Cosmos Books

I have to laugh that one of the tags for this book is atheist. Was he an atheist? I don't know. But I truly enjoyed this book, and it was a further shovel of dirt on religion in the ground for me. A number of things had led me to that point (taking a philosophy course way back when I was in college), but this book really gave religion in a frank light: nothing more than an explanation of the unknown for societies. The ones that took hold and didn't go away when science explained away are what we have today. But seriously, lets only go as far as agnostic, please.

Religion aside, this is truly a magnificent travel through space. I read it whilst camping that really assisted in its fine journey. A little outdated, but highly recommended nonetheless.

I have read many many books pertaining to astronomy and cosmology over the years, but until this book, I had never read anything written by Carl Sagan. What interested me enough to purchase this book was not only the topic it covered, but that the book was itself written by Carl Sagan.

I best remember Carl Sagan from those TV specials he narrated that were aired on public TV many years ago. I was always impressed with Mr. Sagan's knowledge and manner of presentation of the material. His enthusiasm to tell what he knew about the cosmos was never masked by a scripted TV presentation; his enthusiasm was very infectious. So recently, I thought I had to rectify my having never read a book written by Mr. Sagan and I purchased the book Cosmos. I was not disappointed; I felt as if I was watching one of those old TV specials narrated by Mr. Sagan. In my mind's eye, I could see everything I was reading and I did not want the book to end.

Despite that the book may be dated, and cosmology has moved on a bit since the publishing of this book, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in cosmology, astronomy, astrophysics and even history. I only wish Mr. Sagan was still alive to write something new. He is missed by me.

The best advice I can give, regarding this book, is to GIVE it to a young person interested in science or space. You will plant a seed that will grow forever. Sagan's masterpiece takes the mind on a wonderful journey through the stars as well as through other space centered events. Highest recommendation as a text for learning as well as a fine read for anyone interested in the subject.

Carl Sagan's book and TV series called Cosmos has opened the vast universe to millions and millions of people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and watching the series.

It is not surprising that Cosmos is the best-selling science book ever published in the English language...and the series has been seen by half a billion people!

Carl Sagan was able to accomplish this feat by tapping into his psyche as a little boy who asked many questions about the universe. He then wrote and produced the series from the heart. His enthusiasm and fascination with the earth, planets, stars, galaxies, extraterrestrial life and more is contagious! He took an incredibly difficult subject and made it fun, exciting and educational for anyone from 8 to 80 who has looked up at the night skies...and wondered.

The book and series are not to be missed!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

I first bumped into Carl Sagan when I saw his TV documentary series called "Cosmos" many years ago. It has only been recently that I have got off my rear and read the book. It has to be said that I had waited far too long to do this.

"Cosmos" (the book) is a great overall introduction to the universe about us and the history of its discovery by people. Mixing hitsory and astronomy, Sagan covers the major efforts that went into discovering different things out there and what thos discoveries meant. There is also a healthy level of how astronomers do what they do, such as light spectrum analysis, radar mapping and so on. Despite this, there is virtually no mathematics involved, which is a good thing for general readers.

The hardcover edition also has plenty of pictures, photos and diagrams relating to the text. This makes the book very interesting and quite amazing to read. I was very impressed with the quality of the photos and what they showed. They added a great deal to the text, especially for more visual people such as myself.

The only drawback with the book is its age. It was written over 20 years ago and references to future missions planned for 1986 highlight this aspect of the book. There may have been discoveries since the time of writing that would add more to the reader's knowledge. However, in spite of this drawback of age, the book is still valuable as a very readable introduction.

Carl Sagan writes with a very fluid and relaxing style. He doesn't overload the reader with specialised jargon, and when he does use it, he explains it very well. When the explanations are a bit heavy, I have noticed Sagan's tendency to supply diagrams. I was at no point confused or lost by Sagan's text.

Overall, the book makes a great starting point into the world of astronomy, the path people have taken to get us to where we are today and just what is out there. This is a very interesting book about a very interesting subject. I definitely recommend it, despite the age problems refered to above.

Mr. Thorne offers insight into an important world of science that only a person who has first hand experience could. While this book is a book about black holes, it is just as much a book about the science leading up to the ability of science to recognize and study them. It is very detailed with numerous "boxes" that include extra information. While it is not necessary to have an extensive science background in physics/astrophysics etc..., it would help. If one gives the book the patience that it takes, a world of information is available. It is not a quick read, but it is very interesting stuff no doubt.

