Book Description

When the whole is greater than the sum of the parts--indeed, so great that the sum far transcends the parts and represents something utterly new and different--we call that phenomenon emergence. When the chemicals diffusing in the primordial waters came together to form the first living cell, that was emergence. When the activities of the neurons in the brain result in mind, that too is emergence. In The Emergence of Everything, one of the leading scientists involved in the study of complexity, Harold J. Morowitz, takes us on a sweeping tour of the universe, a tour with 28 stops, each one highlighting a particularly important moment of emergence. For instance, Morowitz illuminates the emergence of the stars, the birth of the elements and of the periodic table, and the appearance of solar systems and planets. We look at the emergence of living cells, animals, vertebrates, reptiles, and mammals, leading to the great apes and the appearance of humanity. He also examines tool making, the evolution of language, the invention of agriculture and technology, and the birth of cities. And as he offers these insights into the evolutionary unfolding of our universe, our solar system, and life itself, Morowitz also seeks out the nature of God in the emergent universe, the God posited by Spinoza, Bruno, and Einstein, a God Morowitz argues we can know through a study of the laws of nature.Written by one of our wisest scientists, The Emergence of Everything offers a fascinating new way to look at the universe and the natural world, and it makes an important contribution to the dialogue between science and religion. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Quatsch, schmarrn, ...
Translation: nonsense. Anyone who proclaims that reductionism is dead is woefully ignorant of the enormous breakthroughts, by standard 'reductionist' methods, in cell biology, including cancer research. See R. Weinberg's "One Renegade Cell: How Cancer Begins", as an antidote to the anti-scientific philosophy propagated in this book.

First, there are no known laws of "self-organization". The only known laws of nature are the laws of physics and consequences deduced from the laws, namely, chemistry and cell biology. Complex adaptable models and other efforts to mathematize Darwinism are so far not falsifiable, hence are not yet science and may never be. Second, no one has yet defined 'emergence' in any meaningful (i.e., falsifiable) way. Worse, every mathematical model that can be written down is a form of 'reductionism', including so-called complex adaptable ones. Let us think clearly and be try to be precise: Quantum theory reduces phenomena to (explains phenomena via) atoms and molecules. All of chemistry is about that. Cell biology attempts to reduce observed phenomena to DNA, proteins, and cells. Believers in self-organized criticality try to reduce the important features of nature to the equivalent of sandpiles via the hope for a not yet found universality principle. Network enthusiasts hope to reduce phenomena to nodes and links, and also wish for a universality principle. In order to try to isolate cause and effect, there is no escape from reductionism of one form or another. Holism is an empty illusion: holism cannot even be mathematized or falsified. Holism is religion, not science, and should not be advertised as if it would be science.

See Schrödinger's "What is Life" for a clear explanation why we should not expect to discover macroscopic (statistical) laws of biological evolution, the only way to understand evolution being mutation by mutation at the level of DNA. Following Mendel, who was a reductionist in the Galilean spirit of physics, two of those who followed Schrödinger's line of thought discovered the structure of DNA, and the genetic code. Genes and the genetic code are excellent examples of emergent objects that can be studied systematically. The genetic code is the source of the most important complexity in nature: life.

Show me one, single, holist contribution to science or medicine, and I'll eat my words (without Schmarrn...)!

Gene Autry sometimes shot from the hip, but he at least occasionally hit something!

A Reply to Scientific Atheism
Morowitz the scientist makes a single point, which he drives home again, and again, ceaseless, incessantly, until finally it begins to sink in. It is, in this respect, perhaps the intellectual equivalent of Ravel's Bolero, or the yogi's infinitely repeated "Om". The point is that reductivism is the only tool we have for analyzing the world, it is an amazingly powerful tool, and yet at every level of complexity, emergent phenomena arise that could not have been predicted by the levels that preceded them, and can barely, if at all, be modeled an understood using reductivist analytical and experimental techiques.

This is a message that will be rejected by one particular group: the self-styled "scientific atheists" who claim that scientific methodology ineluctably implies that God does not exist, or at least that there is no more reason to believe in God than it is to believe in the Tooth Fairy. Morowitz, by contrast, follows Spinoza in identifying the world of science as dealing with the product of the "immanent God" whose transcendance we attempt to capture spiritually.

Scientific atheism's error is its inability to appreciate the notion of emergence. Just as consciousness emerges from a material and chemical substrate the scinetific understanding of which tell us virtually nothing about the nature of its emergent properties, so the physical universe may give rise to an emergent spirituality that simply escapes the scientific imagination. Morovitz' interesting book makes this point extremely clearly.

I believe Amazon is due major kudos for providing a forum in which readers can compare and contrast their ideas. I really enjoyed the previous nine reviews of this provocative book.

False Equation
Morowitz stats by pretending he is presenting emergence, but by the last chapter it becomes clear that his goal to look for the nature and operation of God in the emergent universe. His book is therefore more of a work of theology than science. The theology is cloaked in scientific jargon and mathematical equations, but its theology none the less. He asks the right questions but hasn't a clue as to the right answers. This is but one more attempt by a believer in the supernatural to use science to prove God and show a connection between science and religion. He failed on both counts .

On Harold J. Morowitz's book "The Emergence of Everything"
Motowitz's monumental book outlines 28 examples of said emergence, ranging from the making of our nonuniform universe, the emergence of stars and the elements of the periodic table, the solar system, planetary structures, universal metabolism, prokaryotic life, eukaryotic life, multicellular organisms, animals, humans, mind, philosophy and spirituality.

At each level of emergence there may be agents that interact with their neighbors, not necessarily Darwinian interaction but some kind of interaction. Agents that find themselves to be successful are then latter discovered to be necessary for latter steps in the emergence, and their success is found as agents comply to what Morowitz calls a "pruning rule". The Darwinian selection principle, permitting agents to leave the most offspring as they are found to be fittest from natural selection, is such a pruning rule. The Pauli exclusion rule is a second example that Morowitz gives. The exclusion principle restricts the electron cloud that surrounds the natural elements (in our periodic table) in such a way that chemistry and bonding properties emerge from quantum mechanics; properties that are discovered to be necessary for life as we know it.

On page 101 Morowitz writes:

"...in our discussion of the Pauli exclusion principle we dealt with the restriction that no two electrons in a structure can share the same four quantum numbers - presumably four quantum numbers because of the four dimensions in formulating the Schrödinger equation using relativistic quantum mechanics. This principle does not come from dynamics of the problem, but from the symmetry requirements on the solutions.... Because of the non-dynamical feature, several physicists and philosophers of science detect a kind of noetic feature deep in physics"

Morowitz points to this noetic quality in several places. Continuing on pages 101 to 102 he writes on the first recognized example of life-based behavior found in prokaryotes:

".... Somewhere in bacterial evolution, motility appeared. The operative structures are flagella, which rotate, propel the cells. A number of cases were discovered in which cells in a gradient of nutrients swim toward higher concentrations, and in a gradient of toxins swim toward lower concentration. The mechanism is somewhat indirect. Periodically the swimming cells randomly switch directions. In a favorable gradient they change less frequently, and in an unfavorable gradient they change more frequently. They are letting their profits run and cutting their losses. For a population of cells, this leads to a fit behavioral repertoire. The behavior looks causal, but the endpoint looks teleological. It requires sensing the environment, concentration versus time, and responding to the time gradient, which is also a space gradient, since the organisms are swimming. I think it is important to look at these hints of cognitive behavior as they appear."

