RD BK - “Air is the great commons—shared, invisible, and full of life.”

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Here’s the SBQ (Should-Be Question) and a brief summary for the book Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe by William Bryant Logan:

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❓ SBQ (Should-Be Question):

"How has the air we breathe shaped life, health, and human history—and what hidden forces lie within every breath?"

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📘 Air-Borne — Summary (Bullet Points)

• Air is alive and dynamic.
  The atmosphere is not just empty space—it’s a living medium that connects all living things.

• We share every breath.
  Each inhale contains particles from plants, oceans, volcanoes, deserts, and even the breath of others—past and present.

• Air carries history.
  Pollen, spores, viruses, dust, and even ancient microbes float through the atmosphere, acting as archives of Earth's biological story.

• Air impacts our biology.
  Exposure to the microbial life in natural air improves immune function, mental health, and emotional well-being.

• Modern life has changed our air.
  Pollution, indoor living, and sterilized environments have altered the air we breathe—with consequences for health and ecology.

• Breathing connects us.
  Every breath is both biological and philosophical—a reminder of our interconnectedness with the Earth and one another.

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💬 Powerful Quotes:

• “Air is the great commons—shared, invisible, and full of life.”

• “Each breath is an exchange with the whole world, past and present.”

• “To breathe deeply is to remember where we came from.”

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Would you like a visual timeline of air’s role in evolution, a science vs. spirituality comparison, or a PDF quick reference for this book?