Book Description
What would you do if you were sitting quietly in your living room when a mysterious couple appeared from out of nowhere - and then told you they were "ascended masters" who had come to reveal some shocking secrets of existence and teach you the miraculous powers of advanced forgiveness? Would you call the cops? Call a psychiatrist? Call out for pizza?
When two such teachers appeared before Gary Renard in 1992, he chose to listen to them (and ask a lot of impertinent questions). The result is this startling book: an extraordinary record of 17 mind-bending conversations that took place over nearly a decade, reorienting the author's life and giving the world an uncompromising introduction to a spiritual teaching destined to change human history.
Customer Reviews:
For serious spiritual seekers only.......2007-10-17
The first time I read this book, it messed me up for about ten months. I no longer knew what to think or believe about all the spiritual concepts I had been studying and practicing for many years. In the end, though, it literally changed the way I perceive reality. As a result of reading the book I learned to live life without beliefs. Now life is split up between what I know through direct experience, what I think might be "truth" or the way things work until I learn differently, and what I just don't know. It is not necessary to be a student of A Course in Miracles to benefit from reading this book, but if you have very strong beliefs about the way things are, this is a book that will challenge them from nearly the beginning to the end. For all the difficulty I had with the cognitive shifts that reading this book provoked, my life is clearly better for having read it
The disappearance of the Universe.......2007-10-11
This is one of those books that includes lots of Ahaaaa moments. One of the best books that I have read in a long time. I would recommend it to any one that is either considering or doing a Course in Miracles.
You definately need to be open minded to read this.......2007-10-09
This is interesting and different from anything I'd ever read before! I don't believe everyone should read this book. I know many people who are just not ready or open minded enough to accept some of what's covered/proposed here and would end up vehemently opposing it. The first time I read this I honestly didn't know what to think. I was shocked really. Many of the things this guy was saying was just out of bounds of the 'conditioning' I grew up with. I initially checked this out from the library and returned it without having made it thru the first chapter. Then, several weeks later, I ordered it kind of by accident (a recommendation from another source)and was surprised to see that this was the same book I had checked out and returned mostly unread. I think things happen for a reason, and so I thought obviously I was supposed to read this book.
This guy has had the experience of two spiritual instructors who materialize to him on several different occassions and set him straight on how things really are. They are from his past and his future. As far as the information they conveyed, I'm thinking, how could they know all of those things if they were not who they claimed to be, and why would they and Gary lie about it? Some things were easier for me to accept than others. But, that doesn't mean that I don't believe it all, it just means that I don't exactly understand it all, so therefore I won't say that it's not true, because I really don't know. Some things I just need to think about a little longer I guess.
I still pick this up and read it now and then. I have underlined and made notes to myself which I have found helpful. I was glad to have read this before I started 'A Course In Miracles'. Otherwise, I think I would have had a harder time with that. This was like a primer to get me ready for the concepts presented in ACIM.
This book has the power to change the world!.......2007-10-03
I am recommending this book whenever and wherever I have the chance to. I suffered all my life from a traumatic and tragic childhood until I read this book and began practicing true forgiveness. Mr.Renard's teachings showed me a new way to view this world and a new way to forgive. My life is forever changed. If I can heal from sexual assault, deaths, and a lifetime of suicidal depression than so can others. This book has the power to change the world, one life at a time.
Everyone must read this book!.......2007-10-01
This is a life changing book. A must read by everyone. I loved it.
Book Description
Brief passages written by "The Universe" (God) to remind readers that they have, indeed, been given dominion over all things. Unconventional, humorous, and deeply insightful.
Customer Reviews:
TUT.......2007-10-17
Mike Dooley has THE GIFT of sharing THE SECRET with those who are ready to listen. I absolutely love everything this man publishes.
Totally uplifting.......2007-10-17
A wonderful way to start your day. Just open the book to any random page and let the magic happen.
Thankful and Grateful for Positiveness.......2007-10-07
With the world being so full of Negatives it is such a blessing to have a book full of Positive messages to pace myself through life. I'm sure anyone who would purchase this book would be totally Grateful for the inspiring message that are contained in this Treasure of a Book.
Thanks to "the" Universe--Mike Dooley.......2007-10-05
What a beautiful book! The book itself is published so nicely. The words are not from this planet for sure soooooooo-----Universe hellooooo!
Thank you, Mike Dooley. I'd sure like to meet you some day!
Tally ho!
Susie
Notes from the Universe audio version.......2007-10-05
There are many good points and positive-life tidbits you can use, however, the Author's voice gets a bit monotonous after a while, and a bit hokey at times(ie: "Tally ho!"). His voice along with "all-knowing ominous universal thoughts" just don't seem to go together. Maybe a break in between all of the "thoughts after thoughts" with some spa-like music here and there or a variety of voices would be a more pleasant option for the audio version. All in all, I really enjoy the uplifting, positive, and encouraging aspect of "Thoughts". I think I will purchase the book so I can read it instead of listen to it. Check out theuniverse@tut.com. It is a great way to get a daily note from the author via email. Love that! Thank you Mike!
Book Description
Science has recently begun to prove what ancient myth and religion have always espoused: There may be such a thing as a life force.
Lynne McTaggart, indefatigable investigative journalist, reveals a radical new biological paradigm -- that on our most fundamental level, the human mind and body are not distinct and separate from their environment but a packet of pulsating power constantly interacting with this vast energy sea.
The Field is a highly readable scientific detective story that offers a stunning picture of an interconnected universe and a new scientific theory that makes sense of supernatural phenomena. Original, well researched, and well documented by distinguished sources, The Field is a book of hope and inspiration for today's world.
Customer Reviews:
The Zero Point Field.......2007-10-12
"The Intention Experiment" by Lynn McTaggart is a fascinating book and highly inspirational since it highlights the reconciliation between science and religion, Newtonian Science and Quantum Physics etc. The central concept in this book is the Zero Point Field, the microscopic vibrational space between objects. This field connects everything that exists and is of paramount importance in manifesting when consciously living an intentional life.