Regarding the mental or noetic aspect of all animal life, on page 138 Morowitz writes:

"... There is currently a reexamination that argues that mental activity is universally distributed through the animal kingdom and perhaps in other taxa down to the unicellular eukaryotes. Psychologist Donald R. Griffen has gathered a great deal of evidence in the book Animal Minds and argues for the universality of cognition.... I see the grand dawn of the emergence of reflective thought."

Morowitz describes the Principle of Competitive Exclusion (previously studied by Alfred Lotka, Vito Volterra, and Charles Elton), as a pruning rule that implies "... the impossibility of two species occupying the same niche in a steady-state ecosystem". For Morowitz this principle stems from Darwinian selection, but it has unsavory consequences as it affect social aspects of humanization. He writes of the principle that "... humans, having reflective thought and the power of choice, are not bound to living out a set of mathematical relations". In chapter 26, Morowitz gives accounts on how the Principle of Competitive Exclusion can be studied and used as a tool to avoid the unsavory qualities of ourselves (including prejudices and examples of genocide) that emerge from the principle when we unknowingly back into it.

Morowitz did not notice that the Principle of Competitive Exclusion has a shadow principle, that I will name the Principle of Cooperative Inclusion. Nevertheless, this shadow principle has a noetic quality that Morowitz has grown fond of. It is such a teleological principle that says that hate will destroy itself when it is forced to coexist with the inclusion brought by love. And so my friends we hold onto the angry tension, not by competitive exclusion but by cooperative inclusion. A better world will unfold as hate ranges war with its own angry shadow; the catharsis will expunge our prejudices.

Morowitz has many kind words for Teilhard de Chardin. On page 175 he writes: "... I see the World Wide Web as a reification of instantiation of the noosphere and consider Teilhard as an even more prescient thinker. Human thought is collective."

Interesting Topic, Only Fair Execution
While the concept of emergence is quite interesting, this book lacks enough depth to really cover the material in a meaningful way. The book is more a collection of brief essays on various topics, and does provide a useful overview of the topic.

However, the same material in a more masterful writer's hands could have been a fascinating work. Each of the chapters only contained a skeletal outline of the emergent behavior, with nothing to flesh it out. Because the facts were so sketchy (and often amounted to prose hand-waving) I wasn't always convinced that the arguments were sound. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Very readable resource of scientific evidence and reasonin
Dr. Walter T. Brown, a retired MIT Prof, retired full Colonel from the Air Force, has written a book that is one of the best compilations of scientific evidences and reasonings regarding the origins question. One of the books great features is that it is about 30% quotes from well known and regarded scientists and publications. Another great feature is the surprisingly simple and logical explanations of current geophysical attributes that haven't been solidly explained by any current threories. Dr. Brown plainly outlines how that from a scienific point of view organic macroevolution lacks necessary physical evidence. Even more seriously, it lacks any concrete plausible mechanisms, as many of the people quoted in his book readily say. This book will give any open reader more than adequate material to really think about. To the closed reader, the sources quoted would be almost heroes, so he/she would really have a hard time arguing. I would especially encourage all opponents to an extranatural origin model to read this book. I would also highly engcourage any seeking student to read this to find out what science really knows, or professes to know. This book has had a tremendous impact on my life, especially my thought process and the way I view earth. This book will definitely make you think and possibly question what you believe and know, or think you know..

The Principia of Geology
Creation Science is a growing field today. The more popular theories such as the Canopy Model and Catastrophic Plate Tectonics have been at the forefront of Creation Science for many years now. In this book, Dr. Walt Brown introduces an alternative model called "Hydroplate Theory".

According to this theory, the Earth was once filled with high-pressure salt water under its crust, and then exploded about 4,300 years ago. The immense pressure created a crack on the earth's surface, releasing millions of tons of debris/water which flooded the planet's surface and forever changed the landscape. The author presents the model quite convincingly, with comprehensive documentation of related scientific theories and laws for the layman. In my opinion, When compared to other creation models, the Hydroplate Theory stands out as creation's best candidate to battle the Theory of Evolution in the scientific arena and in the minds of the youth.

If one has never been introduced to the creationist view, this book is a perfect starting point. In the endnotes and references, Dr. Walt Brown makes mention of the works of other great creationists such as Henry Morris, Bill Cooper and Barry Setterfield. Additional research can be conducted from thereon, providing the reader with enough reference materials to build a thorough understanding of Creation Science.

In many ways, Dr. Walt Brown revives the classical formula of using Theology for scientific research, in the same manner that Isaac Newton pursued science with Biblical scholarship, which resulted to the single greatest scientific work: The Principia. Many would argue that this methodology is unacceptable in the age of computers and genetics, but then again this very same system was employed in the age of discovery in the 16th and 17th centuries, before the Theory of Evolution was popularized by Charles Darwin. This does not mean, however, that Dr. Walt Brown supported his theories solely by using Scriptures. On the contrary, much of the content were supported by evidences in nature, as supported by conventional science.

I understand that people tend to be skeptical of the unknown, especially of things that were not taught in the academic institutions where evolution is widely promoted (and creationism widely dismissed). But regardless of your beliefs, this book will serve as an INVALUABLE REFERENCE to both Evolutionists and Creationists, just so one would be aware of the key scientific evidences and issues presented in the Hydroplate Theory.

Brilliant, compelling, refreshing.
Having read this book through several times, it is quite obvious that Dr. Brown is a first class scientist. Being a Ph.D. scientist from UC Berkeley (chemistry) myself, this book was extremely refreshing in its originality and complexity. I am quite certain that the established dogmatic priests of plate tectonics and uniformitarianism will use bombast and demagoguery to refute what Dr. Brown posits. But overall, his research is thorough, his thoughts are well articulated and his Hydroplate Theory is refreshing and brilliant. Bravo! A MUST read. When does the 8th edition arrive?

Sloppy - Twisted - Dated - Biased - Unscientific
This book seems at a first glance and to the layperson to be quite compelling, but further research indicates that the author of this text does not conduct science in a honest manner.

At the end of each section, the author cites different sources from various fields of research. Of almost all of the evolutionary scientists, Walt Brown has taken what they've published completely out of context and used it to forther his own agenda. Upon researching what each author ACTUALLY says and comparing it to what Walt Brown uses to support his hypothesis, it becomes quite obvious that Walt Brown is a manipulator and is either one of the sloppiest researchers in his field (which is not scientific but religious) or he is an outright liar and knows what he is doing is wrong.

