jabr · Book
If you loved Becoming Earth, start with A Perfect Planet (2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Becoming Earth across media.
What captivated you in Becoming Earth is the profound realization that our existence is inextricably woven into the planet's vast, living systems.
Films on the same thread
Annihilation
Alex Garland · Film · 2018
Explores: Existentialism, Self-Destruction, Transformation.
If Becoming Earth deepened your awe for nature's transformative power, this story pushes that fascination into surreal territory by exploring how biology fundamentally alters the nature of reality.
Avatar
James Cameron · Film · 2009
Explores: Colonialism, Environmentalism, Cultural Assimilation.
Mirroring the environmental stewardship central to Becoming Earth, this film challenges you to confront the tension between technological advancement and the delicate, interconnected web of an alien biosphere.
Project Hail Mary
Phil Lord · Film · 2026
Explores: competence porn, amnesia, interspecies friendship.
The scientific problem-solving found here echoes the investigative spirit of Becoming Earth, showcasing how understanding planetary-scale phenomena is essential to preserving the future of life itself.
Her
Spike Jonze · Film · 2013
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Existential Loneliness, Human-Computer Interaction.
Just as Becoming Earth examines the co-evolution of life and environment, this narrative explores the evolving, intimate dependency between humans and the systems we build to sustain us.
Series on the same thread
Life on Earth
Series · 1979
Explores: Evolution, Biodiversity, Natural Selection.
This documentary series serves as the foundational visual companion to Becoming Earth, tracing the long, complex history of life's evolution and its persistent struggle for survival on our planet.
Planet Earth
Series · 2006
Explores: Biodiversity, Conservation, Natural Wonders.
These episodes expand upon the global ecosystem perspective in Becoming Earth, offering a breathtaking look at the biodiversity that persists across the unique, interconnected regions of our world.
Our Planet
Series · 2019
Explores: Climate Change, Environmentalism, Biodiversity.
Building on the urgent environmental themes of Becoming Earth, this series provides a sobering, vital look at how modern climate change is actively reshaping the systems that sustain us.
A Perfect Planet
Series · 2021
Explores: Earth Science, Wildlife Conservation, Planetary Systems.
This series acts as a direct scientific extension of Becoming Earth, illustrating the specific planetary forces that drive global wildlife diversity and maintain the interdependence of our natural world.
Podcasts on the same thread
The MeatEater Podcast
MeatEater · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Becoming Earth: environmental stewardship.
If Becoming Earth inspired you to seek environmental stewardship, these conversations provide a practical, grounded approach to understanding our personal role within the wild ecosystems we inhabit.
The Ezra Klein Show
New York Times Opinion · Podcast
Explores: climate change, political systems, market influence.
These interviews bridge the gap between the planetary science of Becoming Earth and the political realities, examining how human systems struggle to address the interconnected crises of our era.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Becoming Earth a book about the interconnected nature of our planet?
Yes, Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr depicts the planet as an interconnected living system. It explores the complex relationships between the Earth and its inhabitants as documented by a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.
Who is the author of Becoming Earth?
Becoming Earth is written by Ferris Jabr. He is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and focuses on the living systems that sustain life on our planet.
What is the primary focus of Becoming Earth?
The primary focus of Becoming Earth is the interconnected living system of our planet. The book examines how the Earth functions as a single, integrated entity and how its inhabitants contribute to this global biological network.
Does Becoming Earth explore how inhabitants interact with our planet?
Yes, Becoming Earth explores the relationship between the planet and its inhabitants. It details how the Earth operates as an interconnected living system and how life forms are integral to the ongoing processes of the planet.