I didn't understand a lot of this book. The physics was largely beyond me and I could not grasp the embedded diagrams that Kip Thorne used. These embedded diagrams attempt to represent three-dimensional space-time on a two-dimensional piece of paper. But I enjoyed reading the book nonetheless. One can look at science in two (or perhaps more) ways; the process and the results. I am interested in process, the building of one idea upon another. And Thorne does this particularly well. I am not a big fan of the results which is a good thing because I didn't really understand them, at least in this book. Thorne also included a lot of biographical information which I found very interesting. Thorne also admitted when he had made mistakes, which was refreshing; a nice human element. The most interesting parts of the book were when he compared the different styles of the various research teams. This is especially true when he compared first the American/British research style with the Russian research style and later in the book, the American, British, and French styles and their differing use of mathematics. Overall, this book was a good read, but by the end I was anxious to finish so that I could start reading Leon Lederman's new offering.

Kip S. Thorne explains Einstein's Theory of Relativity well. I have always been interested in time and space, and black holes, and anything that had to do with the universe and space. Thanks to this book my understanding of some theories has increased. I learned more about Enstein's quirks and devotion to the pursuit of scientific knowledge. A fascinating book.

You could consider this as a good place to continue if you have already read Stephen Hawkins' "A Short History of Time" and want to deepen your understanding of modern cosmology at an introductory level.

When Carl Sagan wanted to have his fictional herione from Contact travel in time, he turned to Kip Thorne.

This book is Thorne's attempt to more fully explain the science of time travel.

And in the process Thorne takes you to the prediction and discovery of black holes.

First seriously suggested by the theories of Albert Einstein, a black hole is a star that has grown so massive (at least three times the size of our sun) that it litterally can't sustain itself against its own weight. It assumes a gravitional force so powerful that not even light can escape its grasp.

Obviously, therefore, learning what resides beyond the visible dark exterior of a black hole has eluded science.

Yet that dark exterior has fueled speculations that black holes may enable nature (and possibly man) to perform seemingly magical feats.

As mentioned at the outset, one of the most interesting of these feats is time travel and the reason is because the great gravitional power of a black hole litterally allows it to warp the space around it. For us it would be a little like standing on one end of a water bed when someone places an anvil on the other end. Owing to the great weight of the anvil, the bed is contorted and owing to its contortions we find ourselves falling toward the anvil.

Assuming a sufficiently heavy anvil we could see both ends of the water bed being connected.

One obvious challenge would to be travel a black hole without becoming a part of it.

Another not so obvious challenge is the fact wormhole creation at best is an exotic affair not occuring above quantum distances. In this way, any people wishing to use one would have to go an extreme wieght loss program!

Because of its thoroughness, Thorne gives an extended discussion of the characters involved in the story he's telling. For example, Thorne explains that physicists use both flat and curved universe models to understand black hole behavior. Additionally, even though predicted by his theories, Einstein actually disputed the existence of black holes. As a result, the Soviet Union and not the US was the first country to really encourage serious discussion of them. However, once predicted and then once found, black holes became a unique entree into the laws of physics and with it the mind of God himself.

For those who read or saw Contact and enjoyed it, this will be an excellent account of the fact behind the fiction.

I had purchased the book after reading a few reviews which were very positive. If you want to know more about the person, Mani Bhaumick, this book is a good one. If the topic of Quantum Physics and its journey towards explaning the universal truth in the same manner as old religions interests you, this book offers a good start. Unfortunately, I got bored reading the past of the author (which is no doubt interesting but why spend money to know this!!!). Further,the portions relating to developments of Physics went over my head - I guess this may be because I am a normal Accounting person or I am not be very intelligent. And then, there are photographs of the author with various celebreties (why was this necessary?). And I felt the end of the book was also very abrupt. The book could have been more simple and focused on the subject. I guess persons of normal intellect may avoid this book. It will be useful if someone can recommend books that are more simple (with illustrations, where possible) and where the focus of the book is purely Quantum Physics rather than spice this up with avoidable diversions.

I think this book is wonderful approach to the science of God's existence. If you've ever seen the "Elegant Universe" (I think it is called) on PBS where they delve into String Theory and explain quantum physics to the layman, this book is a perfect follow-up. I think that because I had seen this show, I absorbed much of the physics he presented very quickly. I remember stopping at one point and thinking, "this is some scientific stuff."

Even if you've never heard of String Theory or Quantum Mechanics, it is worth reading this book. Dr. Bhaumik's book presents complicated physics theories in simple terms, and then ties those principles into his statement that everything from human consciousness, to the farthest stars, to the smallest particles are all interrelated and have a single name: God.

When I got to certain points in the book, I could hear my brain frying ;-) These were some increbile points he was making and I was blown away.

The only reason I gave it four stars is because he spends a little too much time in my opinion on his upbringing in India. Yes, it helps set the stage for the life eventually goes onto, and underscores several of his ideas, but it should have been cut shorter.