I've had many students approach me with Walt Brown's sloppy research trying to support the creation hypothesis. I have to spend a lot of extra time teaching students not about biology, but about how science is conducted. I have to teach them that Walt brown and his like are terrible examples of scientists and why. This takes a lot of time away from my biology cirriculum.
Overall, I think Walt Brown's text is one of the worst pieces of research I've ever seen. His facts are not right or they are taken out of context or are used in isolation. He even goes to the extent of using some of the most out-dated concepts in his hypothesis (Such as the speed of light slowing)!!

I sincerely hope those who buy into creationist propaganda will try to educate themselves about how true science is conducted. Walt Brown is a good example of a horrible scientist. For a short and quick essay regarding the scientific method and fake (pseudo) science, Google search for Carl Sagan's "Baloney Detection Kit".

Not Compelling
This book fails utterly to accomplish its purpose. There is no compelling evidence here, and fact nearly the whole book is simply an anti-Evolution diatribe that consists mainly of short quotes, often decades, or even centuries old, taken out of context and lined up to shoot down Evolutionary theory. When will Creationist writers understand that no amount of evidence against Evolution can prove that Creationism is true? Creationism can only be proved if Creationist scientists come up with evidence that is convincing to more than just non-scientific Conservative Christians. Every scientist -- Hindu, atheist, Unitarian, whatever! must be able to look at Brown's evidence and be convinced. That isn't about to happen. Brown incidentally is an Engineer with apparently no training in biology, geology or astronomy, so it is not a surpise that much of what he says is not in accordance with observed facts in those fields. His sources for this self-published work include, among others, his son's high school science fair project (p 14) and Stephen Hawking, who he says was not able to understand the meaning of his own work. Given a choice, I'd pretty much go with Hawking over Brown. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to the use of radar for remote sensing of natural surfaces provides the reader with a thorough grounding in practical applications, focusing particularly on terrestrial studies that may be extended to other planets. An historical overview of the subject is followed by an introduction to the nomenclature and methodology pertaining to radar data collection, image interpretation and surface roughness analysis.The author presents a summary (illustrated with examples from the natural environment) of theoretical explanations for the backscatter properties of continuous rough surfaces, collections of discrete objects, and layered terrain. ... Read more

Book Description

"A textbook on the current theology and science dialogue that is directly addressed to teachers and students, and as such, manages to be remarkably accessible; it also carefully addresses all the contemporary issues in the field in such a way that it moves the theology and science debate to the cutting edge of the current conversation , and in so doing, brings readers to the newest frontier of one of the most exciting issues of our time."--J. Wentzel van Huyssteen, Princeton Theological Seminary

The volume is divided into five "books," making it possible to read the volume as a whole or to use its individual sections (books) or the individual chapters within the sections. Book One introduces the science and religion debate.Book Two examines how three types of science --physics, biology, and psychology - interact with one another.Book Three explores theological resources for making a model of God, humanity and the cosmos and how these can applied to a description of divine action in the light of contemporary science.Book Four looks at science's place in society, while Book Five speculates on how the debate between science and religion is likely to develop.

Includes figures, exercises, a note for teachers, references, bibliography, and index.

Christopher Southgate is Lecturer and Director of Modular Studies at the University of Exeter in England. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Innovative, competent, interesting, unusual
Having had the privilege of studying the course behind this publication first-hand at Exeter, I would recommend the book to any student who seeks a thorough and well-rounded survey of the contemporary debate between science and religion.

Or is it a debate? The authors posit several models of dialogue between these two - usually separated - spheres, and this forms a core feature of this textbook: the opportunity to explore ways in which the two complement and enrich one another.

Therefore as well as being competently yet simply introduced to complex scientific questions (the Big Bang, the origin of life, quantum theory - to name a few), the author allows scope for the reader to see - for himself, and through the eyes of great thinkers, more and less famous - how it is possible to construct a working hypothesis of the inter-relation between God, humanity and the cosmos.

In the later chapters, which are a particularly unique and enjoyable section, we are introduced to the scientifically-influenced theologies of Jay McDaniel's "pelican heaven", Sallie McFague's "embodied God" and Ruth Page's "Web of Life". The reader can enjoy these models, whilst exercising a critical eye, sensitive to the scientific perceptions and phenomena so effectively outlined towards the beginning of the book.

On top of this, other views are outlined, including a section on Islamic theology and creation.

This is a great book for students and all those interested in understanding more of the world about them. It is refreshing to find a theology book which is so world-affirming, without resorting to religious dogmatism: not just a dry textbook, but a competent handbook AND a "choose you own adventure!" ... Read more

Book Description

GENESIS REVISED

"It takes a certain amount of courage to step beyond one's day-to-day experiments and look at the big picture–and the origin of the Moon is a 'big picture' question par excellence. Perhaps it makes sense that William Hartmann, one of the two scientists who unraveled the Moons biggest mystery, is not only a scientist but also a part-time artist and science fiction writer. It took someone with an artists eye and a fiction writers speculative temperament to see the big picture.

"This is a book about that big picture: the origin of the Moon, as interpreted by Hartmann and Alastair Cameron, the second patriarch of The Big Splat. It is also about a doomed planet called Theia, and a familiar one called Earth that used to look vastly different from todays Earth. But, most of all, it is about a long lineage of intellectual voyagers who began exploring the Moon long before Neil Armstrong planted his boot into the lunar dust."
—From the Introduction ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A wonderful book about the moon and its genesis
Dana Mackenzie has created that rare combination of a book both consistently entertaining and scientifically excellent. His theme is the evolution of theories about the origins of the moon. He sweeps the reader from Anaxagoras and Pythagoras to Newton to modern times. Explanation of the moon's creation was only recently made possible in part through powerful computer modeling and the Apollo space program's physical recovery and analysis of moon rocks. The story is fascinating and enlivened throughout by scientific mini-biographies, pithy discussions about the history of astronomy, and highly intelligent explanations of relevant principles of geology, celestial mechanics, physics, chemistry, and related sciences. The "Big Splat" refers to the overwhelming event which much evidence indicates really did create the moon - the oblique collision of another planet (the impactor) with the earth over 4 billion years ago, shortly after the genesis of the solar system. The evidence in support of this interpretation is compellingly presented, and the event itself summarized clearly and dramatically.
Those interested in science, astronomy, and the history of thought should place this book high on their reading list. It is hard to put down until finished. After reading this volume, few of us will ever again look at the moon without greater interest, understanding, and awe.

Unconventional
This book stands on its own as a terrific work on science, both informative and compelling. Its ability to offer the big picture as well as technical questions is probably what makes it so interesting to laymen (like myself). But it has a distinctive stamp when compared to a great work that has become the gold standard in popular astronomy, Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Overall, the two books probably have more in common than not. And the Big Splat does share Sagan's great theme of science as a self-correcting project with a long history, one characterized both by truth and errors. But science is painted a little differently here. In Carl Sagan's works, unmanned exploration of space comes across as the chief scientific success of the space program, and Sagan himself was a critic of manned space flights. In The Big Splat, it is the Apollo landing on the moon that shines as the pinnacle of scientific gain. The moon rocks returned to earth, culled on the lunar surface by astronauts trained in what to look for, told scientists that old theories about the moon's formation were untenable, and provided the key to the new and widely accepted theory; the rocks did something very similar for theories about the origin of craters. Moreover, the sheer size and visibility of the Apollo program revived lunar science when it had fallen out of favor with the scientific mainstream and was ebbing. Very few people today know that NASA's space program has had such a profound effect on any scientific field or question. The author notes himself that the impact theory of lunar formation, though widely accepted since 1984, has made only slow progress into mainstream national culture. He also notes that if the impact theory is true - and it has fewer weaknesses than any of the three principal previous theories were known to have when they were each first proposed - then few people even today have heard about what is arguably the most important event in earth's history. It was certainly the largest impact in earth's geological history, upon which all biological and social history developed; and though The Big Splat does not get into it, the presence of lunar tides may have been a key to the development of life on our globe.

