Agency and free will Agency is a person who acts to produce a particular result, in this case free will. The author explores the concept of free will from a biological and evolutionary perspective and concludes that it is not an illusion but a real phenomenon that rose from the human brain and its evolutionary development. He challenges the deterministic view that believes that our actions are completely governed by genetics, environmental factors, and classical physics. The human brain is a complex system that has flexibility for conscious choice. This ability evolved in animals to make decisions based on past experiences, sensory inputs, and predictions of future outcomes. In humans, the nervous system evolved to grant us a degree of agency over our behavior. He emphasizes that while our choices are influenced by biology, they are not wholly determined by it, leaving room for agency. Our ability to reflect on our thoughts, intentions, and actions gives us the capacity to choose freely, rather than simply react to stimuli. Brain is not a deterministic machine, and unpredictability of neural activity and environmental influences offers flexibility in decision-making. According to Integrated Information Theory (IIT) proposed by neurobiologist Giulio Tononi consciousness arises from integrated information generated by the causal interactions within the brain which may give rise to free will. An octopus throws a curveball to inferences drawn from human studies. Some octopus species operate their arms without direct involvement of brain, and they have a high degree of autonomy due to nerve clusters called ganglia in each arm. Indeed, one major implication is that intelligence and life may be inextricably intertwined in ways that revolve around the concept of agency, but octopus appears to be an evolutionary accident. The laws of quantum mechanics allow quantum uncertainty, which means that conscious observers may encounter randomness that breaks pure determinism. This randomness doesn’t lead to free will, but it introduces unpredictability. To outside observers, our choices might look like patterns influenced by quantum randomness rather than pure causally determined processes. This perspective could mean we are neither fully free nor fully bound by fate.

Book Reviewed: My Story by Elizabeth Smart

A nightmare in the life of a fourteen-year-old girl The story of Elizabeth Smart’s abduction and captivity in Salt Lake City, Utah, as it unfolded in June 2002 drew significant public attention. In this book she explores what it means to be a survivalist. It is a powerful narrative of trauma, courage, and the will to survive. During her captivity, Elizabeth was subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Around 2 a.m., Brian David Mitchell entered Elizabeth's bedroom through an open window. He duct-taped her mouth and hands then dragged her out of the house to a secluded campsite. He claimed to be a prophet sent by God. She was physically restrained with duct tape and ropes, forced her to undergo "spiritual cleansing" rituals, made her wear a disguise to conceal her identity. Isolated her from the outside world and created a sense of fear and dependence using Bible to justify his actions. He threatened her throughout her captivity that he would seek revenge on her and her family members if she escaped. She was too afraid to escape. This is a powerful story of Elizabeth Smart who claims that her strong faith in her beliefs and bonds with her family helped her to cope with the trauma she endured at a tender age. This is a powerful story of a young woman who speaks about her experiences. Elizabeth Smart’s advocacy has helped raise awareness about child abduction, survival, and healing.

Book Reviewed: The Secret Lives of Numbers: A Hidden History of Math's Unsung Trailblazers by Kate Kitagawa and Timothy Revell