Dr. Bhaumik nails this most difficult task of wedding his personal story as a beautiful metaphor, to the greatest story ever told - the unfurling of our universe. He pursues the question that his father refused to answer and aren't we lucky for it. His formidable intellect and acquired rags-to-riches wealth gives way to a humility and innocent passion that can only reflect what he is and always will be: pure unadulterated spirit. I flat out love the way he presents meditation as the sacred portal of entry to our birthing ground, the unified field. The description of our holograhic universe by using the analogy of the human genome replicating whole humans brought tears to my eyes. The implication that we ARE the united field brings me to my knees because it resonates with every fiber of my being. By celebrating the similarities rather than the differences, Dr. Bhaumik honors what we all know at some level: What we're looking for is looking for us. His is an invitation to step up to and behold an idea of God that we can all live and die with. What a wonderful additional gift for more of us to get and live the Big Idea. Thank you Dr. Bhaumik for your remarkable contributions to our little parenthesis in eternity. - Dr. Herby Bell

We live today in a world so divided by disparate religious ideas that there is a very real possibility that we as humans won't survive these differences.

The spectrum of this divde is great and varied. Extreme Christian fundamentalists longing for a biblical Armageddon promote political choices that could bring on an ultimate nuclear holocaust. More moderate Christians eschew science in favor of a literal reading of the Bible and turn a blind eye to scientific "theories" as varied as global warming, the evolution of our species or the age of the universe.

Extreme Islamic fundamentalists scoff at earthly political goals altogether and wish only to live in a world governed entirely by the Koran. Unfortunately, like the Judeo/Christian Bible, interpretation of these sacred scriptures is subject to whoever perceives that he/she has been selected by his or her god to do so. This has resulted, in many instances, in the wide-scale destruction of people by those convinced by these chosen spokesmen that they will achieve heavenly rewards by their own and their victims' deaths.

Obviously, examples like these can be found everywhere in the world and in many other religions as well.

In a fervent desire to get beyond religious misconceptions of basic spiritual concepts, many thoughtful people have followed one of two divergent philosophical paths of inquiry concerning the universe and our place in it.

Science and spirituality (as opposed to religion) both seek the answers to this most fundamental question. While never quite at physical odds with each other, proponents look askance at each other for the others' naive understandings of reality. Yet a few individuals in both camps have been able to take a "quantum leap" of understanding and realize that science and spirituality should not just "agree to disagree".

For some scientists, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake, Karl Pribram and others, the deeper science goes towards discovering the most fundamental nature of Matter and Energy, the more the paths of science and spirituality merge into one.

On the spiritual side, a person such as the Dalai Lama honors the discoveries being made by science; to the extent that he says that if science proves a concept that is counter to his own Buddhist tradition, then the Buddhist idea must succumb to science! Truly a remarkable statement in view of most religious orthodoxies.

Mani Bhaumik is one of these "leapers", whose early life happened to be suffused in mystical Hindu traditions. Yet, the talents for science and mathematics he displayed at a young age allowed him to escape the poverty and ignorance epidemic in his community.

Finding his way to the West and his subsequent invention of the Exemer Laser (known commercially as Lasek) culminated in his enjoying a fabled lifestyle of the rich and famous; coincidentally the name of a popular television show of the day in which he displayed his wealth. His Hollywood star-studded life of parties and luxury in Beverly Hills is the stuff of dreams.

But somewhere along the way, the dream ended. Like many others throughout history, he finally had to ask himself, is this all there is?

Even while climbing the ladder of success, however, he never forgot the ground below from where he began. His political and spiritual grounding as an acquaintance of the "living saint" Mahatma Ghandi (in the political struggle for independence by the Indians against Great Britain) demonstrated to him how true spirituality can be manifested in the everyday world.

Throughout his early life in America he used his practice of Hindu meditation as primarily a method of remaining calm and centered in the high-flying academic and business worlds he was increasingly a part of.

But when he began to ask whether "this is all there is", he wanted to explore the deeper realms of reality found through mediation; those spoken of in the Gitas, the sacred writings of his religious tradition.

As a man with one foot in Western science and one foot in mystical Hinduism, he came to realize that it was perhaps his dharma to create a bridge between the two.

The result is the narrative of a wonderful, poetic journey through his own life before he begins the even more fantastic journey into the realms of quantum theory and sublime mystical states.

In the process, he does a truly amazing thing. He makes the underlying scientific field of all physical reality--which is, in fact, non-reality--move so closely towards the highest mystical states that it makes the a non-belief in "god" the most non-rational and least plausible conclusion one could make for a human being.

As a formerly agnostic seeker of knowledge, I've spent the past few years, trying to reconcile the remarkable scientific discoveries of DNA, quantum theory and consciousness with the fantastic realms of mind explored and written about by mystics, shamans, artists, users of entheogenic plants and others throughout the ages.