If the philosophy behind Cosmos has become the new, mainstream view of science, The Big Splat differs from it in at least one more important way. It does not rely greatly on the common theme of science-versus-religion (though that theme does appear). Science is presented as having its own fashions and dogmas, such as the onetime disinclination to take lunar science seriously, and the widespread prejudice against theories proposing large-scale impacts. The chief prejudice is one against lifeless planets: in the author's words, scientists as well as laymen had always proposed that there was life on the moon because "it was just too hard for the human intellect to grasp a place that was utterly devoid of life." In Carl Sagan's works, the greatest challenge to the human mind, and the largest opportunity to extend human knowledge, is said to be the possible discovery, by science, of extraterrestrial life; and religion in particular is portrayed as challenged by such possibilities. In this book, the role of that which is hardest for the human intellect to comprehend goes not to the discovery of life but of lifelessness: the discovery by Apollo that the moon was and always had been a lifeless body.

To read this book is to put yourself in the shoes of the past, to work out particular scientific questions step by step, in relation to larger cultural questions - that is, as the people of the past worked them out. That may be the book's greatest strength.

Moonies, meteors and tidal mechanics
There's no greater reading pleasure than good science writing. By combining ingredients from history, stirring in good data, adding some spice of characterisation, a recipe of adventure and inquiry becomes a delicious result. Dana Mackenzie has produced a confection suited to any reader's taste in this account of thinking about our neighbour in space. Tracing the history of thought on our satellite, he travels down the centuries to reach an earth-shaking conclusion.

It's difficult today to view the Moon as the ancients did. Once, it was considered a disc. Even whether its light came from the sun or originated from the lunar surface was disputed. The nature of the markings, Mackenzie explains, was equally contentious. The dark areas were finally deemed "seas" and the Latin "maria" remains with us today. After Galileo determined the moon was cratered, the origins of these enigmatic forms opened new discussion. Volcanoes held sway as their origin, although no Earth vulcanism had produced caldera of such size. Meteor impact was viewed with suspicion in an age when catastrophic events were looked on with cautious scorn.

The moon's effect on the oceans was realised in ancient times, brought strongly to further awareness as Europe sent ships to far shores. Tidal predictability became a normal calculation, but much about tidal forces remained mysterious, Mackenzie reminds us. Examining tidal action would help lay the foundation for the most likely mechanism of the Moon's formation.

Although Mackenzie introduces us to many thinkers on the lunar phenomenon, the key figure is Ralph Baldwin. In the midst of growing debate about the lunar craters, Baldwin had the temerity to suggest that one impact had formed a significant part of the lunar surface. The debate was resolved, of course, by the Apollo landings. Among the rocky souvenirs brought back from those explorations were some green, glassy samples. These objects can only be formed by high speed impact of solid bodies. Deep in the past, The Moon had bombarded by meteors. Some of the bolides had been large, and their origin remained in question.

One object had far greater impact than anything the lunar surface implies. It was the body that had led to the formation of the Moon itself. Mackenzie's "great splat" is the analysis of lunar material that revealed the Moon is made up of Earth-like surface material. The Moon doesn't have the iron core typical of rocky planets. The reason for this is that the Moon didn't co-form when the Earth did. The Moon was the result of a Mars-size planetoid striking the Earth shortly after its formation. The impact drove a mass of material into space which coalesced to form our satellite.

Mackenzie's lively account is an excellent read and highly informative. He deals ably with some tough questions and cantankerous characters. Scientific dispute is often entertaining, particularly when the reader has little stake in the outcome. Yet, anything that advances research should be given attention and this book deserves yours. In demonstrating that questions about the Moon are still with us, Mackenzie's final chapter examines the strange story of conspiracy theorists who contend none of the Apollo landings took place. It's easy to dismiss this kind of thinking until you become aware of how many accept the notion. He deals with it carefully, asking the questions and dismissing the idea with carefully developed answers. This finale is almost worth the price of the book. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

wonderful read
This book is a wonderful read, detailing various theories of teh origins of the moon. More interesting to me was the history of these theories. Very few science books spend time talking about how ideas evolved, and in particular how ideas as recent as 30 years ago have changed. This book was fun and easy to read, and Dr. Mackenzie does a great job explaining the science and conveying the excitement he clearly feels for the topic!

Fascinating!
In this fascinating book, author and scientist Dr. Dana Mackenzie traces man's "scientific" study of the Moon from the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, through the Pythagoreans, Aristotle, Kepler, Newton, and on to the present. Along the way, you get to see the flowering of modern science, and how advances helped and hindered the various explanations for how the Moon came into being. In the final chapters, the author examines the newest theory, and that is that the Moon was created by a collision between the Earth and another planet (which some have tentatively named Theia).

This is a book that really exercises the mind. It is highly informative, and brings the reader right up-to-date on the latest thinking on the nature and origin of the Moon. If you are at all interested in the Moon or the history of our solar system, then I highly recommend that you get this book.

As an added bonus, the book has an appendix that seeks to refute the theory that the lunar landings were merely a hoax, perpetrated by NASA. Overall, I thought that this was a well-written piece, but feel that anyone who believes in such a conspiracy theory probably wouldn't read this book anyway. That said, it gives you an interesting little thing to read when done with the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Without sacrificing any of the detail or breadth of the full-size edition, the essential reference source for maps of every planet, moon, or small body investigated by NASA missions is now available in a convenient, portable format. Featuring over 150 maps, 214 color illustrations and a gazetteer that lists the names of all features officially approved by the International Astronomical Union, The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System includes the full range of information gathered from NASA missions throughout the Solar System.Compiled by the US Geological Survey, this atlas includes: -Geological maps -Reference maps -Shaded relief maps -Synthetic aperture radar mosaics -Color photo-mosaics that present the features of planets and their satellites This 'road map' of the solar system is the definitive guide for planetary science and should be part of every cartographers and astonomer's collection. Ronald Greeley is a Regent Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Arizona State University.He is a team member of the Galileo mission to Jupiter and of the Mars Pathfinder lander.Greeley is currently a co-investigator for the European Mars Express mission.Raymond Batson spent his 35-year career with the United States Geological Survey.He has worked in terrestrial mapping and in lunar and planetary mapping.Batson served as co-investigator or team member on most NASA planetary missions, including the Apollo lunar lander missions, the Mariner Mars and Venus/Mercury mapping missions, the Viking 1 and 2 Mars mapping missions, the Voyager missions to the outer planets, and the Magellan Venus radar mapping mission. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beautifully done, good to excellent coverage
As an amateur astronomer, my interest tends more to deep-sky objects rather than planetary astronomy, but I spent some time looking at this atlas, and it really is a striking catalog of our current knowledge of the solar system. The atlas contains beautiful closeups of every planet except Pluto, although the coverage for Venus isn't that extensive, but then since Venus is mostly clouds, I don't know how much would be served by that, unlike the cloud-cover of Jupiter, which shows many stable bands and also the pink and red spots. There are also maps of a number of the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, allowing you to see their heavily marred and cratered surfaces, which are very reminiscent of Mercury or our moon.

