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The Dawn of a Mindful Universe
Book

The Dawn of a Mindful Universe

A Manifesto for Humanity’s Future

HarperOne, 2023 more...


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Visionary
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

Astronomer Marcelo Gleiser argues that life on Earth is precious, and that humans have a moral duty to protect it. To start, he argues, the narrative must change. The old story says humans are masters of nature and life is mediocre. With a mix of astronomical facts and inspiring prose, Gleiser explains why that account is dangerously inaccurate. He tells a new story whereby all life is interconnected, humans are codependent with nature, and the Earth itself is anything but common. Gleiser believes embracing this new narrative is a necessary step in guiding civilization toward a more sustainable future. 

Take-Aways

  • The sun is the center of the solar system, but that doesn’t mean Earth is insignificant. 
  • Nature was once a sacred realm, but now people regard it as purely physical.
  • Life is rare.

About the Author

Marcelo Gleiser is a professor of physics, astronomy and natural philosophy at Dartmouth College. He writes weekly for BigThink.com.