Some powerful New Age books that I've also discoverred are;
Limitless Mind: A Guide to Remote Viewing and Transformation of Consciousness
Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality
Nexus: A Neo Novel
its all in the Field.......2007-09-30
I am on my second reading. The information is important enough for me to be able to re-late it to others, especially in my progressive Christian church group. Although written in 2001...science is still kicking against some of this wisdom of it's own. Bucky Fuller said we're always 50 years behind the leading edge.
Excellent coverage of research bringing science to Consciousness.......2007-09-29
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is heartening to see that science is finally "discovering" what has been known (but not well publicized) since the dawn of humanity--that we are all part of an infinite, unified energy field which I and many others choose to call God or Consciousness or Omniverse.
Ramifications of the Zero-Point Field are infinite as is the field itself. It is the source of all present and future energy and the ultimate solution to the apparent energy shortage on earth. It is the primordial, timeless energy source from which all physical matter is created. Well done, Lynne!
Forever One: Letters from God--You Are Perfect Love, My Ego, My Higher Power and I, The Science of Mind: Original 1926 Text 1998 Edition See more books along these lines at www.hiconections.com
WOW.......2007-09-22
I had this pegged as a new-agey book that presented pseudo-science as science and fact. Not so. This book presents experiments done, from the 70s on, that will blow your mind and challenge your ideas of reality. McTaggart presents each experiment as an engaging story and overall, she feels authoritative. There are a few moments where I questioned the deductions that were made, but for the most part, I was surprised at how rigorous these experiments were - some at prestigious universities and some even backed by the CIA. McTaggart does little synthesis of her own, mainly just relying on the experiments & scientists to speak for themselves.
Sadly enough, the reason why none of us have heard about this stuff isn't because it isn't scientifically valid, but, according to McTaggart, it's because the scientific community is extremely conservative, and many of the experiments shake the foundations of what modern science has been based on.
I cannot recommend this book enough. The writing style is engaging and thorough. It really has changed my view of the world and opened my mind to a realm that I was always highly suspicious about, but interested in nonetheless. This book makes me want to explore reality and the power of my mind!
Simply superb.......2007-09-16
Mind blowing stuff ! I bought mine about a year ago and another one for a pal. Probably the best in a long list of books of this type
Customer Reviews:
Bill Pearl's Keys to the Universe.......2007-09-20
This book is excellent. Anyone remotely interested in bodybuilding, or weight training should definitely have this book. It is frequently referred to as the weight lifter's "Bible". I now know why.
Great Book.......2007-08-10
I am learning about personal training and needed a book to learn more strength training exercises usings weights... this did the job. It's a great book with pictures and details how the exercise is done for each body part.
Bodybuilding Exercise Bible.......2007-04-10
Bodybuilders will love all the exercises included in this book. It makes a great reference for advanced bodybuilders.
Excellent for excercises.......2007-03-25
This book has TONS of exercises! If you are looking for THE encyclopedia of bodybuilding exercises, this IS it. I have tried Arnold's guide, but found this one much better for exercise form and variety. It even talks about potential for injury in some exercises. The illustrations are very good and somewhat easy to follow. The book is organized in sections by body part and the exercises are rated by difficulty.
There is a very informative section on eating and health, too. This book was obviously created for weight trainign, focusing on the bodybuilder. There is a section on posing, and history on a couple great bodybuilders.
Pearl doesn't try to go overboard on the motivational stuff, either. Short, sweet, and to the point.
This is a very good manual and reference for anyone who wants to build their own program or is very interested in bodybuilding/sculpting. Using the thousands of exercises in this book, you will be able to work all angles of all muscles.
The only reason I gave it 4 instead of five stars, is that the book does not give much startup information for beginning bodybuilders as far as how much weight to start out with, stretching, and lack of illustrations of some basic exercises that new wieghtlifters may not be familiar with. Getting Stronger (also by Bill Pearl)is actually the book I used when I started lifting 12 years ago and it covered those basics. For the experienced, however, Keys to the Inner Universe is an outstanding manual! Between the two, you will not need a third book on weight training.
Bill Pearls Keys To The Inner Universe.......2007-01-11
Brilliant book,very much worth importing! arrived in perfect condition and when expected.
Book Description
Today nearly everyone is familiar with holograms, three-dimensional images projected into space with the aid of a laser. Now, two of the world's most eminent thinkers -- University of London physicists David Bohm, a former protege of Einstein's and one of the world's most respected quantum physicists, and Stanford neurophysiologist Karl Pribram, one of the architects of our modern understanding of the brain -- believe that the universe itself may be a giant hologram, quite literally a kind of image or construct created, at least in part, by the human mind. This remarkable new way of looking at the universe explains now only many of the unsolved puzzles of physics, but also such mysterious occurrences as telepathy, out-of-body and near death experiences, "lucid" dreams, and even religious and mystical experiences such as feelings of cosmic unity and miraculous healings.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-10-18
If you are questioning life, and I hope you are, this book is a must read!!!
STUN......................NING.......2007-10-11
IF YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AROUND YOU...........
DO NOT MISS THIS ONE. I WILL PERSONALLY REFUND YOUR MONEY
IF YOU ARE NOT AS BLOWN AWAY AS I WAS.
The book that ushers in a new way to see reality.......2007-09-25
I read this book a few months ago and it left a very strong impression upon me. It is amazing that this book was written 15 years ago, with science that is at least 20 years old if not older. The most amazing thing is that the paradigm that the author is talking about through out this book is still far from becoming part of our culture and society. It is a shame that we with our western minds and egocentric thinking have neglected to tolerate or even accept a holographic model which is adopted as a common fact from more mature cultures than our own.