The atlas only contains maps for the large Galileian satellites of Jupiter and the same for the larger, closer moons of Saturn, but I don't know if this is because of limitations in the spacecraft that took the photos or the distances involved from the spacecraft to the moons. The maps of Mars are perhaps the most interesting in terms of surface details, and features like the enormous, 17-mile high and 400-mile across volcano, Nix Olympica, and the great gorge on Mars, really stand out. Another thing that was interesting was the discovery of the first asteroid with its own small planet. The atlas features over 150 maps, 214 color illustrations and a gazetteer. Overall, this is a stunning and beautifully done atlas of the solar system, which, despite its not being cheap, should still be of interest to amateurs and professionals alike.

The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System
Featuring over 150 maps, 214 color illustrations & a gazetteer that lists the names of all features officially approved by the International Astronomical Union, The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System is the essential reference source for maps of every planet, moon, or small body investigated by NASA missions throughout the solar system.

Very good reference but a few glaring flaws
The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System is a very good reference for those working with spacecraft. Spacecraft images don't come with names already on them and it is often difficult when looking at some MGS images which crater is which and what they are called. When it comes to most of the inner planets, and Saturnian, Uranian, and Neptunian moons, the coverage is quite good and very useful. However, I can't say the same for Venus and Jupiter's moons. While there is excellent coverage for Mars as far as number of sections, Venus is not covered as well even though we have similar scale maps. I agree with the authors that if the same scale was used for both, the Venus maps would take up a large number of pages. However, the same number of quadrants would have been nice. Secondly, the coverage of the Jovian moons is lacking. The maps are from the Voyager era and while that may not be as big of a problem for Ganymede or Callisto, it is a problem for Io and Europa. The coverage of Europa from Galileo has greatly improved over Voyager's coverage and an updated map would have been nice. Io's map is also from Voyager. The fact that much of the anti-jovian side has been covered in great detail by Galileo but it was not included in the atlas save a small image of that mosaic not incorporated into the map. in addition, surface changes in the 20 years between Voyager and Galileo have made the included map quite out of date.

Save those two flaws, it is a pretty good reference for those interested in the solar system. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Great book
This book is entertaining and mind-expanding. The opportunity for exploitation of near-Earth resources is apparent. Dr. Lewis supports his assertions with good science and broad foresight. This is a great job of presenting both the scientific and social benefits of using space resources.

The future is built upon visionary ideas, not always immediately appreciated. This book makes a convincing case for advancing beyond the confines of this planet and how such an exodus is not only practical, but may well be profitable.

The Future is in the Sky
Mr. Lewis, Professor of Planetery Science at the University of Arizona knows his stuff when it comes to outer space and its natural resources and how to economically get there and how to make a profit from them.

Readers will be amazed at the enormous wealth that lies within just a few short Astro-Units from Earth.

The comment from Space News is that the book is "mind stretching" and it certainly is. The book is a real page turner and the technical stuff is easy and fun to understand.

interesting ideas could have been written better
This book covers a great deal of topics on the subject of exploring near outer space. I enjoyed the descriptions of what it would be like to walk on an asteroid, with all its gravitational variations. He also discusses some details of specific known asteroids.
He covers the chemistry and energy requirements for first steps of exploration.
However, I enjoyed Robert Zubrin's "Entering Space: Creating a Spacefaring Civilization." Zubrin covers the chemistry, energy and cost requirements also. But his book is organized, and written much better.
Lewis repeats whole passages in this book, and many sections can easily be skipped without missing any information. He attemps to lure the reader with science-fiction-like narrative. Except for one, I did not find it that interesting. There is great deal for free on line about each interesting asteroid that is more detailed than what is offered in this book.
I was disappointed.

this book decided my life's pursuit!
Dr. Lewis without a doubt deserves to be one of the most influential leaders in space development. I found Mining the Sky by accident in a hometown book shop while in high school and bought it because I had a few dollars. Five years later, I'm 9 months away from becoming an Air Force space officer with an astronautics degree. This book is that impressive.
This book is the clearest and accessible book on the economic impacts space will provide the human race to date. Most of its ideas aren't fanciful and can be easily imagined as maturing in the next 20-30 years or sooner, given an effort. Maybe even sooner, as at least one private company was inspired by Dr. Lewis' writings.
Dr. Lewis' positive outlook is tempered by a realistic engineering and economic approach to space. Keep in mind this book is first and foremost about space industrialization, not exploration. A true space enthusaist should know that one cannot be without the other. Dr. Lewis could not have given a better general survey of whats out there.
A brief addendum concerning other reviewers' criticisms. This book could be made much more technical. However, this book was meant to appeal to a large, nontechnical audience. For more information, see Dr. Lewis' earlier book (and parent to Mining the Sky) Resources of Near Earth Space. It is the standard text for space materials prospects. Mining the Sky is a toned down version of RoNES meant to explain to a layman (me, when I first read Mining) the opportunities that await those courageous enough to reach out.
Thank you, Dr. Lewis. And everyone even remotely interested in space and mankinds future in it, READ THIS BOOK!

Decent
This is a decent book, but it isn't as cohesive as I was hoping. The individual chapters are almost like seperate ariticles strung together. An interesting read, but not as good as 'The Millenial Project'. On the other hand it is more hard science then the other book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is intended as an introduction to what soon may prove to be the most important theory of scienceÂ…ever.It is a theory that is still evolving, but it already shows great promise of explaining the most fundamental mysteries of nature.The theory is based on the simple concept of miniscule vibrating strings as the source of all matter and forces in our universe.

Our Superstring Universe begins with the big bang and traces the evolution of matter and force strings as they form and become the building blocks of our evolving universe.Then the focus shifts to the properties of strings and how they fit into the current knowledge of particle physics.The book concludes with discussions of the quest for experimental proof of strings and a look into the sometimes surprising, and always amazing, potential of superstring-M theory. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not for the advanced physics reader
Probably a fair book for somebody's first book on String Theory, but definitely not for the advanced reader who is looking for new news. The author covers a lot of areas of quantum physics, but not in any real depth or background. In his first section on string theory he barley talks about strings. He introduces the concept well, and discusses the mathematical challenges of the string theory revolutions in more-or-less, introductory terms. Makes use of diagrams, but seemingly to take up space, rather than visual aids.

I read the entire book in about three hours.

