Resources

Greene enthusiastically explains the frontiers of quantum physics as well as anyone. The physics is great and the writing is excellent. His explanations and speculations about parallel universes suggest new ways of thinking about space-time and what lies beyond it. There’s only one catch: Greene is so immersed in quantum physics that he only considers the arguments of quantum physics. Excellent reading.

Greene enthusiastically explains the frontiers of quantum physics as well as anyone. The physics is great and the writing is excellent. His explanations and speculations about parallel universes suggest new ways of thinking about space-time and what lies beyond it. There’s only one catch: Greene is so immersed in quantum physics that he only considers the arguments of quantum physics. Excellent reading.

Daniel Odier’s stories, understandings, and translations of Tantra are more direct than just about anything else written. Like Zen koans, encompass one couplet of the Yoga Spandakarika and you will encompass them all.

Dorion Sagan is in great form in this book, using charm and humor in discussing topics as diverse as human nakedness, sperm competition, evolutionary biology, and the surprising wisdom of the Marquis de Sade.

A well-written, comprehensive overview of all of the major developments of thermodynamic theory, plus interesting speculations. Despite being hung up on entropy (that’s a joke), it’s the best book on thermodynamics I have read.

Jantsch’s stunning leap in applying the paradigm of dissipative structures to everything he could find. The book is dedicated to Ilya Prigogine and extends dissipative structures to biochemistry, evolution, sociobiology, culture and society. Many of the things Jantsch was passionate about or reacted against do not hold the same importance for us thirty years later, but he outlines a way to integrate simply everything.

The best visual description of evolution I have seen. Lanting’s stunning images convey a sense of wonder, even as they describe the course of evolution on earth. Available as a book and on the web at www.lifethroughtime.com.

A great storyteller, de Waal shows us a portrait of chimps and bonobos that makes absolutely clear where so many human desires and behaviors spring from.