I believe that this book is necessary reading as we are in the early part of the 21st century. The great thing about this book is that it begins to force our culture on a whole to begin to shed away out newtonian mechanistic model that we apply to every discipline for a more dynamic and whole approach that appreciates the causes and effects that are possible on different planes of reality in which we only participate in a small part with our normal daily waking consciousness.
Another great part of this book is that it gives the western man/woman a glimpse of a reality far more real than our own and dictates that we can only evolve by our level of compassion, knowledge and service which is the great teaching distilled from all the Great Holy Masters. A must read.
Very intriguing book..........2007-09-21
I'm very interested in alternative views/theories of the nature of reality and the universe. This book offers many new ideas and cites much research that has been done to support these ideas. If you are at all interested in information on these subjects, this book will give you much to think about. I'm almost done reading it now, have thoroughly enjoyed it and will likely read it again soon.
What you only thought you knew.......2007-08-06
One of the most remarkable books I have read! Bringing most of what I already imagined into a new reality. For me this book has made me realize I'm not the only one out there that thinks beyond the simple, far beyond the visible and very deep into the imaginal. Note only is this book amazing, it opens up a vast vault of informational books for reading pleasures that would otherwise go undetected. Simply put it is "Mind Food"
Amazon.com
Holding up such anomalies as ESP, psychokinesis, prayer, near-death experiences, and reincarnation under the cool light of scientific scrutiny can be a daunting task. Dean Radin, director of the Consciousness Research Laboratory at the University of Nevada, rises to the challenge in the pioneering and exhaustively researched The Conscious Universe. Fans of The X-Files will need no further convincing, but for the remaining skeptics, this easy-to-read mix of history, scientific evidence, and proclamations ("When modern science began about three hundred years ago, one of the consequences of separating mind and matter was that science slowly lost its mind.") will authenticate the existence of psychic phenomena.
Radin creates two categories: the perceiving of objects or events beyond our ordinary sense capabilities and the triggering or influencing of action through mental powers. Radin aims to present simply and clearly the basic elements from science, psychology, and physics that prove the existence psychic phenomena. Given the tacit acceptance of psychic phenomena as "real," why do both government and mainstream science repudiate the claims and the evidence, yet continue to exploit them?
The Conscious Universe challenges our most basic assumptions about reality, those that exist in both the upper echelons of science and in the basic daily interactions. It's a mind-bending exploration of how and what we see.
Book Description
Recently profiled in the New York Times Magazine. Dean Radin is perhaps the most respected parapsychology authority in the country. An articulate, engaging communicator, Radin wields impeccable credentials, a healthy skepticism and a meticulous scientific method to put "psi" phenomona like telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition and mind-over-matter abilities to the hard test of science. His unprecedented manifesto makes a startingly persuasive case for the truth of psychic phenomena -- and places us on the cusp of what may well be the next great paradigm shift.
Uniting the latest in high-tech experiments, including irrefutable data from his own groundbreaking research, with teachings of mystics and theories of quantum physics, Radin explores myriad phenomena: from ESP to ghosts to psychokinesis. Radin reveals the remarkable extent to which psi is already tacitly acknowledged -- and exploited -- by Fortune 500 corporations and the U.S. government, then analyzes how the inevitable mass acceptance of the mind-matter link will affect social, economic, academic, health and spirtual issues. At once visionary and pragmatic, The Conscious Universe recalls the classics Godel, Escher, Bach and The Holographic Universe, yet transcends mere experiments to offer a bold new vision of the future.
Customer Reviews:
Good Author, Bad Publisher.......2007-07-26
Dean Radin's book is an excellent work. Unfortunately, this is the second book I've bought over the last year that is printed on very cheap pulp-paper. Only, HaperOne has done something that the other publisher didn't do, and that is print a hardcover book containing cheap pulp-paper.
In the future, I will be looking to make sure that no book I buy is printed by HarperOne. I will not reward this nasty corporate trend with another dime.
A fantastic book full of good research.......2007-05-22
This book is fantastic with anyone with an interest in anomalous phenomena such as psi, read it then read Entangled minds for the full picture. Even radins critics claim that there is some interesting evidence put forward in this book , I even heard a skeptic website review of the book reach the conclusion "in my opinion "The Conscious Universe" is an interesting book, whose subject area deserves closer inspection." if the skeptics received it moderatly well so will you.
Serendipity.......2007-05-20
It is funny, I only originally planned to buy Entangled Minds but was told I would get free shipping if I bought this book. I got no free shipping but I got percisely the information I needed from The Conscious Universe. The answer is that, yes, it appears that various forms of extended perception are authentic and are probably distributed among the general population like any other talent.
ESP is Real.......2007-04-21
Get the Real Facts on ESP
There's no question about the reality of ESP for anyone who has ever experienced it. Just the other day, for example, as I was driving cross-country to give a seminar, a student came to mind. I hadn't heard from the person in a long time, and I found myself worrying and full of doubt. As these feelings seemed to erupt out of nowhere and had an obsessive quality about them, I suspected a subliminal telepathic influence. I watched as my obsessive worrying revealed certain themes. Acting as if these feelings were a message of distress from that person, I pulled over at a pay phone by the road and gave a call. The person answered the telephone and was surprised at who was calling. "I had just been thinking about you!" was the student's exclamation. I ventured a guess about the content of those thoughts. It was exactly as I suspected. Needless to say, the student was delighted, impressed, and touched.
Something is real if it makes a difference in your life, a wise philosopher woman once told me. I agree. ESP sure made a difference to that student and I. The fact that I reached out and touched that person at just the right moment made a difference in the way we experienced our relationship and work together.
Coincidence? Well, maybe, maybe not. I've heard many people, for example, tell a story similar to mine, only to exclaim, "It was creepy!" Then they shrug it off as "just a coincidence." When they say the C word, they do so with a sigh of relief. The coincidence defense is often used, I believe, to deny the intimate connection between minds, just like in another context someone might deny intimacy by saying "We're just friends!"