Mani Bhaumik's journey is a wonderful stepping stone on our own journey through a life that offers so many unanswerable questions. I've found that the most wonderful thing about our journey is that once a stepping stone is reached, another one appears almost magically.

And it's only one step away.

Dr. Bhaumik's book should be required reading for all religions! Using the discoveries of Quantum Physics and other areas of science, he proves how the universe we know all comes from one source, Code Name God, beginning with the Big Bang. He explains the seemingly conscious evolution of elements and the universal laws that permeate and guide our universe. Then he shows that we are all made of the same material (a nucleus consisting of one up quark and one down quark and electrons). In proving the oneness and interconnectedness of all, he shows how we are truly brothers and sisters. Perhaps if we all got that, we would stop our senseless fighting revere this beautiful home we have been given and live in peace.

I have noticed that fine teachers dispel tensions and apprehensions in their students, while ineffectual teachers positively strain to load them on. Sifu Wong is totally at home with his art; humorous, warm, and supporting. He never communicates a whisper of doubt about the prospect of teaching essential Chi Kung through the medium of a modest seeming book. I was immediately hooked on the practice. Sifu Wong's own attitude is undiminished childlike astonishment and wonder at the power of Chi Play. One does not want to stop! It is this infectiously joyous, self-aware, but un-self-conscious spirit which truly welcomes and encourages the student.

Excellent writen and easy to understand. And Best book for the seekers of healing and mediumship.

this book was very useful. Actually got this book as a present for my mother, but i found it very useful and interesting. so i too got one. thanks to amazon!!

A complete guide to everyone about the art of Chi Kung. The auther Master Wong Kiew Kit explains how to use the art to promote energy for physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The techniques are so simple yet extremely powerful. It's a great book I recommend it to everyone, beginner or advanced level.

This book gives an overview of Chi Kung ( or Qi Gong , depending on the spelling,etc.). It explains what chi is, what chi can do, and what exercises can help. There are several drawings of various chi kung exercises, chapters on various ailments and what can be done to cure them, as well as several real cases. Wong Sifu is truly an expert. As a student of Chi Kung and Tai Chi Chuan I can say this book supplements training ( especially helpful is the body chart with the various meridians).
The only negative things are that there are no photos ( although the drawings are reasonably good) and more important there's no information on diet. If you have no problems or just a simple strain/sprain diet probably won't matter, but if your problem is more serious, such as constantly feeling cold, sleep apnea, low sex drive, etc. diet will play a major part in the cure. That brings up one other problem; this is a book and not a real, living Sifu( master). As such it should be used only as an introduction to Chi Kung and not as a guide to get better. I'd strongly recommend you find a real Tai Chi/Chi Kung master and practice with him/her. Only if you're hundreds of miles away from the nearest school, or you're broke , should you try to "learn" from this book. Use it as aguide.
That said, this is one of the better books on Chi Kung.

Parallax is a marvellous book that will interest almost anyone who likes to read popular science and popular astronomy. It is an example of a new genre of science writing: writing a biography of a scientific puzzle that had a long life. In this case the puzzle is to find small changes in the positions of stars, due to the Earth's annual motion round the Sun. In learning about this, we find unexpected discoveries, such as the aberration of starlight. Alan Hirshfeld, a professor of physics at the University of Massachusetts, tells the story at a rattling good pace. All the science you need to grasp is explained clearly. The book truly captures the adventuresome spirit of the astronomers involved.

There have been a lot of history of science books over the last few years - Dava Sobel in particular is very popular. If you like books by her or Jared Diamond or Amir Aczel, you'll love this volume. A smooth read, but with plenty of meat. The theme of the book is also rather more important than that of Sobel's Longitude; the program for the search for parallax was laid out in Galileo's Starry Messenger, and drove astronomical progress for centuries, and is still an important area of research, while remaining mostly unkown to the public. The only scientific theme which lasted longer, or generated more incidental progress, was the search for a proof of Fermat's theorem.

I don't think you can grasp the history of science without being exposed to the material in this book. Give a copy to the budding bookish teenager in your life.

In science, clever minds and precision equipment go hand in hand. Take string theory - it sounds great [and I personally hope it's correct], but we don't have the equipment needed to do the experiments. In the book Parallax by Alan W. Hirshfeld, we take an almost two thousand year journey through history trying to confirm or deny the existence of stellar parallax - the apparent motion of a star due to the Earth's revolution. Hirshfeld introduces us to great scientific mind after scientific mind, all who knew exactly what they should see, but all thwarted in their efforts until the science of telescope making caught up with their brilliant minds. Since we know where the journey ends, part of the fun of reading Parallax comes from Hirshfeld's vivid portraits of the lives of the philosophers, astronomers, and instrument makers involved with finding stellar parallax. My favorite portrait was of Joseph Fraunhofer, telescope maker extraordinaire and survivor of incredible childhood trauma. I highly recommend Parallax by Alan W. Hirshfeld to anyone with an interest in astronomy, the history of science, or instrument making.