Much better than expected.
This book is very well written and it gets right down to the point. It is, also, very clear in concept with only a few points here and there that might have needed a better explanation. This is only an introductory edition, and if more in-depth knowledge is needed I recommend: The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. Overall: VERY GOOD.

String theory for the layperson
An excellent introduction to string theory and the ideas and the problems that led up to it. The book starts off with basic concepts of time, space, matter, and energy and then develops a timeline of the universe from the big bang onward to the present that incorporates these concepts and speculates on the ultimate fate of the universe using the ideas of dark matter and dark energy. In addition, Mr. Lewis goes into the fundamental incompatibility between quantum mechanics and general relativity at the atomic scale and how string theory might resolve this. He also puts forth a unique and (as far as I know) original idea on a possible afterlife and how string theory could be used to preserve essential information about a person's life (which the author calls humanessence) through the holographic principle. Mr. Lewis develops his ideas very logically and concisely and provides plenty of illustrations which clarify his explanations. As a bonus, he even provides a glossary at the end of the book for the beginner. I would strongly recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in science and ideas and who wants to be introduced to what may be the ultimate theory of our universe. ... Read more

Book Description

Rigveda was written about five thousand years ago. We do not know much about the scientific achievements of our ancestors. Is it possible that there were highly advanced civilizations in past, whose technological achievements have been completely forgotten? Now there can be an objective verification, because Rigveda has been remarkably well preserved. Ancient Indians went to extreme lengths to preserve the Vedas. They are in the same form today, that they have been several thousand years earlier. The question is why? Why did generations of Indians go through so much trouble to preserve the Vedas, while the apparent meaning seems to be so mundane. The reason is that Vedas are coded, and once you understand that code, it has such a powerful message that is going to transform your perception of humanity. This book describes the scientific meaning of Vedas and other Hindu scriptures and compares them with currently accepted scientific wisdom. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Good Intentions - Could have been better.
The Book seemed to be a reflection of the "Cosmic Science" I had discussed with my parents & siblings since Childhood.. The Author is well versed in Physical science but sometimes mis-interprets the Vedic phrases leaving "mush to be desired"... For example, in the Purusha Surta, there is a verse saying the "Legless purusha Attained legs"; well the word for leg in sanskrit is "paada" meaning part. So the sentense would be, the undivided had divided itself... That would be close to a rational mind.

Also, the use of the term "God" is a no-no when explaining the RGveda. Purusha denotes the ABSOLUTE.

On the whole, I would call it a Very welcome step in explaining the Vedas. The forthcoming versions might see a lot of corrections :)

good book
For readers who do have knowledge of modern science will be able to understand this book. As it just details vedic science and relates it with modern science.

Interesting speculative physics or metaphysics
Having read the book carefully, I can say that it speaks of some interesting characteristics of the mind reflected in the Vedic hymns that mirror the world of physics. I believe this is what Subhash Kak also seems to say in his foreword to the book. In other words, this book is not about physics but rather it represents the connections between the physical world and the structure of the mind. One might call this subject speculative physics or metaphysics. It is not the clearest exposition of such metaphysics, and this made me struggle to decide whether to give the book two stars or three stars. I chose the latter number for its sheer originality.

Fascist author high on Soma
In case you did not know, Soma is a hallucinogen widely used in the Vedas. I am just kidding about the rating. I gave this book a 5 star so that my review should come out on top. And this book is not even worth the money you are paying to be online and see this review. Read on for the truth.

This guy is crazy. After Vedic Mathematics dazzled me no end. I was keen on reading this one too. But it has been a huge disappointment.

Well, if his interpretation of the Vedas is so perfect, how is it that he has not come up with any new physical principles that have been described in the Vedas? Or have the Vedas chronicled the physics only upto the 21th century? No Unified Field Theory in the Vedas?

All I can say about this book from the Indian perspective is that it is an insult to all the Rgvedi Brahmins in India and abroad. A debauchery of their literary heritage. Something that they preserve.

Thanks, Mr. Author. Thanks for telling me that what I chant daily after my bath is a treatise on high velocity sub-atomic particles. Anything else? Is the Rgvediya Sandhya some sort of inter-planetary morse code or something? Did you drink Soma before you started off on this literary tourney?

Please, we are adults out here, some of us partially educated. Yes, even in India. The cenus puts the literacy rate at 65%.

Give up writing, become a politician in India. Your theories could do wonders for the fascist incumbent thugs there.

regards, Onkar Joshi

Explaining the Vedas with help of modern science
I was skeptical about this book, but when to expect nothing, all the suprises are positive - this book certainly proved to be excellent. This book contains a very good explanation about the origins of Vedas and points way to true meaning and purpose of the Vedas, is pleasant to read and very interesting, you have to read it! :) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great way to increase your enjoyment of the constellations
I tend to be very wary of astronomy books. I enjoy going out at night and looking at the night sky, but don't like to get a whole lot more technical than that. After having learned to identify some of the constellations, this book provided me with the perfect next step. It gives you just enough background knowledge to make your tour through the sky infinitely more enjoyable. The author presents simple and easy to understand information on both classic and modern constellations. I would recommend it as the perfect "not too technical" book about the lore surrounding the night sky.

A great guide to the mythology behind the constellations
Cornelius tells the stories found in the stars in an entertaining, informative way. Each constellation is studied in detail-- from the meanings (greek, arabic, or otherwise) of the star names, to a description of the objects visible through binoculars, to the myths associated with the figures. This book is a must-have for any amateur or professional astronomer. ... Read more

Book Description

Stellar evolution-the birth, development and death of stars-is central to our current understanding of astronomy. But surprisingly the majority of amateur astronomers lack a full understanding of the physics of stars. Current books on the market tend to be highly theoretical and not reader-friendly. Observer's Guide to Stellar Evolution brings this subject to life in a unique way. By combining a step-by-step introduction with suggestions for practical observations of stars at different stages in their evolution, Mike Inglis has written a book that amateur astronomers will find fascinating and informative, regardless of their current level of knowledge. • Accessible to every amateur astronomer, regardless of background knowledge • Step-by-step introduction to the theory of stellar evolution • Includes many examples of stars at different stages in their evolution, so that readers can observe for themselves • Mathematics is made accessible by being presented in boxes that readers can skip over if they prefer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Potentially Good Book; Copyediting at its worst
Observer's Guide to Stellar Evolution

Review 1003

Book Review: 'Observer's Guide to Stellar Evolution'

