Synopsis
An exploration of the possible reasons why people feel the urge to give meaning to life. The book approaches its task by looking at the nature of the universe and our perception of our place in it, and it speculates on how this perception may give rise to spiritual and religious sensibilities. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 (Where Are We?) deals with aspects of the nature of the universe and the way that we perceive it through the distorting lens of our own senses and preoccupations. Part 2 (What Are We?) covers the subject of the nature of life, from its beginnings to the emergence of homo sapiens, and how the development of life has conditioned us to react to our environment in specific ways. Part 3 (Why Are We?) explores our attitudes to mental states such as consciousness and mind, and explores the implications of these attitudes. The author's attitude to the nature of the universe can be summed up in the quote on the book's cover. "We only tend to think that reality is weird when we contemplate its extremes, such as the core of the atom or the edge of the universe - but the place is actually weird all the way through."
About the Author
Christopher C. Madden, MD is in private practice on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. His sports medicine practice is broad, and he has special interests in head injuries, bio-mechanics, environmental and altitude medicine, backcountry sports, endurance and ultra-endurance medicine, snowboarding injuries, and cycling and mountain biking injuries. Chris edits and authors a variety of topics in sports publications, ranging from previsit patient education to professional textbooks. He also teaches sports medicine to primary care residents from Rose and the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency Programs, in addition to out-of-state residents. He is active in the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, where he is on the Board of Directors, is past annual meeting Program Chair, has served on the Program Planning and Public Relations Committees, and currently chairs the Economics Committee, where he has developed various sports medicine economics and business practice tools, workshops, and national presentations for the membership. Chris is also involved with the American College of Sports Medicine, where he has served on the Education Committee and has served on and chaired panels at various annual meetings. An avid backcountry enthusiast, Chris loves to tackle epic rides and ultra-endurance, cross-country, and Super D races on his mountain bikes, snowboard and telemark in pristine, off-piste, and backcountry powder, trail run, hike, mountaineer and rock climb, ride motocross, practice yoga, and spend time with his family.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