The marginalized voices who propelled mathematics This is a focused history of mathematics illuminating the marginalized voices across the globe who propelled the discipline of numbers that include thousands of years of untold stories. The history of mathematics is often associated with Europeans like Euclid, Pythagoras, and Newton. However, many pioneers who made significant contributions to the field are unsung heroes from non-European countries with diverse backgrounds such as India, China, and Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq). In the fourteenth century, a school of Mathematics in Kerala (a Southern state), India was a melting pot for mathematicians. Its founder, Madhava of Sangarnagrama was a brilliant mathematician, among his achievements was describing a theory of calculus. He explored the key ideas that make calculus possible which were then honed by successive mathematicians at the Kerala school. A long list of Indian mathematicians includes Aryabhata (476–550 CE) known for discovering decimal System, Place Value, and Pi (π) value, Brahmagupta (598–668 CE) first to establish clear rules for using zero in calculations, introduced the concept of negative numbers, solutions to quadratic equations, and proposed gravitational force. Bhaskara I (600–680 CE) gave more accurate approximation of the sine function, Bhaskara II (1114–1185 CE) worked on properties of cyclic quadrilaterals and differential calculus, and expanded on the ideas of gravity. Madhava of Sangamagrama (1340–1425 CE), the founder of the Kerala School of Mathematics (14th–16th century) worked on Infinite Series for trigonometric functions like sine, cosine, and arctangent. Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920) was a self-taught Indian mathematician whose work has significantly influenced various areas of mathematics, including number theory, continued fractions, and infinite series. Though he did not work directly on string theory, his mathematical discoveries, particularly his insights into modular forms, partition functions, and special functions found relevance in theoretical physics. Despite having little formal training, his intuitive understanding of complex mathematical ideas earned him recognition by Cambridge mathematician G.H. Hardy. The Babylonians used mathematics for many practical purposes, including splitting plots of land and calculating tax. Some clay-tablet writers recorded revenues and budgets, and so familiarized themselves with numbers. Hypatia of Alexandria (360–415 CE) was long known as the earliest woman mathematician, in fact, that honor goes to Ban Zhao (45–116 CE) a Chinese historian, mathematician, and scholar during the Eastern Han dynasty best known for her work as a historian and also proficient in mathematics and astronomy. She assisted in the development of calendrical science and participated in projects related to the Han calendar. Pioneering women mathematicians like Sofya Kovalevskaya (1850–1891) and Mary Jackson found inspiration in the work of earlier women who had defied societal norms like Émilie du Châtelet, a French mathematician and physicist who translated and expanded upon the works of Isaac Newton. African American mathematicians like Elbert Frank Cox (1895–1969), William Schieffelin Claytor (1908–1967), Walter Richard Talbot Woodard (1874–1952), Mary Jackson (1921–2005), and Martha Euphemia Lofton Haynes (1890–1980) contributed significantly to mathematics when opportunities for African Americans were limited. These inspirations reflect a deep, interconnected web of intellectual and personal influences that crossed boundaries of geography, race, gender, and time. The author’s road to rediscovering the forgotten and ignored contributions of non-Europeans to mathematics could have included a little more history.

Book Reviewed: The Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power, and People by Paul Seabright

The operation of market forces, supply, and demand on the faith platform The religious institutions today are business platforms. They offer a unique service for people seeking spiritual fulfillment and opportunities. The author examines the supply and demand concepts, market/societal forces, and competition among other godly institutions that specialize in providing similar metaphysical and mystical experiences. This analysis focus on how religions attract, retain, and grow. They operate like businesses, competing for wealth, power, and followers at the global level. They have honed their competitive strategies for thousands of years while expanding their influence on masses across nations. The success of businesses like Microsoft or Apple requires the managers to understand the current structure of their businesses, logistics, and corporate culture in an ever-changing global economy. The same requirements are necessary for the religious institutions except that the latter require faith of their followers in their belief system. The biggest followers are politicians and the government. They grant vast powers to religious movements by establishing them as official religions, by granting them subsidies and tax breaks, and by giving them legal power to punish people who don't accept their authority. Historically this autocratic system worked well for both Islam and Christianity. From battlefield to ballot box, from boardroom to bedroom, religious movements have enjoyed immense power. The most successful religious movements today are those that have been developing and adapting the platform model for the demands of the twenty-first century. A study published in 2016 estimated that faith-based organizations in the United States received revenues of $378 billion which illustrates the enormous inflow of resources. In fact, this is greater than the revenues of Apple and Microsoft combined. Islam has sought legitimacy in Islamic autocracies in modern world like Pakistan,, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Türkiye, and most Arab countries. Religiosity is a key component of their political strategy. The author reviews the statistical analysis from literature and shows that between 1900 and 2020, Muslim population almost doubled, rising from 12.4% to24.2%. Over the same period, Christianity fell slightly from 34.5% to 32.2%. This work illustrates as how the religions have dominated human lives in many ways imagined. The earlier part of the book focuses on historical aspects of religion and economics.