To destroy the plausible deniability of ESP, I recommend the book, The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena (HarperSanFrancisco). The author, Dean Radin, Ph.D., is Director of the Consciousness Research Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His name appears often in my Psi Research column because of his wide ranging and innovative research and his book reflects his impressive scope and grasp of the field.
The major strength of the book, and what makes it stand out as a unique and important contribution, is his treatment of the technical details defining the evidence for ESP. People are confused by statistics, for example, and in the absence of a dramatic psychic phenomenon, like spoon bending, we can easily dismiss an ESP effect that is largely statistical in nature. Radin gives some good examples of statistical realities that are more familiar in our culture to help the reader better comprehend the nature of the evidence for ESP. To take one example, perhaps you've heard about the studies showing that aspirin can prevent heart attacks. A long term study by Harvard Medical School was in progress when the results were so dramatic, the investigators made the unusual move of going public before the study was completed. They felt that the information was so important, the public had to be informed because of the lives that could be saved. What is less known is that the strength of this effect, the change in your odds of getting a heart attack if you take aspirin, and the strength of the statistics backing up those odds, are weaker than the statistics that underlie the laboratory evidence for ESP! It's more likely, in other words, according to accepted mathematical canons of science, that ESP exists than it is that aspirin reduces heart attacks. Moreover, ESP has a stronger effect on laboratory data than aspirin has on medical data. If I may say so, ESP is stronger than aspirin!
If ESP is so strong, why doesn't it work in Las Vegas? Radin, strategically located in the gaming capital of America, is in position to give us some new information on this perennial question. The answer is, it does! He was able to obtain normally top secret information concerning casino payoffs. He presents graphs that show, with the visual vividness we usually associate with scientifically secure phenomena, that casino profits fluctuate with the strength of the earth's geomagnetic field. As other studies show, when geomagnetic field is weak, people show greater psychic ability, and the Las Vegas casinos are not exempt from this influence.
We are being affected psychically, and exerting psychic effects, according to the studies Radin presents, on a national, international and global scale. At the moment the verdict in the OJ trial was announced, when more people were glued to the boob tube than in any other moment in history, electronic random number generators in several laboratories registered an unprecedented lack of randomness. When minds are joined, it matters. Over a thirty year period, to give another example, on the afternoon of the outdoor graduation ceremonies at Princeton University, the weather was sunnier than normal, even when it was raining in nearby localities! Just a coincidence? Don't bet on it.
Our thoughts, as has been noted before and as Radin now shows undeniably, are powerfully real things! They make a real difference in our lives. henryreed.com/publications/bookreviews
Understanding Connectedness in the Universe.......2007-03-24
I must confess that this book is written for people who are much smarter than I am. The author has gone into great detail and analyses of many situations of psychic phenomena. I am familiar with much of what he has written because this subject is interesting to me, and I watch television documentaries concerning this subject. Edgar Cayce and his readings are especially of interest.
I wanted the author to give me the answer to something that happened to me, but so far he has not done so. Last fall, I saw a locust on its back. I knew it did not have long to live so I walked by and started to go in my house. Then it was as though something hit me as I thought, "This might be his time to die but he does not have to die right now this minute. If I helped him to get over on his feet, he could live a while longer."
I picked up some plastic ties that are used to tie garbage bags together and touched the locust's feet with the ties. His tiny brain in that tiny body knew that help was coming to him from some place. He held on as I slowly turned my hand over, bringing him back to his feet. I slipped out the ties and said, "Okay, bud, you're on your own." I went into the house and forgot about him.
On the following day I was standing at my mailbox gathering my mail. I heard the buzz before I saw him. When I looked up, the locust was bombarding me. He came directly toward my hair, buzzing all the way. I shook him away from my hair, and then I thought, "I'll bet that this is the same locust I helped. He recognizes me and this is his way of saying 'Thank you.'"
I walked back to where I had seen the locust on his back and looked around the area. I could not find him anyplace. About two weeks later I saw a locust buzzing around my bushes, and I would imagine it was the same locust.
About the same time I noticed a yellow butterfly on the outside of my car window as I was driving into my garage. I thought, "If I shut the door, he will die because he cannot fly freely and will have no food." I reversed the car, drove outside the garage, tapped on the window causing him to fly away, and then drove back into the garage.
These are two occasions where I have had contact with the insect world where I felt that there was some sort of communication going on between us. I do not know if these two situations fit into Dr. Radin's book, but I bought his book hoping that there would be a section explaining this phenomena. I have not found any explanation so far, but I have not finished the book.
Does anybody who reads this have an answer? Are we connected in our universe?
Book Description
What is the ultimate destiny of our universe? That is the striking question addressed by James Gardner in The Intelligent Universe.
Traditionally, scientists (and Robert Frost) have offered two bleak answers to this profound issue: fire or ice.
The cosmos might end in fire—a cataclysmic Big Crunch in which galaxies, planets, and life forms are consumed in a raging inferno as the universe contracts in a kind of Big Bang in reverse.
Or the universe might end in ice—a ceaseless expansion of the fabric of space-time in which matter and energy are eternally diluted and cooled; stars wither and die, , and the cosmos simply fades into quiet and endless oblivion.
In The Intelligent Universe, James Gardner envisions a third dramatic alternative—a final state of the cosmos in which a highly evolved form of group intelligence engineers a cosmic renewal, the birth of a new universe.
Gardner's vision is that life and intelligence are at the very heart of the elegant machinery of the universe. It is a viewpoint that has won outspoken praise from an array of leading scientists, including Sir Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal, and Templeton Prize winner Paul Davies.
The Intelligent Universe is both a look into the past and a road map for the future of the universe. It explores the mysteries of the universe and of consciousness, and provides a frank and fascinating look at where our minds are taking us.
