Cosmosapiens: Human Evolution from the Origin of the Universe - Softcover

Hands, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1468314246 ISBN 13: 9781468314243

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 2017

Synopsis

Specialist scientific fields are developing at incredibly swift speeds, but what can they really tell us about how the universe began and how we as humans evolved to play such a dominant role on Earth? John Hands’ extraordinarily ambitious book merges scientific knowledge from multiple disciplines and evaluates without bias or preconception all the theories and evidence about the origin and evolution of matter, consciousness, and mankind. The result, a “pearl of dialectical reasoning” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), provides the most comprehensive account yet of current ideas such as cosmic inflation, dark energy, the selfish gene, and neurogenetic determinism. In the clearest possible prose it differentiates the firmly established from the speculative and examines the claims of various fields to approach a unified theory of everything. In doing so it challenges the orthodox consensus in those branches of cosmology, biology, and neuroscience that have ossified into dogma. Its “shocking and invigorating” analysis (Daily Telegraph, A Best Science Book of 2015) reveals underlying patterns of cooperation, complexification, and convergence that lead to the unique emergence in humans of a self-reflective consciousness that enables us to determine our future evolution. This groundbreaking book is destined to become a classic of scientific thinking.

About this title

About the Author:

John Hands has devoted more than ten years to evaluating scientific theories about human evolution from the origin of the universe. He graduated in chemistry from the University of London and co-authored two research studies and published one book in the social sciences. He was the founding Director of the Government’s Co-operative Housing Agency and served on three Government committees. He has tutored in both physics and management studies for the Open University and was Royal Literary Fund Fellow at University College London. He has written three novels and been published in 8 countries.

Review:

A compendious work that will intrigue serious readers — Kirkus

Hands’s book is a game-changer.  In the tradition of Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, this lucidly written, penetrating analysis challenges us to rethink many things we take for granted about ourselves, our society, and our universe.  It will become a classic. — Peter Dreier, E P Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College

This is a truly exceptional piece of work. — Tim Crane, Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge

John Hands is an astute observer of recent trends in scientific ideas bold enough to point out what he sees as sense and nonsense and intelligently explain why. Even in cases where one might disagree, the arguments are thought-provoking. — Paul Steinhardt, Albert Einstein Professor in Science, Princeton University

A work as bold, broad, and challenging as this will no doubt tweak the bias any one of us may have regarding a particular event, but, then, so did Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. — Jeffrey Schwartz, Professor of Physical Anthropology and of The History & Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh

A magisterial, persuasive and thought provoking survey of the horizons of modern science. — Dr James Le Fanu, author of The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine

This book is an intellectual tour-de-force...highly recommended for anyone wishing to get a deeper insight into the fundamental but typically arcane theories that purport to explain where we and the universe that surrounds us are coming from. — Professor Francis Heylighen, Evolution, Complexity and Cognition Group, Free University of Brussels

A major accomplishment — Professor James Shapiro, author of Evolution: A View From The 21st Century

Any conventional Darwinist (and I am one of them) will find a lot to take exception to: but disagreement is the fuel of progress and if you enjoy an argument this is the book for you. — Professor Steve Jones, author of The Language of the Genes

An audacious and admirable book...written with engaging style, and the strongest scientific ideas across a swathe of fields in physics and biology are presented lucidly — Larry Steinman, Professor of Neurological Science, Stanford University

With depth and virtuosity, John Hands explores the Big Questions of human existence: who are we? why are we here? where are we headed? ...Hands's voyage of inquiry will not only educate you, it will also surprise. — Derek Shearer, Director, McKinnon Center for Global Affairs, Los Angeles

A fine book...brave, very wide ranging, synoptic. — Professor Stuart Kauffman, author of At Home in the Universe

John Hands...came to realise, and makes us realise, how much we don't know. Nevertheless, he is optimistic, and when he comes to human evolution and a schematic view of our history, he is hopeful and sees progress in understanding and co-operation. From his book we get that big picture he sought. — Professor David Knight, author of The Making of Modern Science

About this edition

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1468314246
• ISBN 13: 9781468314243
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 704