Book Reviewed: Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

Space between e/em/eir Gender fluidity and non-binary nature of an individual is an intensely personal facet of life. Author Maia Kobabe visually explores e/em/eir gender confusion in all of its complexities, and handling day-to-to-today challenges of being gender fluid with supportive family and friends. This is a brilliantly rendered book that demystifies gender fluidity that mingles feminine and masculine identities into one multidimensional nonbinary person. Through personal anecdotes, e/em/eir reflects on childhood experiences, navigating puberty, and discovering that eir attraction to others that did not conform to the standard definition of sexuality. The artwork complements the storytelling by providing a visual representation of emotional experiences and severe identity crisis. Its candid nuanced portrayal of gender identity has become a point of discussion in schools and public libraries. In fact, this is the top book of the ten most challenged books in 2023 according to the list published by American Library Association. The narratives are in the form of cartoons, and the story reads flawlessly. I did not see any objectionable material or anything that can be construed as porn. One of my main concerns is LGBTQ activists have misused this story to promote their own agenda. A rapid rise in drag performances in the presence of children, and their interaction with kids in some public libraries are challenging the young minds. Many states are also radicalized, for example, one of the most progressive laws in California related to limiting parental control over minors is Senate Bill 107, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022. This law, known as the Gender-Affirming Care Sanctuary Law that allows minors to receive gender-affirming healthcare, such as hormone treatments or gender reassignment surgery without parental consent, if kids travel to California for such care. Courts in California are prohibited from enforcing out-of-state laws or subpoenas that conflict with this policy, and the state won’t cooperate with out-of-state authorities seeking to remove the child from such a care. Several other states besides California have implemented laws that provide minors with some level of healthcare autonomy: Oregon protects minors 14 years and older, Washington minors 13 years and older; Illinois and Colorado minors 12 years and older; and New York. Government has no business to interfere in the parental rights over their children. These are the most troubling developments in the past few years.

Book Reviewed: The Critical Qur'an: Explained from Key Islamic Commentaries and Contemporary Historical Research by Robert Spencer

Verses from a death-cult Author Robert Spencer translates and interprets the text of Qur'an that shows how it has evolved historically to its current state: where the martyrdom requiring jihad (terrorism), carrying out fatwa orders on specific individuals, killing apostates and infidels, blasphemy laws that shuts down any reasonable discussion about Islam, Hijrah (Muslim migration to other countries for a sole purpose of spreading and enabling Islam), Sharia laws that favors Muslims over non-Muslims and Muslim men over women. With a significant rise in progressive ideals in non-Muslim countries, the political, social and legals systems are favoring rights of Muslims than the majority non-Muslim population of their respective countries. The peace is impossible in the Middle East because jihad is taught to children, and has continued for generations in the Middle East and other Islamic countries. According to Islamic belief, the Qur'an is of divine origin. Muslims believe that the angel Jibril (Gabriel) transmitted the words of Allah to Muhammad. However, looking at the evidence that much of Islamic concepts are borrowed from Judaism and Christian texts. Parallels between Qur'anic stories with the Old and New Testaments are highlighted in the book, such as the narratives of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, and the story of Moses. There is also significant influence of gnostic and apocryphal Christian writings on Qur'anic narratives that includes non-canonical stories about Jesus and early Christian figures in the texts of Qur'an. The idea of an exalted, non-crucified Jesus, for example, might reflect gnostic ideas that diverged from orthodox Christianity. Similarly, Rabbinic Jewish traditions may have influenced the Qur'an’s interpretations of biblical stories, especially about prophets. A focused examination reveals that Muhammad as the primary author of the Qur'an, influenced by his experience’s migration from Mecca and Medina, and his interactions with Jews, Christians, and other religious communities. In seventh-century Arabia, Jewish tribes were significant political and religious communities in the region, particularly in the city of Medina (then Yathrib), where Muhammad emigrated from Mecca in 622 CE (the Hijra). Conflicts with Jewish Tribes such as the Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayza led to wars and military confrontations. Some of the Qur'anic verses critical of Jews evolved during this conflict. Some verses that support anti-Jewish and antisemitism include Qur'an 2:61, Qur'an 2:88, Qur'an 5:64, Qur'an 5:82, and Qur'an 3:112. The sharia laws were also borrowed from the Mishnah, a codification of Jewish laws organized into various aspects of religious and civil life. It is a vital text in the development of Jewish legal tradition and provided foundational laws for modesty and head coverings found in later Jewish legal texts such as the Talmud and subsequent rabbinic traditions. Islamic laws pertaining to women’s head covering were borrowed from Jewish laws with significant intensity in its application, but Jewish and Christian traditions reformed over centuries, but the Islamic populations are taking us back to seventh century.