Customer Reviews:
Evolution debacle.......2007-08-10
The cosmos seems to be intelligent and friendly to life. Intelligent in the sense there exists many biological patterns that are self-similar. Friendly, in the sense of the existence of the elements of carbon, hydrogen, gravity, water, super novas, the organization of universes, and the diversity of DNA. Evolution fails to explain this intelligence in life. All evidence points to God, as the creator. The cosmo self-organizing algorithms seem to be low order simple programs with highly condensed information. Intelligence seems to be everywhere in time, space, and matter.
Richard Dawkins work seems exciting. Dawkins looks to overthrow the Drawin doctrines that have kept science in the dark for hundreds of years. Dawkins biological algorithms suggest intelligent design rather than random mutation as the process of organization.
Celluar Automata Genius, Wolfram, author of "A New Kind of Science" is search for "The Algorithm of Everything", a sort of genius program, once started would generate all patterns in the universe, says, Wolfram, "the entire cosmos, from quantum particles to the formation of galaxies, was a perpetual runtime flowing from simple rules. Complexity arises from simple rules. The universe can be understood by running computer simulations of these rules. The algorithm is more powerful than fragmentational stitching of equations. Extraterrestial might be communicating with us in messages we can't perceive. Drawian natural selection is overrated. Maximum levels of complexity are equivalent from human thought to rain hitting pavement, "Wolfram's Law". The only way to discover the consequences of complex processes is too let things proceed naturally. Computational equivalence means that computer programs can do all the stuff that happens in nature. Does this mean "Thinking Machines"? The Kurzeil prediction, "Singularity", 2050.
"Yet despite all our learning, human beings have missed the point of it all, because of the elusive nature of complexity." Considering the big bang theory, as singularity, almost instantly, matter begin to form, in an amazing dimension of plasma, high energy particles, and light. Considering the emense region of the cosmos, 13 billion light years of increasingly expanding matter and homogeneous distribution, the event seems intelligent by design.
The authors deduce that there must be other worlds that support life. The authors also theorize that life on those planets would not differ too much from life on earth. Similar patterns for plants, animals, and humans would exist on those planets. The intelligence of the cosmos would not create structures that were nonfunctional.
I found Kauffman discoveries interesting, but he spends too much time attributing life diversity to "evolution". Kauffman did not demostrate evolution could create the tree of life in his book, "Self-Organization and Complex System". However, Kauffman does support the idea that intelligent design can be discovery by applying physics equations to biology. Kauffman in his book, "At Home in the Universe" does not demonstrate adequately 1. how life emerged from the elements 2. how protein strains emerged into multi-cell life 3. the lineage links too a single original parent celluar structure.
The author conclude that the universe is becoming more intelligent. Life is become better adapted, more resourceful, and the universe will serve the purpose of man. Man himself is thought to be the source from which the new emerging reality is being created. Science can not explain all truth.
There are two truthes evolution does not explain: why does man need God? What does God want for man? The purpose of man is too find joy, an emotion. Emotion is required to act and without emotion man becomes a "flesh and bones machine". Man is moves contrary to the second law of thermodynamics because he exercises free will.
stimulating speculation about the underlying nature of the cosmos.......2007-05-11
Having read Gardner's earlier work Biocosm: The New Scientific Theory of Evolution: Intelligent Life Is the Architect of the Universe, I was prepared for "The Intelligent Universe" to be the work of a visionary thinker who is not afraid to speculate about the cosmological principles underlying our universe. I cherish the work of authors who are not afraid to think big. Gardner does not disappoint in the grandeur of his vision. If you think there is nothing new under the sun, I encourage you to read "The Intelligent Universe". One can't help but find enlightening material in the book. Oliver Wendell Holmes said "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." This sentiment certainly applies to my reading of Gardner's book.
Gardner's book is, however, not without flaws. One criticism I won't make of the book is that the ideas are hopelessly speculative. The book employs the kind of theoretical flights of fancy that John Horgan dismisses as "ironic science" in his book The End of Science (Helix Books), a book which says that science is asymptotically approaching a point at which there won't be any major new scientific theories, not because of science's failures but because science has been so successful. I mention Horgan because the scope of Gardner's vision encourages me to believe that we haven't even begun to exhaust our potential to develop breathtaking scientific theories of the cosmos. I came away from The Intelligent Universe with an excitement about the power of large-scale thinking about the universe.
Having said that, while Gardner presents an original "story", weaving together the work of numerous cosmologists and other scientists, perhaps paradoxically, the book often reads as a rehashing of the ideas of numerous big-picture thinkers. Maybe both perspectives can be accurate: Gardner summarizes the work of many while putting together the pieces in a unique way. There is nothing wrong with synthesizing the views of one's peers. However, the book too often lapses into a series of synopses of the big ideas of other scientific thinkers, brilliant though these thinkers may be.
To give you an idea of Gardner's method I reproduce the train of thought found in a few early chapters. Gardner uses extended paragraph-long quotations to run through the following thinkers (not all of which Gardner ultimately endorses):
Fred Hoyle on the fine-tunedness of physical constants, Francis Crick on directed pansperma (the idea that extraterrestrials seeded the biosphere with the first life forms on Earth), Stephen Wolfram and Ed Fredkin on cellular automata principles underlying physics, Seth Lloyd on the cosmos as quantum computer, Erwin Schrodinger on quantum physics underlying life, John Wheeler's on the "participatory anthropic principle" (the idea that only with conscious life does the universe summon itself into being), John Koza on genetic programming, Roger Penrose on the quantum physical underpinnings of consciousness, (leading to a gloss on the implications of combining quantum computing and genetic programming). Then Gardner begins the next chapter with Mark Bedau on artificial life, with an interlude about the perils of nanotechnology run amok, alluding to Michael Crichton's techno-thriller Prey. After that, we move on to topic of the technological singularity, where Ray Kurzweil plays a prominent role, both for his vision of smarter-than-human artificial intelligence and his optimism about the prospects for immortality. In the same chapter Gardner describes how Vernor Vinge forsees the arrival of super-human intelligence as more likely to result from intelligence amplification (at least at first) than from artificial intelligence.
