Cosmic Conversations: Dialogues on the Nature of the Universe and the Search for Reality

by Stephan Martin, Brian Swimme (Contributor), Fred Alan Wolf (Contributor)

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered "What is the universe?" In this lively and engaging collection of interviews, astronomer Stephan Martin talks with some of today--s most innovative and cutting-edge thinkers on the nature of the universe and our relationship to it. Scientists, mystics, indigenous elders, and cultural creatives all share their unique voices on the nature of reality, the interplay of science and religion, the future of humanity, and the role of each person in a mysterious and evolving universe. Filled with rich insight, dynamic discussion, and penetrating wisdom, Cosmic Conversations asks the fundamental questions about the universe many of us have wondered about, yet few have explored in-depth, questions such
Do time, space, and matter really exist?
Can the universe be inside us, outside us, or both?
Is the universe alive, conscious, and intelligent?
Where are we in the cosmic evolutionary picture? A compelling journey from the farthest reaches of outer space to the innermost realms of the human heart, Cosmic Conversations will change the way you look at the universe (and yourself) forever.

Genres: Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2009

Reviews

[Adam84 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Na mě asi moc, mnohdy zcela neslučitelných názorů na to, jak chápat vesmír.
Nejspíš nebyl leitmotiv knihy najít vědecký, filosofický, náboženský, spirituální, parapsychologický, psychedelický, aj. konsensus v otázce vesmíru, ale trochu mne zklamalo zjištění, že jediná shoda, která se dá z rozhovorů vyčíst, je názor, že vesmír je vše a všude... to mi přijde málo.
Možná mi i nesedí forma rozhovorů, kterou je kniha napsaná. Z každého rozhovoru jsem měl pocit, že jsem se mnoho nedozvěděl.
Kniha je prostě jen plná zajímavých názorů na to co je vesmír, nic víc.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title is very exciting but much of the book was about spiritual and religious crap "discovered" in quantum physics than actual science.

[Hedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because its individual interviews with leading-edge thinkers on the overall topic of the nature of the Universe - this place (or some would call it this event) that has brought us forth and that we are all part of.

The interviews are divided into 3 topics:
The scientific perspective, the spiritual perspective and the cultural perspective.

Questions such as "What is reality?", "Is there a purpose to evolution?", "What is consciousness? "What is time?"

What we know about the Universe is incredibly fascination, but at the same time we now know that 23% of the Universe is dark matter, 73% is dark energy, neither of which we know anything about. So we only know something bout 4% of what the Universe actually is. The plot thickens...

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an exciting ride through a smorgasbord of 18 different takes on a philosophy and spirituality and science. I very much appreciate Stephan Martin's care and labor in bringing together of this collection of experts who all seem to share an open mindedness, humility, and a sense of wonder about existence. There were a were a couple of interviews that were hard for me to keep up with and a couple of others that did not capture my interest, but the majority were fun and stimulating. The format of this book also lends itself to jumping around, reading in short bursts, and coming back to after extended lapses. I recommend it to anyone who does not feel like he/she has got it all figured out.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

What sets this book of interviews apart is the intelligent questions from Stephan Martin.

[Amy]

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