Book Reviewed: The History of Jihad from Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer

Satan in the field Robert Spencer is a fearless Islamic scholar who argues how Muslims have historically targeted the weakness of non-Islamic countries, and manipulated their political, economic, and social circumstances. This book is a critical, unbiased review of jihad, which is a religious duty for all Muslims. The discussions are based on historical events across the globe. The author quotes Islamic texts like, Quran and Hadith. Over the past 1400 years of its history, civilizations have been forced to conform to a belief system that favors Muslims over non-Muslims, and men over women. It is fraternal order that was created to benefit only Muslim men, in fact, it has become a death cult to achieve success. The first case of jihad was the Battle of Badr (624 CE), which is one of the earliest examples of jihad in the military sense when Muhammad and his followers fought the Quraysh tribe. The early Islamic conquests led to the spread of Islam through Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, North Africa, Spain, and Persia, and the Byzantine Empire. Jihad was dominant in the history of India, particularly during the medieval period, influencing the region's politics, society, and culture. The first Islamic invasion of India occurred in 636 CE, during the reign of Caliph Umar, and later Muhammad bin Qasim's conquest of Sindh (711-712 CE) was the beginning of Islamic jihad in India. Forced conversions and intimidation has led to numerous jihad attacks throughout the history. In fact, Indian Buddhists and Jains were forcibly converted into Islam or driven into the neighboring countries. There were a series of religious wars initiated by Christian Europe to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control, these Crusades (1096–1291) saw a renewed emphasis on jihad in the Islamic world. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1922) invoked jihad during its military campaigns in India and Europe, and it was religiously motivated to spread Islam. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Islamic movements such as the Wahhabi movement in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Fulani jihads in West Africa, and recently by Taliban in Afghanistan sought to purify Islamic practices and establish religious states using the language of jihad found in Islamic texts. In the 20th century, this war cry evolved as Muslim-majority fought with modernity, and colonialism. The concept of jihad became central to the ideology of groups like Al-Qaeda which attacked United States on 9/11/2001. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria (2014–2019), Taliban in Afghanistan, Al-Shabab in Africa, and Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Pakistan helped create numerous terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hizbul Mujahideen, and Harkatul Mujahideen have intensified jihad as a regional and global apocalyptic battle to create a new Islamic caliphate. In the contemporary Period, the conflicts in the Middle East have intensified the belief in jihad. Teaching jihad to Palestinian children over several generations have destabilized the relationship with Israel. But the belief in jihad has no signs of diminishing despite the fact that Islamic forces like Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Iran, Syria, and Iraq are heading towards defeat. Myanmar, a Buddhist country where Islamic militancy grew significantly after independence from British rule leading to periodic tensions with Buddhist majority. Harakah al-Yaqin (HaY), a Rohingya insurgent group linked to global jihadist networks like Al-Qaeda and ISIS contributed to significant jihadist activity which led them to their displacement into neighboring India where they joined forces with Indian jihadis, and are terrorizing Hindu population Northeastern and northern states. The history of jihad is deeply intertwined with Islamic theology, law, and politics. The nations that have Muslim population are convinced that Islam is a religion of peace and jihad is the work of an isolated extremist or someone who has “mental” issues. The reality we see in India, Middle East, Western Europe and Noth America is quite disturbing. Muslims do not want into fit into other countries they migrate into. Readers who are familiar with the work of this author or his work on social media like Twitter knows that his work is focused and well-informed, but he could have included some key information about jihad in India and jihad against Israel.