Many of the later chapters work in a similar fashion, cycling through the big ideas of major thinkers. If a book is going to run through thinkers as this one does I guess what I would wish for is a book with the kind of comprehensiveness of The Anthropic Cosmological Principle (Oxford Paperbacks). Instead, too often there is only a superficial treatment of one thinker before we move on to another superficial treatment of the big idea of the next thinker. Such a technique is particularly unsatisfying for someone who is already familiar with many of the thinkers presented. I would relish a deeper engagement with the work of many of the thinkers treated. So one problem that I have with the book is simply that it is not in-depth enough. The body of the text takes up 196 pages, with an additional 46 pages comprising reprints of three articles from the International Journal of Astrobiology and Complexity magazine (2 articles).
I don't mean to dismiss Gardner's writing style. The value of his approach was demonstrated to me by his discussion of Beatriz Gato-Rivera's proposed solution to the Fermi Paradox. I had never heard of Gato-Rivera but Gardner's treatment of her position in The Intelligent Universe provided a nice jumping off point to her work. It is easy to see how the book could function as a window into a lot of other scientific topics. I was wondering how Gardner would reconcile the Fermi Paradox with Gardner's view that the universe is "hard-wired" to produce intelligent life, and Gato-Rivera's work figures prominently in his proposed resolution to the conundrum, although, characteristically, there is no attempt made to contradict this hypothesis or to pronounce on the merits of any alternative explanations.
"The Intelligent Universe" ultimately attempts to answer what Brian Greene has called the biggest of the big questions: Why is the universe life-friendly? Gardner, bold and original thinker that he is, thinks he knows the answer. His solution is the Selfish-Biocosm Hypothesis. The central claim of his Selfish-Biocosm Hypothesis is "that the ongoing process of biological and technological emergence, governed by still largely unknown laws of complexity, could function as a von Neumann controller, and that a cosmologically extended biosphere could serve as a von Neumann duplicating machine in a conjectured process of cosmological replication." In other words, the universe comes to life and then reproduces itself through the creation of other universes. This comes right out of Gardner's first book Biocosm. In this picture, human beings (or other intelligent life forms) might be thought of as the mitochondria of the cells that make up the universe as organism. The Intelligent Universe can be seen as the exploration of this basic storyline, and this includes dealing with the religious implications of the radically new perspective afforded by the Selfish-Biocosm Hypothesis. All in all, the story is well worth reading.
Interesting, but speculative.......2007-03-24
I read this as a follow-up to Kurzweil's "The Singularity Is Near" and found it interesting. However, it seems a bit overly speculative on the ultimate origin of the universe(s) (which I suppose is the point). I found the use of closed timelike curves to imply that the universe created itself too much of a stretch. Ultimately the question of what started it all was never answered to my satisfaction.
Excellent Read.......2007-03-22
Anyone with a slight interest in cosmology will find this a wonderful reading experience. With my programming background I found the chapter on The Software of Everything particularly inviting but it is written for readers with no programming experience. Obviously Mr. Gardner has close contact with some very intelligent people at prestigious universities and he develops their complex ideas and efforts into something the everyday reader can appreciate and enjoy. He has spent a great deal of effort making cosmology a very interesting subject. I personally believe the concept of Biocosm will shortly be proven to be on the right track.
Life, the Universe and Everything.......2007-03-03
This book takes you through the thinking of the foremost scientists about the universe and the development of intelligence. The theory of the universe growing in intelligence, backed by the numerous quotes and examples, is apt to rock the common paradigm for all time. The author in his book "Biocosm" lays a firm foundation for his argument and in this book explores the idea further. As proposed in his books "the purpose of the universe" is startling. Two things, in particular, I liked about this book: The summation of the current thinking in Cosmology and the mind-blowing conclusion of the purpose and origin of the universe. The author is very brave to tackle these subjects and he does so masterfully
Book Description
"The Convoluted Universe" is the sequel to "The Custodians". This book contains some of the more complicated concepts in Metaphysics that Dolores Cannon discovered through twenty years of using deep hypnosis to explore the subconscious mind. Some of the topics explored in this book: The origin, knowledge and destruction of Atlantis; The explanations of Earth mysteries, including - the Pyramids, Easter Island, the Bermuda Triangle, the Ark of the Covenant, Loch Ness Monster, Nazca Lines; Characteristics of other Planets, Parallel Universes, Parallel Lifetimes and Realities; Other Dimensions and much more.
This book is intended for those readers who want their minds expanded by the more complicated Metaphysical ideas that border on "Quantum Physics".
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating Book - a must read.......2007-05-30
I love books, and I would not label a book a "must read" unless I really felt so. This book is absolutely fascinating. I can't remember the last time I read through an entire 500+ page book, and to add to that, my copy looks like a highlighter exploded all over the place.
This book covers everything from Atlantis, the makers of the Pyramids in Egypt, Peru, and Mexico, parallel universes and other dimensions, aliens and extra terrestrials, life on other planets/star systems, past life memories, the current and coming earth changes, star children, and so much more. I have Book 2 on the way and I can't wait to crack it open.
It's a shame this book is hard to find in stores.
You stumbled upon a jewel. By this book now.
Mind expanding.......2007-04-17
If your Spirit is ready to expand with knowledge of the Universe, then you will be filled with plenty of it.
Wow!!.......2006-08-25
Hold on to your hats girls and boys! You're life as you know it is about to change. After many years of study I thought I knew a lot. After reading Dolores' books I realize I am just getting started.
a true prism helping us to remember and reflect forth the true light of love.......2006-02-01
This book really doesn't require a review for those of you who have read Delores Cannon, she truly comes from the heart and, through interaction with her clients and through other entities, is able to express and bring forth a plethora of knowledge on past present and future realities while also conveying the importance that it is never the person (or entity) but the message they bring that is most important. We live now in a very tumultuous time where there will continue to be a greater polarization until our reality will no longer exists in the same form. The illusion is starting to crumble and become exposed.
