Customer Reviews

The Radiance of Being: Complexity, Chaos and the Evolution of Consciousness

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Allan Combs' The Radiance of Being is the kind of book one looks for but seldom finds on this subject. Most books on consciousness are either too technical and dry, or too loose and insubstantial. As Combs' beatiful and beautifully apt title suggests, this is a rare combination of scientific substance made accessible for a change with an easy flowing eloquence of writing style. Ranging from coverage on the consciousness theories of Jean Gebser, Ken Wilbur, and Sri Aurobindo to the relevance of chaos and complexity theory to the search for a scientific understanding of consciousness processes, this is a wonderful guide to the subject and a wonderful read. It is a book that America's pioneering psychologist in this area, William James, would have cherished.

If by "new agey" you mean drawing upon Eastern philosophy to expand current scientific thought on consciousness and its evolution, then the book will disappoint, yes. For me it served as potent seed material on further research into the origins and development of consciousness, of which Jaynes was certainly the next logical step. But Jaynes does not make the important connections between Western scientific thought on consciousnes and ancient wisdom of the Eastern mystical traditions which Combs treats quite carefully and creatively in his book. So I would suggest the two be read concurrently. Combs is decidedly more psychological, which I suspect will make it more accessible to readers interested in considering what chaos theory might mean for how we think, develop, and live, and what our next quantum leap might look like. Jaynes is more anthropological, and speaks to the human species. Combs speaks to the human being. I consider both views essential to understanding human consciousness evolution. As for readability, I believe Combs to be far ahead of Jaynes, but then I'm more at ease with psychology texts than anthropology. Plus, I think Combs has specific relevance to those who are interested in spiritual dimensions of consciousness -- for whom an Eastern world view cannot be overlooked. He spins physics with mysticism and evolution to inspire fresh thinking on the subject. That's not necessarily a "new age" approach... it's diversity of thought to which a Western thinker might do more than just tip the hat.

A major new book on the nature of consciousness. It was released in the U.K. the previous year and won the annual award of the Scientific and Medical Network of the U.K., as the best book of the year. It is highly unusual to have such a mixture of cutting-edge science, philosophical depth, and smooth, easy writing. The reader will find almost any preconceptions they have about the nature of consciousness challenged in reading this book, but will enjoy being challenged. I can't imagine anyone not profiting from the experience.

Dr. Combs has written an extraordinary book on consciousness and its relation to all of creation. The book moves beyond convention, applying the right amount of intellectual wisdom, pushing us beyond our short sighted thoughts on the subject of consciousness. The book is filled with many insights and thought provoking arguments. I recommend this book to anyone serious enought to think through their role in the grand scheme of things.

It's a book I keep coming back to. There is an immense variety in there, so you can dip into it here and there, as the chapters are quite independent of one another. As mentioned in another review, Combs has no axe to grind and so presents a review of various approaches to consciousness, from non-linear or chaos/ fractal approaches (to mental states), to the wisdom traditions of the `perennial philosophy' or Wilber & co. It is an unbiased mix of hard science and philosophy / psychology. I was not surprised to see Combs' smiling face on the dust jacket - his gentle humour shines through here and there, making sometimes difficult material more readable. It is indeed better than pure Wilber in that the latter tends to become somewhat wooly in his elaborations whilst Combs adds enough cutting edge research to remain firmly on the ground even whilst discussing layers of mental evolution. It is a good introduction to other thinkers in the field such as Teilhard de Chardin, Lazlo, Piaget etc. This book deserved whatever awards it received. Thoroughly recommended.

This is an excellent introduction to the role of complexity in thought. When read in conjunction with Paul Cilliers's Complexity and Postmodernism, Andy Clark's Being There, and Alicia Juarrero's Dynamics in Action, one gets the sense that a new paradigm is in the making. Kudos!

I'm not so certain that this book is as good as people here are saying it is. I read it based on the fact that people who read Julian Jaynes' masterpiece ('The Beginnings of Conscience in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind') have a tendency to buy it. It is a good book, and very thought provoking in sections. But, as a whole, it alternates between relatively unsophisticated philosophy and kinda popularizes a bunch of stuff that has been out there. Perhaps it's a bit too New-Agey for my tastes.... but I can't reccommend reading it..... Unless you have already read it (like me) read the Jaynes book mentioned above...

(Please don't hate me for writing this!!!!)