THE WAY TO WORLD PEACE

A treatise offers a call to action on achieving world peace.

In this nonfiction book’s preface, Callison makes the stakes of his argument clear: “In no uncertain terms, our current generation must fulfill its obligations to itself and bring forth world peace...or perish.” What follows is an ambitious philosophical treatise that examines the psychological, social, and spiritual barriers to achieving world peace. The author moves methodically through chapters on conflict, violence, and the looming threat of nuclear war, arguing that peace of mind and world peace are inseparable because the mind cannot be at ease unless the globe is also at peace. A key claim running through the book is that humanity’s worst impulses are not innate: “Humanity’s violence is an acquired mutation, created from and perpetuated by the environment we have chosen to form. We can choose not to pass this mutation forward to subsequent generations.” Countering this idea is his insistence that “peace is incorporated into the DNA of humanity.” The volume’s broader aim is to persuade readers that humans are capable of peace, even if history often suggests otherwise. Callison’s spiritual framing becomes more pronounced in later chapters, where he argues that technological progress cannot remedy humanity’s existential malaise: “However, the salvation of mankind cannot be accomplished through physical means. Technology cannot solve the emptiness that humanity feels in its spirit. Mankind does not need greater power, it needs greater awareness—awareness of life, awareness of truth, and awareness of what it means to be human.” These engrossing sections will resonate with readers drawn to metaphysical inquiry, though chapters such as “God’s Brain” (“When you look at the stars in the heavens, you are looking at the physical brain of God”) and “The Venturi” may stretch the boundaries of what a general audience will find accessible. The volume’s lofty aims are indeed admirable. But the chapters and argumentation become repetitive and circular, often restating core ideas in section after section.

An ambitious, well-intentioned but repetitive argument for peace.