If there is one message that should be gained through this book it would truly be that all of you are loved, and if you take anything besides love from these messages than you must continue your search, as there is no separation. We are on the cusp of a brand new world and are about to embark once again on a limitless journey. To skeptics this book will, at the very least, provide you with highly enjoyable work of fiction which will inevitably open aspects of your mind and experience to new possibilites, which is just as well. Thank you very much to Delores who has devoted much of herself and her time for our benefit and has truly become a vessel of inspiration in her own right. To those who are earnestly seeking know that this book came to you because you asked for this, and those who truly seek and ask will be shown.
incredible.......2004-10-10
I have read most of Dolores Cannon's books and it seems each one gets better. The Convoluted Universe book One is a remarkable and fascinating exploration of other worldly beings,universes and dimensions. I loved it and can't wait for book two to be published.
Book Description
Communicating his ideas in the form of a classical dialogue between a youth and a wise elder, cosmologist Brian Swimme crafts a fascinating exploration into the creativity suffusing the universe. His explication of the fundamental powers of the cosmos is mystical and ecstatic and points directly to the need to activate one’s own creative powers.
Customer Reviews:
The Universe is a Green Dragon.......2007-09-30
I am not a scientist, but a college science student. I am also passionate about my sprirtuality. This is a wonderful book. Remembering that all spritual and religious language is peotic metaphor, this book only affirms my understanding of the divine loving nature of the Trinity and Jesus, the Christ. If you are a fundamentalist "Christian" (I think those terms are mutually exclusive) or an atheist, you will not like this book. If you love God passionately and believe that He is much bigger than you are, then you should enjoy the insights that Dr. Swimme presents.
A Unique Perspective........2007-08-23
Although I am a Christian, I found many points brought up in this book to be well worth consideration. I assume that a person devoted to this particular sect would find more in common, but on any front, it is a read worth a small amount of consideration.
Cosmic Creation From A New Perspective.......2006-11-10
A very well written and thought provoking look at something a lot of people have probably felt in their gutyet weren't quite sure how to quantify and elucidate.
The Universe is a Green Dragon.......2004-01-13
Thanks for getting the book out so quick!
Undiscriminating mix of fact and fancy, patronizing tone.......2003-07-25
I am a scientist, and I do appreciate and feel the vastness and beauty of the universe, and the elegance of biological evolution. But I don't think Swimme's romanticizing of science, cosmology, and particle physics is going to lead us to build a better society or better individual lives. Educated people have already tried making a god of science in this culture, I presume because of the seeming miracles it has performed, and the result has been people with empty spiritual lives and a desperate need to fill the void with stuff - food, things, travel - anything to avoid facing the sense of meaninglessness they get when they feel like tiny insignificant cogs in a vast machine. It doesn't really matter whether the machine is the military/industrial complex or the universe, in terms of its effect on the human spirit. Granted, the current state of much organized religion is not ideal, but I don't think Swimme's approach is going to have any better results. There are many alternative approaches between religious fundmentalism on one pole and an exclusive devotion to matter on the other.
This particular book is also painful to read, due to its patronizing tone and the way science is mixed with the subjective speculations and opinions of the author. There is a lack of respect for logic or fact in this book, which is surprising considering its topic and the author's credentials. Swimme is misusing the hard-won authority of science, which has performed its seeming miracles by a rigorous attention to observable facts. He owes it to his trusting readers (note the many 5-star reviews at this site) to distinguish clearly between the facts and his interpretations. There is a lack of intellectual humility here, which ironically mirrors his complaint of inappropriate human grandiosity in relation to nature.
Amazon.com
At first glance, The Power of Kabbalah seems like an overly simplistic spiritual instruction manual. The language and anecdotes are rabbi-style cozy and the format is exceptionally approachable: one-to-two-page essays. But read a few pages and you're hooked into an experience that immediately promises enlightenment (and eventually delivers it). Although the Kabbalah has its roots in Jewish mysticism, this non-dogmatic manual is applicable to all spiritual seekers. Like Wayne Dyer's bestselling book The Power of Intention, this is actually a book about manifesting the life you want through understanding the laws of spiritual energy and attraction. "To fulfill its giving nature, the infinite force of Energy created a receiver—-in Kabbalah it's called a Vessel," author Yehuda Berg explains. You guessed it, all of us earth souls represent the Vessel, and our spiritual task is to stop resisting the giving nature of Energy and let our Vessels fill up and runneth over.. This is an obvious choice for students of Jewish mysticism, but it's an equally appropriate book for anyone looking for ancient traditions to support contemporary spiritual discussions about the laws of attraction. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Shrouded in secrecy and centuries ahead of its time, the insights and revelations of Kabbalah and its teachings were denied to all but a chosen few. Branded as mysticism, fanaticism, and heresy, every sort of taboo was attached to the teachings in an effort to keep them secret.
Through it all, Kabbalah was and continues to be the original technology of life - the science of the soul, the chemistry of fulfillment, the physics of spiritual transformation. Power of Kabbalah is nothing less than a user's manual for the universe we live in: a practical, powerful set of principles and instructions for getting from where you are right now to where you truly want to be - emotionally, spiritually, financially, creatively, and in all aspects of your life in the real world.
The Power of Kabbalah brings the reader this wisdom in a way no other Kabbalah book is able to. In a uniquely practical, easily accessible, and insightful manner, it reveals not only what life is about, but the actions you can take right now to create the life you want and deserve. For the first time, the secret teachings of the ancient Kabbalists are brought to bear on the real-world issues that you face every day - in your career, with friends and family, and in your innermost personal thoughts.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful book!!!.......2006-08-02
This is a very interesting book. I actually like the first version a little more. The updated book now being sold is slightly different, but the underlying message is still the same.
I therefore recommend this book to anyone looking for spiritual answers. You may not agree with everything in this book and that's OK. Take whatever you get from this book and simply make it yours. You don't have to become a follower of Kabbalah to put some of the ideas into practice.