This is very simply a great book. The writing is clear and engaging and the history and the science are well presented in a logical chronological order. The love of the author for his subject stands out on every page; and his enthusiasm is contagious - one feels like getting a telescope (if one doesn't already have one) and start exploring the heavens. The book also illustrates in the best and most painless of ways how scientists' work complements that of others - hence progress. Highly recommended!

This is the best book on popular astonomy that I have read in many years, perhaps ever. It is hard to imagine a more balanced, better organized and readable description of a thorny technical topic than is presented here. In the mini-biographies of astonomers for 2,500 years, one is reminded ot Richard Rhodes book "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" in which he capsules 20th century science, Chemistry in particular. Hirshfeld provides interesting and often amusing thumbnail sketches of all the Parallax protagonists from Aristarchus to the present. His descriptions of Tycho Brahe, Galileo and Kepler are particularlly vivid. I had always read that Tycho had his nose bitten off in a drunken brawl, but, alas, not so! It was in a drunken duel.

The balance of the book is outstanding; each progression of understanding of the magnitude of the problem is presented with equal weight. The actual magnitude and dimensions of the problem (physically measuring the movement of a star from the exremes of the earths orbit) are described in bite sized increments, until by the time that the problem is surmounted in the mid 1800s, the full appreciation of the achievement is inescapable. If genius is "an infinite capacitiy for details", then the astronomers, and Dr. Hirshfeld both fully qualify for the title.

I am enthusiastically recommending this book to every literate person I know. It is satisfying and mind stretching, beautifully constructed, illustrated and edited. A great book!

I loved the Story about Aisha,how the world then looks upon less fortunate Human beings, it sure has not changed!!!! It was also a true refresher course into the History of Egypt. I remember vividly the assassination of Anwar Sadat, a very sad day for Egypt and the World. He truly was a great leader! It seems all the greatest Leaders, Presidents, Peacemakers die tragically! Angela is an exceptional writer, she makes the book come alive, one feels they are actually there ... It would make a great movie!!!!

What a moving story! Set in an exotic location a riveting read and very hard to put down. As a history buff it gives a fasinating insight to those times. Highly recommended.

I found the book here on Amazon.com and bought it thinking it would be great. I read it and instantly saw the pure magic of the author. I am part Greek and love to read books and watch movies about Greece. All i can say is that the author Angela Catramadou-Parker had spent lots of time on this book. I will reccomend this book to anyone who will read a great book.

Years ago I read "Lydia", which is the first book that Angela Catramadou-Parker wrote and I was fascinated by its story. When I got "Aisha", I was doubly amazed by its story and I finished the book in less than 24 hours. The story covers a period of time not very well known to the public, but one that is very controversial and at the same time a very important part of history. Aisha is an amazing woman full of passion, love for life, and power. At the same time, she is vulnerable, sensitive and definitely a true survivor of her times. Angela Catramadou-Parker must have spent countless hours researching the history of those fascinating times. She portrays the sorrow, the love, the pasion, the fear, the cruelty, and the devotion in an amazing way. It is an extraordinary book based in extraordinary times. I thank the author for bringing Aisha to life. I am surprised that Hollywood hasn't picked up this book yet and made it into an Oscar award winning movie. Kudos to Mrs. Katramadou-Parker for outstanding writing!

Aisha was a great book for American women to read so they can understand women from another culture. A deeply moving, spellbinding read, written with great sensitivity and imagination.

In `One Cosmos under God`, Robert Godwin shares his thought provoking insights into the deepest workings of the cosmos, each individuals purpose on earth and the ultimate destiny of mankind. In explicit detail he explains the universe's progression and transformations from Oneness with Spirit, to Matter, to Life, to Mind, and ultimately back to Oneness. Mr. Godwin turns the contemporary understanding of the workings of the universe on its head and fleshes out that theory with reasoned logic and well documented research. In addition to being a theoretical exploration and explanation of the Cosmos, the book also serves as an ultimately practical guide to realizing your own spiritual evolution.
This book has enabled me to think about the universe and my place in it in ways I never had before, and the clues contained in the book have contributed immensely to my own personal and spiritual growth.
If you've ever asked yourself "What's this life all about?" then this book offers keys to those on a path of spiritual discovery and understanding and is well worth the price of admission.

