Ego: The Fall of the Twin Towers and the Rise of an Enlightened Humanity

by Peter Baumann (Author), Michael Taft (Author)

19 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1604075731

ISBN-10: 1604075732

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Ego: The Fall of the Twin Towers and the Rise of an Enlightened Humanity by Peter Baumann and Michael W. Taft is the first book to explore the positive evolutionary potential hidden in one of the most destructive events in history. In their examination of the evolutionary implications of 9/11 and its aftermath, the authors contend we are not falling into the grip of a new dark age at all; rather, we are on the verge of a much brighter one as the Darwinian process of natural selection continues to advance humankind.

The authors’ inquiry led them to the roots of human suffering: the ego. That the ego underlies our problems as a species may come as no surprise. But a deeper look into the ego’s origin and history is full of unexpected revelations:

The modern human is dominated by a Stone Age brain
• Energy consumption and the environmental crisis is nothing more than the evolutionary drive to survive gone haywire
• Evolution has wired us to be riveted to bad news, bad outcomes, and worst-case scenarios
• When beliefs are challenged it triggers a life or death stance in the human nervous system
• Emotions are mostly physical, not mental
The self we identify with―along with its biases and beliefs―turns out to be an evolutionary tool that made its first appearance some 50,000 years ago during what’s called the conceptual revolution, arguably the biggest developmental leap in human history. The emerging ego accompanied our ability to construct complex tools, create art, and redefine social structure. For the first time as a species, we were able to imagine the future, consider the thoughts of others, and picture ourselves in our own minds. The ego is a cognitive trick of natural selection intended to insure the survival of the individual. Baumann and Taft say the problem comes when we take the ego’s conceptualization of reality as the truth about who we actually are.

Using the latest research from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and paleontology, Baumann and Taft show that modern humanity may be on the verge of an expansion of cognitive abilities akin to the development of the ego. This next step will free the human mind to see beyond the confines of the prison, and open the vast potential of conscious awareness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“If you don't have the patience for long articles on subjects that we will all get plenty of over the next two weeks, I can save you some time; this is a good book, they do a good job. You should buy it. I have often noted that philosophers do a better job of writing about physics than modern physicists do and it may be that people outside biology can see a big picture in evolution differently than biologists. If so, these guys are a great example. It kept me reading, even where I didn't agree.” ―Hank Campbell, Science 2.0

“Baumann and Taft skillfully weave eyewitness accounts of 9/11 with insights from evolutionary theory, genetics, neuroscientific research on emotion, the compelling new research on neuroplasticity, and other new areas of research. They show how our sense of self, or ego, is both a masterwork of evolution and simultaneously a source of much human suffering. Provides a grounded hope for the continuing evolution of our species.” ―Alfred W. Kaszniak, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Neurology, & Psychiatry, University of Arizona

About the Author

Peter Baumann
Peter Baumann began his career as a member of the internationally acclaimed 1970s band Tangerine Dream and later founded the Private Music record label. Instead of being derailed by early fame and fortune, he asked himself this in his late 40s: "Given that I probably have about 10,000 days left on the planet, how can I use this time in the most meaningful and useful way possible?" To address this question, Baumann assembled a top-notch interdisciplinary think-tank, the San Francisco-based Baumann Foundation. He serves as a trustee of the California Institute of Integral Studies and as a fellow at the Mind & Life Institute.

Michael W. Taft
Michael W. Taft is a serious student of evolution and the capacities of the human brain. A professional researcher and writer for more than two decades, Taft is fascinated by what neuroscience, biology, psychology, archeology, and technology can tell us about the human condition. Michael is a senior adviser to the Baumann Foundation. He lives in Berkeley, California.

Product details

Hardcover: 280 pages
Publisher: Sounds True (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1604075732
ISBN-13: 978-1604075731
Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 19 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,304,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1073 in Humanist Philosophy
- #3133 in Emotional Mental Health
- #6808 in Biology & Life Sciences

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INCREDIBLE BOOK!!

October 27, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Hands down, one of the best books I've read all year, if not over the last 5 years. This one goes up there with Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" [...].

Very insightful, gives you a clear glimpse of the purpose of the ego and what its evolutionary purpose was for survival (with the beginning of cognitive development). The book does an excellent job of outlining our human past, and where we are headed down the path of evolution through the development of conscious awareness.

MUST READ!!

2 people found this helpful

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fabricio gonzalez del castillo padilla

October 5, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

poor book.

Comment

Fascinating read

September 27, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Download it on 9/11/12 and read much of it that day. I liked how they dicussed the victim's stories as an illustration as to how our brain and nervous systems have evolved. It was hard to put down.

One person found this helpful

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Wonderful, fresh look at the Ego.

December 15, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Brilliant book on the development and function of the ego. It beautifully charts we've been with respect (among other things) to hierarchy and survival, and where we could go as a species. Clear, very engaging and ultimately hopeful.

One person found this helpful

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December 8, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Unfortunately I haven't finished reading the book yet, since I'm a slow reader and tend to read 5 books at once. But this book so far is very fascinating and enlightening! The authors have really looked into what makes us human, and it's a compelling read!

3 people found this helpful

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Good Psychology, "sensational" marketing

October 1, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I enjoyed the psychology and scientific studies that point to the evolution of consciousness, and that this was presented in a way almost everyone can understand. If you have never read about the evolution of consciousness (C. Graves, Spiral Dynamics, K. Wilber, A. Maslow, L. Kohlberg, etc.) this is a good place to start.

I did not like the way the events of 9/11 were used throughout. It seemed to be their "sensational" marketing tool. I suspect I will get a lot of "dislikes" for that statement.

I wish I had waited until it was cheaper to purchase, or available at the library.

8 people found this helpful

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Damn, I keep buying these "enlightenment" related books!

July 20, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book is about the author's "post-personal" excitement for humanity's future. Well known evolutionary facts are mixed with eckhart tolle/non-duality style statements about seeing through the ego, ultra simplistic graphs, and personal accounts of 9/11. I was hoping this book would CAUSE the post-personal, perceptual shift mentioned within it. It didn't.

2 people found this helpful

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Why humanity moves to enlightenment over the next thousand years as part of natural evolution

November 29, 2018

Format: Audible Audiobook

I picked this book specifically due to the title and Baumanns background in music. After having read numerous books on filosophy, human development, neuroscience, new age, astrophysics etc over the last 40 years, I found this book refreshing and having an interesting look at human development into the future, the chapters on enlightenment were specifically well detailed and explained scientifically, which gives it the boost I found quite compelling. Next up is Homo Deus...

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