Try it. You may like it!
Also recommended: "What Did Jesus Really Say, How Christianity Went Astray: [What To Say To A Born Again Christian Fundamentalist, But Never Had The Information]" by Peter Cayce
Where do I FIT IN to the SELF AWARE universe.......2006-07-06
I devoured this book in a couple of days, excellent.Very easy reading and Berg has amazingly simplified Kabbalah.
I have always believed that a good teacher can take a difficult subject and make it simple so that even a novice, like myself, could understand it and that is what Yehuda Berg has done in this work. I have always believed that this subject was "out there" and from the "dark side" so I never researched this area.
I try not to be into dualism (us agianst them) or any set religous sect were my group is IT and everyone else is wrong so I enjoy how Berg helps the readers from all walks of life and backgrounds understand that the Kabbalah is for all mankind!
I have been reading a lot of books on quantum physics and the subatomic stuff we are all made of and I have been plagued with the BIG QUESTION: Where do I FIT IN and HOW DO I APPLY THE INFO to get results in Life. Why am I HERE and WHERE AM I going!?
Well, this publication has been very helpful in assisting me in these areas and getting POSITIVE RESULTS!! I will definitely be researching more of Yehuda and Rav Berg's teachings. Highly recommended!!
The Power of Kabbalah.......2006-06-14
Kabbalah is a well of healing wisdom that runs unfathomably deep, capable of filling innumerable volumes of medical journals if all of its secrets were unraveled and translated to written word.( from the book " A Book of Healing" by Kabbalist Rav Berg). Check the website: Www. Kabbalah.com
There have been many reported incidents throughout history when collective scanning of Zohar prevented bloodshed. Historian Jay Sands points out that in Morocco circa WWII, the Nazis demanded the deportation of 250,000 Sephardic Jews. At the time, Morocco had no army to defend itself, yet the King refused the Nazis' request. And for some inexplicable reason, they simply turned around and left. To this day, scholars have no idea why these people escaped the horrors of the Holocaust, but when you ask a survivor from that period, as I have, you learn that there were five places in Casablanca that chanted Zohar 24 hours a day in relay teams. Many of the people said they didn't even know what they were chanting, but they knew there was power to it.
Together we can create the same miracle. Before you scan, take a moment to visualize the entire area filled with Light. Even if you've never been there, you can see on a globe or map where that Light needs to be. Then begin to scan The Zohar to manifest the vision.
If you have taken a class at the Centre or read a kabbalah book, you've learned that the one thing we are all after is Light. Happiness, security, balance, clarity -- these are the attributes of the Light...
...and it is Light that is so desperately needed right now in the Middle East.
Shalom!
Simplified Kabbalah.......2005-11-03
This is the best introduction to Kabbalah available. It is easy to read and understand. This is a practical guide to Kabbalah that will "kick-start" your practice. Not for the advanced reader or student. In this book, there is just enough explanation of the mystical qualities of the richness of the Hebrew languange, enough practical guide to living in a Kabbalistic way, and just enough guidance to the 72 Names of G-d. Just enough for the beginner without anything fancy. Great beginners book. Highly recommended.
The Book for YOU.......2004-07-07
I rarely come across with books (of this importance) that inspire and tricker that special emotion in me. This book did it and I am eternally Thankful for Yehuda Berg for writing this excellent introduction to Kabbalah and its secrets. Not only that, but he asks you to test these simple, yet very profound, principles and prove them to be so in your own life. Are you fed up with people telling you what to believe about your existence and power within you? I am talking about the power that is accessible to you and able to fulfill your life.
Don't just read this book and accept it from its face value. Rather, experiment with what this special book has to offer and the door to 99% of universe is opened for you. That means, you are living the teaching true. I would say to you as my friend that come out from the cemetry of dead and face the light; with this book it is possible.
You know what truly is the acid test of truth? It is that you are given the tools and can try to disprove the author. Well, he gives you the tools. Try to disprove him; and in so doing, you will be prove these eternal principles valid in your life.
Unfortunately, much of the wisdom of kabbalah has been hidden for ages. People were, until now, denied the access to this wonderful information. Now, since our society allows us greater freedom, it is possible for people like Yehuda Berg to come forward and explain the mystery.
I was a bit sceptical when buying this book -- because I have already read scores of books on the subject of mysticism. Yet this book, though elementary, has all the crucial main points that you need to know.
Highly Recommended. Good buy. Go for it.
Books:
- The Foxfire Book: Hog Dressing, Log Cabin Building, Mountain Crafts and Foods, Planting by the Signs, Snake Lore, Hunting Tales, Faith Healing, Moonshining
- The Glass Castle: A Memoir
- The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks (Bradford Book)
- The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
- The Many Adventures of Pengey Penguin
- The Nature and Properties of Soils (13th Edition)
- The New American Story
- The Practical Encyclopedia of Rocks & Minerals: How to Find, Identify, Collect and Maintain the World's best Specimens, with over 1000 Photographs and Artworks
- The Supreme Court of the United States: A Student Companion (Oxford Student Companions to American Government)
- The Walrus Was Paul: The Great Beatle Death Clues
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Journalist And The Murderer
- Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
- Paul Marchand, F.M.C
- Out of Place: A Memoir
- Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World with Computers
- Nonlinear Oscillations, Dynamical Systems, and Bifurcations of Vector Fields
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- Barefoot Pirate: The Tall Ships and Tales of Windjammer
- Reports of the United States Tax Court, July 1, 1988-December 31, 1988
- A Passage to Sword Beach: Minesweeping in the Royal Navy
General
| New Age
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Your Immortal Reality: How to Break the Cycle of Birth and Death
A Course in Miracles: Text, Workbook for Students, Manual for Teachers (Combined Edition) (Combined Volume, 2nd Edition)
The Fifty Miracle Principles of 'A Course in Miracles'
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing
An Introduction to A Course in Miracles