I love this book, because of it's interdisciplinary approach. While specialists taker an ever more reductionist viewpoint, the viewpoint of the author is holistic. This is by far a more useful approach to understanding the nature of life than the ever-splintering and myopic specializing that seems to characterize modern science.
I have read it a few times, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I found this book to be excellent. Were I stuck on an island with five books, this would most certainly be one of the five.

I agree with the other reviewers here, this is a magnificent book that spans eons of time and numerous disciplines...
I picked up Robert Godwin's book after his intriguing interview in `What is Enlightenment' magazine...
It's not an easy book to read, but this is in no way a lack in Godwin's writing style which is engaging, clear and humorous... No the difficulty comes from the depth and breadth of the subject matter...
This is an Integral approach to what is basically the spiritual, psychological and corporeal history of the Cosmos no less... Whew...
By Integral I mean that along with other modern day thinkers such as Ken Wilber, Coombes and Beck, here is an attempt to pull together what may appear to be disparate threads of varied concepts, theoretical models and even religions that have spanned myriad times and places and integrate them into a `whole'...
There is no doubt in my mind that we are in a position now to re-evaluate science, spirituality and psychology and place it into a new modern context in view of the strides we have taken all these areas ...
This doesn't mean `cherry picking' ideas and making them `fit' our modern or should I say post-modern (get with it!) world view... But along with Wilber's `Integral Spirituality' (recommended book), there can be a reframe of where we are and where we are headed in view of what has gone before and the fact is, that zeitgeist can only be observed for past events...
So exploring the past, as Godwin does, from the perspective of all we know right now gives new `juice' to religion for example...
There are some books that you really should read, and this is one of them - and I am amazed that something so profound can be so much fun - this is one of the real strengths of the book... It is an emotional and intellectual roller coaster in places, for the reasons outlined above, but feeling your worldview change as you read is thrilling...
A tour de force...

A recent New Yorker cartoon showed a clown sitting in a bar, talking to another customer. The caption: "I tell the truth, and sometimes it's funny." Robert Godwin could make the same claim about "One Cosmos Under God."

The author presents four books within his book. The first considers matter, the field of physics. The subject of the second book, life (the field of biology), transcends and includes the first book. The third, mind (the field of psychology) transcends and includes the first two. Finally, the fourth book, Spirit (what Godwin terms cosmotheosis) transcends and includes the first three. For readers familiar with Ken Wilber's developmental and holarchical model of the Kosmos and integral approach to knowledge, this book provides a view that is intellectually rigorous, emotionally engaging, and spiritually sensitive and aware. I come away from the book with a strong impression that Godwin is writing to my mind, my heart, and Spirit.

Godwin takes his biggest risks in the third book in building a scenario of how the opportunities and challenges of self-consciousness in early humans created considerable fear with which we must continue to contend today. It's a sobering argument.

While respectful of religious traditions, Godwin argues that they have created words and symbols that are highly "saturated" with cultural baggage, and therefore weak as effective pointers to Spirit. In the fourth book he presents an intriguing set of symbols that on the one hand are precise and clear, and on the other are quite free of content. This spiritual glossary offers an excellent reframe for fresh ways to communicate about Spirit.

Robert Godwin, if not in the Punster Hall of Fame already, definitely belongs. Throughout Godwin's writing is playful, yet his punning has behind it the serious intent of connecting the old and familiar with the growing edges of Spirit. His plentiful puns create new "wineskins" so that we may hold and share for awhile a taste of new wine. This is a book I will continue to study for some time to come.

I have read all three of her books in just under two weeks, I could not put them down! ... and after reading many, many books in this arena and in the general metaphysical spiritual realm I have never received so much wonderfully, synergistic, synchronistic, thought provoking, resonating material as I have with Patricia's books. We send you much love and profound gratitude Patricia for your gifts to humanity! This is a MUST READ for all in these times of immense change. If you fear change this book with definitely push your buttons, be warned and enter with an open heart/mind. Embrace the change! TOGETHER, We can BE THE CHANGE! Love and light to all...

This is a masterpiece...a must read for anyone who needs to fuel the spiritual fire within...this literary compass shall point the way....BLESS!

An excellent series, and they should be read in order, although, perhaps as with many educational series books, if you only have time to read one book, get the last one.

I finished all 3 over a year ago so my memory is rusty on some of the details, but this first book was technically my 'least favorite' of the 3. It's very spiritual, and tries to open your mind to a very different way of thinking and approach to life, and expands your reach beyond this simple, single physical life.

I tend to get impatient with circular, wordy, riddilish talk, so this book wore slightly on my nerves, but that's simply a matter of taste, and I still found it very valuable, and it lays the groundwork for the rest of the series.

As my title implies, I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking spiritual awakening. Just take it slow, and open your mind.......and definitely get the other 2 books as well.

