LifeCode: The Theory of Biological Self Organization [Hardcover]

Stuart Pivar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2004

This lavishly illustrated text represents the publication of a theory of biological self-organization based on the discovery of a unique geometric configuration with the property to generate the shape of all animal and plant form.

The theory of biological self-organization maintains that body form results from patterns arising in living tissue due to simple mechanical forces rather than by genomic code; the genes are responsible only for individual traits.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stuart Pivar has pursued a career of physics, mathematics, chemical and mechanical engineering. This book is the result of a ten-year study of morphology and evolution with the help of an large private library of rare books and an extensive collection of natural history items

Product Details

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Ryland Press, Inc. (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976406004
• ISBN-13: 978-0976406006
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 10.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,226,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absurd nonsense, July 16, 2008

By 

Scott L. Page "SLP" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LifeCode: The Theory of Biological Self Organization (Hardcover)

I have not read this book, nor do I plan to, but anyone with a smidgen of knowledge about developmental biology should not waste their time on this self-indulgent nonsense from a non-scientist.

How can I say this having not read the book you say?

Here is how - look at this picture from the book (when it went by a different title):

[...]


It shows digits (fingers) forming as the result of wrinkles in the body 'tube' as it bends.

Sorry, I teach embryology. I've seen embryoes. Digits do not form as little wrinkles in the body tube. They form from the ends of the limb buds that extend out from the body wall.

This information is easily and readily available to all who seek it. I read some comments from Pivar on a blog that criticizes his claims in which he declares that he has lots of embryological information to support his notions.

I say, No you don't.


In addition, the one glowing review above is deserving of suspicion, as the endorsements of Pivar's work mentioned in a silly press release here:
[...]
seem to have been produced via doctored quotes having nothing at all to do with this book.

I say - Scrap it. Leave biology to biologists.