A thoughtful, surprising work on the nature of consciousness.
Richheimer questions our assumptions about the basic structure of the universe in this work blending philosophy, spiritualism, and physics.
What if the world is not made of atoms, as science teaches us, but of consciousness? Richheimer suggests this in his treatise on the ways modern people misunderstand the nature of reality. The materialism of the title refers not to consumerism, of course, but to the concept of literal material: the upward causality theory of reality in which elementary particles form the basis of everything we experience. The alternative, which Richheimer calls spirituality, says just the opposite: “It postulates that consciousness is the ‘ground substance’ of creation and follows ‘top down’ causality since it hypothesizes that consciousness is transformed into cosmic mind and then into the material world.” While spirituality seems almost by definition beyond the purview of science, Richheimer argues that recent developments in quantum mechanics and biology have suggested otherwise. He takes the reader through such mysterious territories as near-death experiences, the mind-body connection, animal instinct, and life after death. By eschewing dogmatism and approaching each topic with an open mind, the author hopes to challenge the reader’s assumptions regarding how the universe really operates. Despite the specialized material, Richheimer’s prose is accessible enough for the general reader to follow: “There is no question that psychedelic drugs can produce many of the same experiences described by mystics,” he writes. “This has led many neuroscientists to label all mystical experiences as a product of abnormal brain chemistry.” The author has a doctorate in chemistry, but the influence of New Age spiritualism suffuses his work. The book is dedicated to the spiritual guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti—Richheimer’s “spiritual preceptor and guide” and inspiration—and there’s some talk of God. While the premise might alienate some readers, Richheimer approaches his arguments with honesty and curiosity and little preachiness. Those interested in the intersection of spiritualism with contemporary hard science will find him to be a suitable guide: knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and expansive.
A thoughtful, surprising work on the nature of consciousness.Pub Date: July 15, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 308
Publisher: Innerworld Publications
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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