Cori's book brought back to my mind a parable my beloved guru taught me.
A flock of eagles was pecking seed on a farmer's land. Since the farmer threw them food every day, they stayed on the farm day after day, month after month. A wise old eagle flew by and saw his friends.
"Why are you on the ground?"
"The human feeds us and we have no need to go any place else," they replied.
"But you are eagles and have forgotten how to fly. Your realm is in the sky, not on the ground. Let me free you."
The physical conditioning of our sensual pleasures ties us to this earthly plane. We have forgotten that we are not physical but bodies of light. We can fly. We can escape our conditioned existence, our hypnotized state, and we have the assistance of an extremely intelligent source, the Sirian High Council, channeled by Patricia Cori.
It seems to me that if Patricia Cori had written the movie script for "Network" (remember Peter Finch in the role of the broadcaster?) she might have said,
"Now I want you all to get off your knees, turn off the TV, go to the window and shout: 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.'"
She is making a clarion call to action as messenger for the High Council. As Andre Gide said, "Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again." Here is your best chance to listen.
Some folks mired in their old ways will not understand where we are going. Their paradigm is shifting and they don't see it. The Council explains what will be happening to those who cannot or will not see the forthcoming ascension of the awakened. Cori discusses how that particular problem will be resolved.
The material she covers is so extensive and detailed, it encourages me to follow suit. But a universal caveat cautions me to let each person discover it alone. The path to self-discovery is within the self, and no intermediary should intervene.
In addition, you will enjoy her book on "Atlantis Rising: The Struggle of Darkness and Light."
For further reading, I would like to include a short list of relevant material:
(1) Carl Jung's introduction to "The Secret of the Golden Flower," explains how "Chi" circulates through our bodies like the kundalini in the chakras. Notice the relationship of Chi to the DNA of science, the two strands of energy to the ancient Chinese explanation of three strands.
(2) Vance Packard's "The Hidden Persuaders," how the advertising industry seduces us with subliminal ads.
(3) Anything from the creative mind of Gene Roddenberry.
(4) Joseph Chilton Pearce, "The Crack in the Cosmic Egg," (to be re-released Sept 2002) regarding the overexposure of children and ourselves to TV.
(5) Timothy Freke, the "Hermetica, the Lost Wisdom of the Pharaohs," and our relationship to the matrix of the universe.

Are you ready for the dawn of the transformation? Find out.

I have read many books about The End Times and they have left me with unanswered questions. The Cosmos of Soul is well written and easy to understand about what was, is, and will be. It does not dwell on the end but on ascension to the fourth dimension with a positive outcome. A must read for all of humanity.

This is a brief but fascinating journey through the history of ancient apocalyptic faith. Cohn takes us to the very roots of civilization, explaining how the traditional cycles of life coincided with religious belief. The cycles of death and rebirth, day and night, summer and winter, mixed in with occasional droughts, floods, and enemy invasion mirrored religious belief in an ordered cosmos that was originally formed by the gods out of a pre-existent chaos. Cosmos wasn't absolutely secure however; chaos was always a threat to the daily ordered life of each civilization, so the benevolent gods continuously fought the "chaos monsters" that constantly threatened the ordered world. Complex pantheons and creation myths arose out of these beliefs and sacrifices and gifts were brought to the gods to give them strength and worship in their enduring battle of protection of the people against chaos.

Cohn takes us to the earliest religious beliefs of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Vedic Indians, and the Zoroastrians describing their beliefs, interconnectedness, innovations, and future implications. He safely credits Zoroaster for the innovation of the first apocalyptic faith, the belief in a consummation of the never ending fight against chaos wherein the supreme god, Ahura Mazda would one day finally and forever defeat the gods of chaos; an age of prosperity, order, and goodness would then be ushered in.

Cohn then proceeds to Judaism and the specific experiences of the Israelites, particularly related to the Babylonian exile, when elite Jews discovered the compelling apocalyptic of Zoroastrianism and adapted it to their own faith in Yahweh. Christians co-opted and greatly expanded these beliefs with a firm conviction of a coming apocalypse and an elaborate cosmic battle myth at the end of the age.

Cohn doesn't waste words; there is a lot of information in these 240 pages, each sentence is filled with fascinating facts. I found his writing style slightly unconventional and it was difficult for me to absorb at times, I am re-reading several sections. I also wish Cohn would have addressed Islam and completed the apocalyptic story of the Middle Eastern religious faiths.

A very good read.

This is an elementary introduction to ancient religion, focusing on the issues in the title: cosmos, chaos, and the world to come. It considers ancient Egyptian religion, Mesopotamian religion, Vedic religion, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and very early Christianity--all extremely briefly, focusing only on the issue of the cosmic struggle against chaos, and the development of the apocalyptic worldview. If you are only slightly aware of what all that could mean, this book will entertain you greatly. I am well aware of all of them, and I learned little beyond details from this book, and yet I enjoyed reading it very much.

