#Naturalitsy
A new series from BBC with Sir David Attenborough, can't wait. ❤️
https://www.bbcearth.com/shows/mammals
#Naturalitsy
A new series from BBC with Sir David Attenborough, can't wait. ❤️
https://www.bbcearth.com/shows/mammals
Much of what we take for granted about human sexuality is downright weird by the standards of the rest of the animal kingdom. This book tries to look at why and how these practices evolved.
It's an interesting how others might see us account. The book dates from 1997 and it particularly shows when talking about sex that cannot result in procreation such as during pregnancy etc., without any mention of homosexuality in our and other species.
Amazing! I loved learning about the processes of cells—the basis for understanding all other bodily functions and malfunctions and consequently how we are treating illnesses. Cancer features prominently, as its cellular complexities are still beyond our control but incredible minds are constantly advancing the field of study and treatments. The writing is accessible even if much of it went over my head. I listened to the audio and loved it!
I absolutely love Dr. Mukherjee‘s books. In addition to being so gifted at explaining complex cellular biology concepts, he is extraordinarily well read and often adds incite using literature and poetry. He gets into the weeds of the science but is remarkably candid about his own experiences - even including accounts of his own mental health struggles. I recommend if you have a genuine interest in cell bio and aren‘t intimidated by science.
This chapter argues with alarming sense against free will & I am shaken.
I need an equally intelligent person of science to counter Sapolsky's conclusions in this chapter!
The thought that there could be no essence to our personhood beyond predetermined biological mush is terrifying. What about meaning? Identity? Sentience? Morality?
If we are without agency, operating as robotic products of essential biology... what's the point in anything?
(2000) The author argues that science provides a rich basis for religious thought, sentiment, and practice. The structure is a series of .... meditations, devotions, object lessons, call them what you will ... that draw on "the epic of evolution" to demonstrate her case. This is my religion too, to the extent I have one, and I liked it much.
"An emptiness comes from this combination of over-the-top nonnatural sources of reward and the inevitability of habituation; this is because unnaturally strong explosions of synthetic experience and sensation and pleasure evoke unnaturally strong degrees of habituation...
If we were designed by engineers, as we consumed more, we'd desire less. But our frequent human tragedy is that the more we consume, the hungrier we get."
I don't often read religious nonfiction but when I do, it's because the #BookSpin fates told me to.
Seriously I'm looking forward to both of these, one of them meditations on nature-based spirituality; and the other a history of the homogenization of evangelicalism. Both of them I've heard good things about.
Thanks for the numbers @TheAromaofBooks !