Customer Reviews

Infinite Potential: The Life and Times of David Bohm (Helix Books)

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This is an excellent account of David Bohm, his work and his philosophy. It details his encounters with some of the leading thinkers of his day, including Albert Einstein, Jiddu Krishnamurti and Richard Feynman. Bohm's treatment of his theory of the explicate order and implicate order is described in a very eloquent way by the author. It also addresses how David Bohm was one of those super intellectuals whom the United States had difficulty in accepting and how he "lost" his citizenship over his beliefs. It is a book that is worthwhile reading!

I can say, without question, that Peat's biography is a disappointment. The book's only redeeming characteristic is that Peat makes ample use of interviews that would otherwise be unavailable or nonexistent. In other areas, however, Bohm is not well represented. Peat uses information obtained from Russell Olwell concerning Bohm's case before HUAC. Unfortunately, Peat corrupted much of Olwell's work and presented an inaccurate picture of Bohm's case. Further, Peat fails to fully explore the impact of Bohm's work in the foundation of quantum physics and his alternative interpretation. In his review of the book Dr. James Cushing wrote that Bohm deserved better. Sadly, Dr. Cushing is correct.

This book illuminates the life of David Bohm as both man and scientist--who was nothing at all like I imagined. I knew of Bohm chiefly through the reputation of "Wholeness & the Implicate Order" among New-Age/Fringe Science circles, and through his collaboration with J. Krishnamurti (the darling Theosophical saint, of lately tarnished reputation.) Here, we see Bohm *exactly* as depicted on the cover, wrinkles in high relief and all. Betrayed by squealing Oppenheimer, mentor to famous Feynmann, dumped by Jiddhu Krishnamurti, he was stripped of his citizenship and lived a sorrowful life, despondent & frequently bitter that he had not been given a fair chance to realize his true potential, his scientific contributions not properly acknowledged. He clung to his materialist Marxist philosophy throughout his life; indeed, his Communist connections partially explain (along with Oppenheimer's "tissue of lies") his citizenship problems. Most importantly for would-be devotees, Bohm's life-long devotion to Marxist dogma strongly influenced his materialist interpretation of quantum mechanics and should give pause to those attracted to the "Implicate Order" as somehow acknowledging consciousness in science and the universe. All in all, a good biography of a strangely moving man

Have you ever read a book that captures your senses and brings an extraordinary perspective to them? Did you ever sit in a crowd of friends and people and quote from a book and feel like you just started to walk down a lonely road? David Peat in Infinite Potential captures insights generally that would not be unfolded in a life time of study. Why? This book transcends disciplines, religions, science and art by just following the journey of David Bohm. This unique man and his science speaks to each of us in our journeys through the courage to explore. Discovery becomes a theme in this book and each chapter invokes potentials in life yet to be tested. Throw out if you will Bohms sincere misguided meanderings into archaic political systems and fallen gurus and what you have left over in this book is possibilities.

While this book does not offer answers it does pose questions that silence the mind, quiet the waters and open you up to the consideration, that something is larger than the measurements in life we make. It takes the good old boys club of empirical scientist and leaves them behind in the cosmology of dialogue and understanding. You can see why Bohm launched a major revolution at the corporate levels throughout the world in team learning and total quality management. In this book you capture the etiology of a movement in transformation beyond testable devices. Freedom is a major theme in the pages and examples of the price you pay for loyalty and principles is very clear. Courage is shown and love of ones country openly enough to test the freedom of thought, speech and creativity.

What are the new metaphors that breathe new spirit into our dreams? Bohms Nonlocal action oriented concept of participation, engagement, force without force, bringing all you have to those with new and different insights is whole in every aspect. Peat represents in a simple way the gift Bohm had, patience sincerity and the art of listening. Objective reality of which he believed in whole heatedly! exposed the very Guru he believed in to be just a man not a saint.

By his rich innocence Peat see's friends and critics alike calling out for more from this secular saint. You might not buy the Pilot Wave Theory, the Implicate Order or the concept of a undivided universe but you will see an original unselfish pioneer in these pages with concepts to launch a New Frontier with.

Peat connects those of us that were to late to capture Bohm in life to the infinite potentials of cascading possibilities on these pages.

"Infinite Potential" is excellent. David Bohm's thoughts - which are sometimes difficult to understand for non-physicists - become clear the way David Peat is explaining Bohm's physics/philosophy.
I highly recommend this book to everybody interested in reaching to a kind of solution as to how our mysterious world may function.

Karen

I enjoyed this book very much. Bohm was always searching for truth, recognizing that the search never ends but can only become more fruitful. I enjoyed the author's writing style and his brief summaries of the theoretical physics involved. Bohm did not restrict himself to physics, but delved into philosophy as well. He had the courage to change over time.