However, if you want depth on any of these topics, there are other books for you. For Zoroastrianism, begin with Mary Boyce. For early Christianity, begin with E. P. Sanders and move on to Ehrman. For ancient Mediterranean religion, begin with "Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide." And consider "The Other God."

Cohn's argument that Zoroastrianism had a huge influence on ancient Judaism and Christianity, is in my opinion unquestionable, and yet neither emphasized nor even recognized in academic circles, nor widely known among the general public. Somehow it is perceived as embarrassing to Judaism, and yet I think that is ridiculous: after all, the influence on modern Judaism is minute, and who does Zoroastrianism threaten? Jesus, Paul, Hillel and the author(s) of Daniel were still Jews, even if influenced by Zoroastrianism. In fact, in my opinion, they are far more interesting! Similarly, isn't Christianity more interesting precisely because it assimilated so much "pagan" influence? So I hope this book is read widely and its argument more popularly acknowledged.

I am a longstanding fan of Cohn's writings. I read this book in a day, finding it extremely lucid and informative. It brought the cosmologies of the ancient world alive, showing how their underlying themes make sense to everyday lives of the time.

Norman Cohn contines his exemplary work as a historian of religious history with Cosmos, Chaos and the World to Come (The Ancient Roots of Apolcalytic Faith). This book begins a little drier than his previous works but picks up speed nicely with his discussions of Zorastrianism, Judaism, and very early Christianity while showing the connections between the former and the latter two in terms of its prophetic, apocalyptic writings. This book makes a nice companion piece to this author's earlier and seminal work on millenniarism during the medieval period. A fine addition to the Cohn canon.

Surely the best book available if you want to get a insight into the ideas that led to the development of Christianity.

An absolute marvel, by the shear beauty of the images of our lovely cosmos, it puts the universe in its most eloquent perspective from inter-planetary to inter-galactic scales... It's virtue I think is it's bulk, the largest book I have ever purchased, it is a front-piece in my home and a source of joy to reference and glow over its imagery and well delivered descriptions and narrative. As a citizen of the cosmos I recommend those with even a tacit interest in space exploration to grab this bargain.

I bought this at a Borders Bookstore for $19.95 while on a road trip. It was a steal! This book has phenomenal photography, is up-to-date even including the latest from MARS Rover and Spirit, explains the mysteries of the universe in an easy to understand way, just an incredible book. It is bigger then your normal coffee table book, it is quite big but the pictures are simply amazing!

Amazingly detailed pictures of the cosmos from space probes and Hubble due to quality printing and the fact that this book has some serious real estate. It measurs 17.3 x 14.2 inches!! Like a posterbook. When you think of the work and money it took to get some of these photos, especially the outer planets, you come up with millions of dollars invested to get us these shots. Very inspiring to anyone who loves sci fi since this is the real deal and what it's based on. An amazing gift we have been given to see what is out there ...so so far away.

This is a large book that takes the reader on a journey from the Earth through the Solar System and then on to our own Milky Way Galaxy and then finally on to the large scale structure of the Universe. Quite impressive photographs. Very beautiful book indeed. Not too much to read but enough to explain the basics. Well worth the price.

What a beautiful volume! This book provides a view of the cosmos, with amazing photos and fine visual representations. The author notes (page 6): "The aim of this book is to help make sense of our crowded, chaotic cosmos. . . .Along the route of our celestial odyssey, we attempt not only to explain the nature of the different objects we encounter, but also try to put them in the wider context of history--their own, and that of the cosmos as a whole."

This is a massive volume, weighing a lot, with very large sized pages. This format allows much space to depict wonderful photos and representations on the cosmos. And for a pretty reasonable price at that!

The first part of the book focuses on the "Interplanetary." Each planet and other characters in the Solar system (such as the asteroids and moons) get space here. For instance, the treatment of Earth features photos that illustrate landforms, tectonics, and life. Only a few pages, but a lot of stuff is jammed into that space.

Part II is entitled "Interstellar," and focuses on the stars, with some enchanting images of the Milky Way galaxy, star clusters, nebulae, and so on. Visually stunning.

Part III, in turn, explores the "Intergalactic." The "local group" (including The Milky Way, Andromeda, Magellanic Clouds, etc.) leads this segment of the volume off. Other galaxies are also presented, with this part ending with a consideration of galactic evolution.

The fourth, and final, part of the book looks at "Deep Space and Time." This concludes with an examination of "The Big Bang" and "The End."

For those interested in where Earth fits into the larger universe, this is an interesting book. It is an accessible work; one need not be an astronomer to appreciate this. A wonderful work!