By Richard Tihany

"The Observer's Guide to Stellar Evolution" by Mike Inglis (Springer-Verlag) can be used as a quick reference to a few hundred commonly observed astronomical objects. The author also provides a comprehensive explanation of the basics of astrophysics, using the objects as illustrations of the concepts he presents within the text.
Inglis meticulously discusses in great detail the methods of measurement of such essential astronomical details as distances and the use of spectral analysis of starlight to determine stars' composition and relationship to other objects.
We are taken from the formation of protostars in the interstellar medium to the actual birth of a star, at the point when pressure and temperature increase enough to start the core's hydrogen-fusion reaction, producing first helium and then all other elements, known as metals to astronomers.
The author imparts one of the most important concepts of astronomy in his handling of the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, a compilation of research named in 1911 for Danish astronomer Ejnar Hertzsprung and, in 1913, for American astronomer Henry Norris Russell. He repeatedly approaches the H-R diagram from several avenues, including measurements of the radii of stars and consideration of every possible facet of a star's genesis, life and death.
Inglis deals with the H-R diagram more effectively than many authors by the deftness with which he reapproaches the subject time after time. Rather than creating the impression of being overbearing and too repetitive, Inglis increases the reader's understanding of the H-R diagram's importance to the concepts under consideration. His explanation of the crux of the H-R diagram, the diagonal band of stars know collectively as the "main sequence," is key to any further understanding of astronomy, for these stars comprise 90% of all visible stars.
Inglis' explanation of the "proton-proton chain," the series of nuclear
reactions by which four hydrogen atoms interact at extremely high temperatures to form one helium atom, is the best I've read. His lucid description of helium burning, which results in the creation of carbon and oxygen, couldn't be clearer. The next main event in the sequence, the "helium flash," only happens in low-mass stars but is best described as spectacular: energy output about 100 times greater than the entire Milky Way. The temperature of the star's core at this point can reach 300 million K.
Due deference to the mathematically-challenged is provided by Inglis' decision to keep nearly all formulas and computations separate from the text in shaded boxes scattered throughout the book. The book's diagrams are well-done and informative. I intend to plan some observing sessions in the near future by referring to the object descriptions.
Notably missing is an effective and comprehensive glossary. This necessitates frequent use of the index, a poor substitute.
While this book is the product of a talented astronomer, it reveals the worst example of copyediting I've seen in years. The reader is forced to reread many sentences and to guess their meaning. In fact, only a determined reader is likely to finish the book.
The author knows better than to say (page 36), "It is easier to have an idea of a star if we say it is about 10 times as hotter (sic) than the Sun..." Or, (page 73) "...they can in affect (sic) sweep away the residual gas and dust clouds...." On page 101, Inglis tells us that a star cluster "...can vary from a few dozen light years to about 70 light years across...." (70 is a few dozen.) On page
117, he states, "The mechanisms by which provides the 'triggers' for star formation have three very disparate origins..."(By which what provides the
triggers?) I was repeatedly left with the impression that Springer is selling a fairly thin paperback for $44.95 which could be more aptly identified as a rough draft than a book. However, the factual content is valuable despite the nearly fatal defects. This impression is largely due to my knowledge of astronomy before venturing into this prematurely-published minefield. Had I paid for the book rather than been provided a review copy, I would have been tempted to return it.
The current edition of this book could be the makings of a rather good book if Inglis, his editor and his publisher decide to complete the project.

Don't be Afraid of Math
My definition of a good Scientific American article is that an intelligent person outside the specialty can understand it. Mike Inglis definitely passes this test! As a mechanical engineer I especially appreciate the basic math that applies to magnitudes, distances, and stellar sizes. The H-R diagram is covered from many angles in a more logical, understandable format than I have ever read. I will definitely wear out this book going over the good sections time after time (sometimes under red light!)
Chris Norris ... Read more

Amazon.com

Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, whichoffers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhoodexperiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories,and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience.Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues. ... Read more

Reviews (320)

Clarity and reason
I have just finished reading this book and could not put it down. Dr Sagan has a brilliant way of explaining the complex issues that surround human superstitious behavior in a way that is both entertaining and informative. This book is simply magnificant, a triumph of crear thinking that humanity should be thankful for.

Everyone should read this book. It should be studied in schools, it should be placed in hotel rooms in place of the bible.

A Candle in the Dark
This is a simply wonderful book. In the introduction, Carl Sagan recounts a conversation he had with a cab driver, whom he calls "William F. Buckley." "Mr. Buckley" is interested in things like the lost continent of Atlantis, UFO abductions, and other "pseudosciences" instead of real science.

The book is a series of essays that seek to debunk some of these pseudosciences (UFO abductions, the Face on Mars, and faith healing, to name a few) and explain why people seem drawn to such things. In so doing, Dr. Sagan also explains how the scientific method is used to advance humanity's knowledge, and why science is the best (and only) way to understand the world around us. He explains how scientists must be both extremely imaginative and extremely skeptical, how scientific discovery always contains some uncertainty, and how even scientific mistakes can help advance knowledge.

There's a particularly interesting essay called "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection," in which Dr. Sagan presents the "Baloney Detection Kit." The Baloney Detection Kit includes several tools that can be used to help winnow out the truth (Dr. Sagan uses these to ask pointed questions about J. Z. Knight, the channeler of "Ramtha"), and also lists many logical fallacies.

The essays convey Dr. Sagan's awe and wonder at the natural world and his dedication to science, but are never cruel, dismissive, or condescending to the "Mr. Buckleys" of the world.

a must-read
I read this 7 or 8 years ago.It's gotta be one of the best books I've ever read.I have never misplaced my copy of it.

I would be hard-pressed to remember specifics about any other book I read so long ago, but Sagan's style (and his choice of examples) is so lucid that to this day I can recall many of his examples.

I still dip into it from time to time to reread various hilarious or engrossing sections (e.g., "Carlos to appear in Australia, the discussion of how Lourdes water is actually harmful for you, the face in Mars, the crop circles, the primer on fallacies, etc.).

I have also discovered that I am not alone in thinking this book should be required reading for American high school students.

A sublime effort.

Science needs to be more prevalent
Sagan does a good job of conveying the horrible state of science in the daily lives of the average american.A lot of it is misunderstood, or worse, other things are misunderstood to be science.There are several valuable parts to this book that will give a reader a better idea of how to think critically without making mistakes of logic or reasoning.This book should almost be mandatory high school reading.

A Must Read
Although the book picks up a political slant towards the end, this is a book that every person should read, and many would likely find entertaining.As a high school biology teacher, I try to impress the skeptical mind frame upon my students; Sagan in this book, does the same thing for an adult audience.The book is filled with interesting stories ranging from UFO's to Modern Day Messiahs, and Sagan shows how to critically analyze any of these to see them for what they are: "Baloney".Between his interesting stories, his wonderful sense of humor, and his uncanny ability to restore a child-like wonder about science to the adult mind, I couldn't wait to come home from work to read more.This book could very well be the greatest achievement of Sagan's life.

This book should be MANDATORY reading for anyone pursuing a degree in any field of science. ... Read more

Book Description

Book 1 of the MY Big TOE trilogy.

My Big TOE, written by a nuclear physicist in the language contemporary culture, unifies science and philosophy, physics and metaphysics, mind and matter, purpose and meaning, the normal and the paranormal.

The entirety of human experience (mind, body, and spirit) including both our objective and subjective worlds is brought together under one seamless scientific understanding.

Book 1: Awakening –

Section 1 provides a partial biography of the author that is pertinent to the subsequent creation of this trilogy. This brief look at the author's unique experience and credentials sheds some light upon the origins of this highly unusual work.

