The River That Flows Uphill: A Journey from the Big Bang to the Big Brain (Paperback)

~ William Calvin (Author)
Key Phrases: clams linguine, red racer, baloney boats, The River That Flows Uphill, Grand Canyon, Lava Falls (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Neurobiologist and novelist (The Throwing Madonna Calvin uses a 14-day voyage through the Grand Canyonin the company of fellow scientistsas a vehicle for discoursing on earth history and evolution. This is a superb account of the river journey as a wilderness adventure. Generally, his forays into scientific subjects come naturallyhere are rock formations, fossils, Indian ruinsbut occasionally the essays seem forced. Calvin ruminates on the aquatic ape, juvenile traits, monogamy as a survival strategy, language and music in brain development, pain. He also makes trenchant remarks about the awarding of research grants and committee decision-making. All of this is deftly woven into that marvelous river trip (which, he confesses, was really four voyages); but his artifice is successfulreaders who enjoy adventure stories may discover they also enjoy good scientific writing. Fans of Stephen Jay Gould and Lewis Thomas will find Calvin equally stimulating. Illustrations. Prentice-Hall Book Clubs main selection.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Conversations with imaginary companions during an actual float trip down the Colorado River provide the structure upon which this discourse on evolution and its relation to the environment is built. Successive geological strata exposed by the river's slice through the Grand Canyon spur discussions among the voyagers, who contribute details from the scientific disciplines they represent. Calvin, author of Inside the Brain and The Throwing Madonna , provides little new information here. Rather, the book's value lies in its unique interweaving of geology, human evolution, anthropology, and ecology in a clear time setting. A fine example of science writing for the interested layperson. Highly recommended for general collections. Frank Reiser, Biology Dept., Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 548 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc (January 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595167004
• ISBN-13: 978-0595167005
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #448,222 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stranger Than Fiction; The Chaotic Order In Evolution, July 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The River That Flows Uphill: A Journey from the Big Bang to the Big Brain (Hardcover)

Fascinating! An excellent overview of what is "known", according to available evidence, about how life - particularly humans - evolved, along with some extremely intriguing theories yet unproved (although the "aquatic ape" hypothesis was being taught when I studied anthropology 20 years ago! Indeed - dig Danakil!). All set like a metaphor within the context of a 2-week rafting trip through the Grand Canyon with insight into its evolution. On the other hand, the "metaphor" can also be put the other way around. Look at man's evolution in the context of that of the Grand Canyon. It's really food for thought. Might be a bit of a hard chew in certain spots for those without a certain level of knowledge or interest in natural science, but the level required is not THAT high and Calvin explains clearly and succinctly enough to follow if you take time to read any troublesome passages twice. Popular science writing at its best. It is humbling and awesome to contemplate our existence as he explains it. The marvel of man owes so much to a certain - serendipity - that one must believe in a creative force swirling and pushing towards ever more interesting development, even if one does not believe in a "God" per se (or if one does believe in Gods, to borrow from a popular film, "they must be crazy"). The "chaotic" (stoachistic) concepts he describes are particularly intriguing. The idea that many of the traits and abilities that make us so "superior" are actually "hitchhikers"; unexpected benefits of adaptations to challenges completely unrelated to what they eventually turned out good for. Made possible because evolution - the developmental force - is by nature an innovative, irrepresible and experimental one - one that is always pushing "upstream". Now THAT is a miracle! Also really enjoyed the quotes pulled from many, many sources (from the Bible to Descartes to Newton) published in the margins which illuminated and complimented the text in a marvelous manner, such as; "Man's future is even more obscure than his beginnings. To venture to sound either depth is to enter an unknown, perhaps unknowable, realm, but it is characteristic of man that he constantly attempts these journeys" (L. Eiseley). And the book is NOT just useful for reconstructing the past and how we have come to be - it's greatest value may well be in alerting and arming (alarming?) us for the future, for our breathtaking development has been much too far, too fast and made us way too arrogant and big for our own britches. We need to recognize and acknowledge ourselves for the absolutely amazing (please don't take offence at the word) mutants that we are and realize we have no special "control" over this world. We only think we do because we have become so extremely good, in an obscenely short period of time, at exploiting and manipulating it. Population control and environmentalism have EVERYTHING to do with the topic of this book. Nature is inexorable. We are not. And we are positioning ourselves to be flattened like a pancake - no, even worse, to flatten ourselves, if we don't watch out. Of all the astonishing accomplishments of man, the most amazing is the unprecedented ability and possibilities we have created (the first life form to do so in 3,000+ million years) of making ourselves extinct. And for all our "higher" intelligence, still keep looking dead-set on doing so. I started reading this book only because I am going to be doing the exact same rafting trip in September '99. I had hoped to get some insight into what to expect on the trip. And I did, but the "trip" is, indeed, metaphorical. Where does it start? What happens on the way? Where do (or could?) you end up? It was all in there alright, but I got a lot more than I expected. Thanks Bill.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great science writing with a dose of ideology thrown in, April 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The River that Flows Uphill: A Journey From the Big Bang to the Big Brain (Paperback)

Calvin does science writing that is a pleasure to read. This account of floating the Grand Canyon on rubber rafts is all wrapped up in a wide sweep of natural history. My only criticism is his constant diversions to his own personal views on population control and environmentalism. He brings up these topics with all the fervor of a true religious believer, though they have little to do with the topic of the book. This is a strange diversion for a book which otherwise sticks close to a scientific outlook. Good scientists (like most of us) have a difficult time separating their own religious ideology from their science.
Read it anyway. This book is a playground of stimulating ideas

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlighting, May 14, 2007

By	J. A. Crimi (Western New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The River That Flows Uphill (Hardcover)

Yet surprisingly easy read. Covers a technical topic in everyday language. Provide insight on our evolutional development.