Section 2 lays out and defines the basic conceptual building blocks needed to construct My Big TOE's conceptual foundation. It discusses the cultural beliefs that trap our thinking into a narrow and limited conceptualization of reality, defines the basics of Big Picture epistemology and ontology; logically infers the nature of time, space, and consciousness as well as describes the basic properties, purpose, and mechanics of our reality. Many of the concepts initiated in Section 2 are more fully explained in Book 2. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Big Picture of our existence never before presented
With humour and high spirits, Tom Campbell informally shares with you in his Trilogy, who he is, and how he started on the journey that led to his Big TOE. Campbell's Big TOE, which refers to nothing less than a Theory of Everything, stands on firm ground.

In a bigger picture of our existence than has ever been presented, My Big TOE weaves Philosophy, Physics, and Metaphysics together to create a model of reality through which you can begin your journey towards a higher quality of consciousness.

Campbell's books are derived from his own experiences with altered states of consciousness, his work and experiments with respected people in this field, and the objective verification of the results. The author shows how previously, Philosophy, Physics, and Metaphysics clashed in their isolated quests for answers to the nature of reality, and that by setting the camera of our conscious mind to a wide-angle lens, we can better understand reality in the larger sense.

Do not let the scientific undertones steer you away from this Trilogy. The personal asides that the author provides enrich the reading process, and the Trilogy format allows the complex subject matter to be more accessible to everyone.

From those mildly curious to the potentially eternally grateful, please note: from whatever level you personally begin, you cannot go back to exactly the way you previously viewed reality - this Trilogy will reach the core of your being, and you will certainly glean from it something of lasting value.

The true value, however, will lie in your own experiences and explorations, the author cautions, as the Trilogy provides only a framework for your personal quest in search of a higher quality of consciousness and awareness.

While personal effort is expected to achieve results, I appreciate the lengths the author has gone to in order to relate the processes, and the why, of how he arrived at his Big TOE.

I like the why of things, and there is plenty offered here:

* Why you are here and the "point and meaning of both
physical and non-physical existence"

* Why our culture and beliefs may inhibit our ability to
see the Bigger Picture of reality

* Why improving ourselves is the best way to solve our
collective problems, and possibly the best road to Peace

* Why time travel into the future and past is accessible
to us

* Why meditation is a good beginning towards all of this;
showing you how to create your own mantra based on
which of your five senses works best for you.

* Why "Spirituality, Consciousness, Love, and Paranormal
Phenomena are interconnected"

These are but a few of the answers and profound insights the author presents in this Trilogy.

The noble goals of evolving our consciousness toward the positive side, exploring alternate realities, improving the quality of our being, our life, and our planet, are a challenge the author inspires us to take on.

For all of these reasons and many more besides, I cannot recommend this Trilogy highly enough!

Excellent Work
I have not the wit nor the folly to attempt to summarise the work contained in the My Big Toe Trilogy; Tom Campbell has already done an outstanding job of encapsulating and organising thirty years of interest, application, annotation and first hand experience of altered states of consciousness (awareness), and yet, there absolutely no doubt, this man is very down-to-earth.

The Trilogy format is a good idea. Each book is a comfortable, progressive read, and the space between books gives time for reflection and digestion.MBT is totally free of religious, political or philosophical bias; it needs no specialist knowledge or training, just interest, an open sceptical mind and the courage to consider a much larger Picture of Reality than we presently enjoy.

I have read the Trilogy 3 times now, and each time, perhaps through familiarity, I am aware of significant new information. MBT WILL affect you at some level or other, be assured. If you are in search of new ground where truth does not wither under the weight of belief, dogma or cultural presumptions, give this work a chance.

I head an open group workshop based on transpersonal discovery (Conscious awareness).
Tom Campbell's Big TOE is not just a constant reference, but it has helped many of us to conceptualise what previously had been areas of indigestible intellectual understanding.I cannot possibly recommend this work highly enough.
The opportunity of a lifetime should be grasped within the lifetime of the opportunity.
I sense this is it.

Kathryn O'Flynn

Excellent Work
I have not the wit nor the folly to attempt to summarise the work contained in the My Big Toe Trilogy; Tom Campbell has already done an outstanding job of encapsulating and organising thirty years of interest, application, annotation and first hand experience of altered states of consciousness (awareness), and yet, there absolutely no doubt, this man is very down-to-earth.

The Trilogy format is a good idea. Each book is a comfortable, progressive read, and the space between books gives time for reflection and digestion.MBT is totally free of religious, political or philosophical bias; it needs no specialist knowledge or training, just interest, an open sceptical mind and the courage to consider a much larger Picture of Reality than we presently enjoy.

I have read the Trilogy 3 times now, and each time, perhaps through familiarity, I am aware of significant new information. MBT WILL affect you at some level or other, be assured. If you are in search of new ground where truth does not wither under the weight of belief, dogma or cultural presumptions, give this work a chance.

I head an open group workshop based on transpersonal discovery (Conscious awareness).
Tom Campbell's Big TOE is not just a constant reference, but it has helped many of us to conceptualise what previously had been areas of indigestible intellectual understanding.I cannot possibly recommend this work highly enough.
The opportunity of a lifetime should be grasped within the lifetime of the opportunity.
I sense this is it.

Kathryn O'Flynn

Another Point of View on "My Big TOE"
Who should read these books?

Anyone who desires to advance to adult level in this children's world in which we presently live should go to the trouble of working their way through this trilogy of books, whatever the cost in effort determined by the level at which you choose to learn.
Anyone who already functions as an adult should read this trilogy in order to complete your understanding of the Reality in which you must function and of which you are an integral part.

What can you expect to learn or achieve?

Almost everything that you need to know that is not, of necessity, "do it yourself" only!The author has specifically written the My Big TOE trilogy for reading on several levels with corresponding levels of effort required.Please understand that my comments are intended to encourage you to read, not to discourage you from reading, these books.My intent is to show you why you should read these books at no matter what cost in effort you choose to expend.First, you will find out how much you need to unlearn.Then you will find out how much you do not understand of what is being said and what is going on around you.If however you already possess a high level of such knowledge, you can expect to have a great deal clarified.This trilogy of books constitutes what in the field of physics is called a "theory of everything", thus the acronym TOE.You will see that this is literally true of these books.

To come close to fully understanding My Big TOE requires a high entry threshold, a wide range of knowledge.The author has tried to offset this by reiterating his message from different viewpoints in order to aid your understanding.As he also points out, much of the detail can be skipped as useful to advanced specialists and the main points still be comprehended.He has also tried to relieve the intensity with humorous comments.Not everyone will be able to appreciate the humor however, which the author recognizes, and it is also optional.If you have been to graduate school in the sciences, you will recognize the author as a kindred spirit.He worked as a physicist in industry and collaborated with Robert Monroe of Out of Body fame in his early research.

The main points will provide you with an understanding of the Reality of which you are a part.How it originated, the few characteristics and principles from which it began and by which it developed, including that small part of the greater reality that we experience in our day to day lives.You will be surprised that these principles are things which you probably already know about, just not their full significance in the greater reality.You will also be given a general description of that part of the