Book Reviewed: The Life of the Cosmos by Lee Smolin

Physical evolution of our universe The theory of cosmological natural selection proposed by author Lee Smolin states that a process analogous to biological natural selection applies to the evolution of our universe. In this theory, a black hole from a previous universe creates a white whole on the other side of space-bulk to create a new universe (a white hole, an equivalent of a Big Bang), whose physical parameters such as, mass of an elementary particle, Planck constant, speed of light, electrical charge, etc. differ slightly from that of the previous universe where the black hole collapsed. A universe with "unsuccessful" physical parameters is predicted to reach heat death before being able to evolve, that is some physical parameters become more likely than others. The physical laws like the relativistic physics, and quantum physics are postulated to evolve over time and the future will evolve. Hence, the laws of physics we experience today is not fixed but evolved over time for the past 13.8 billion years. The author differs from other physicists who believe that laws of physics are immutable. Natural selection, according to this theory guide the laws of physics favoring those universes which best reproduce and give opportunities for life to be born and evolve. However, there is no direct selective pressures of biological systems in the evolution of the cosmos (and the origin of laws of physics.) The theory predicts that nature's parameters should be optimized for birth, growth, and death of a star that may result in black holes. Our universe has billions of black holes, and according to this book, it would give rise to billions of new universes. For the author Time is an important fabric of the universe where cosmos evolved over billions of years. For many physicists like Julian Barbour, Carlo Rovelli, and others time is a human construct and therefore an illusion. If you could get outside the universe and observe the cosmos, you would see that every moment of this universe. Smolin differ from the other physicists and argues that the fabric of the universe is made of Time only. This is an elegant, comprehensive, and radically different from anything proposed before. The author appears to be a heretic but writes with passion and a force of scientific ideas that is readable and enjoyable for professionals as well as a layperson interested in physics. Lee Smolin is one of the leading physicists of our time. He is a philosopher and a great thinker who disfavors non-testable concepts in physics and offers testable and verifiable suggestions for his idea of cosmological natural selection.

Book Reviewed: Mass Appeal: The Formative Age of the Movies, Radio, and TV by Edward D. Berkowitz

Legends from Broadway and Hollywood Hollywood motion pictures transformed American society with its revolution in the entertainment world. This is the result of the work numerous studios, its executives, and performers from 1910s to 2020. But the book focuses on only a few actors like Charlie Chaplin, Eddie Cantor, Groucho Marx, Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, and Katharine Hepburn. This book ignores key players of the Golden age of Hollywood like Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Mae West, Jean Harlow, and Greta Garbo whose contributions led to the success of the movie industry transitioning silent movies to the talkies, despite the fact it suffered financially during the Great Depression. The author is a Professor of History at George Washington University and has researched the material for this review with authentic and reliable sources. He offers readers to discover movies of the 1930s, radio programs of 1940s, and television of the 1950s. The negative side of his narratives is that it does not go into any great lengths. It is also a little confounding that the cover page of the book has the photo of young Katharine Hepburn with the title ”Mass Appeal.” This title is little to do with the larger portion of the book.

Book Reviewed: Meditation, A Journey of Exploration: Based on the Teachings of Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita & Yoga Sutras by Swami Tadatmananda

Practicing mindfulness Meditation calm the waves of mind and experience peace from divine source within the body (Prakriti) and soul (Atma). In the first chapter, Swami Tadatmananda describes meditation as a skill to learn and practice. He emphasizes on developing these skills and build a structured practice. He frequently refers to Bhagavad-Gita, especially the sixth chapter where Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna about the posture, concentration, and mental discipline that prescribes a particular object of meditation to concentrate upon. Where necessary Swamiji also quotes extensively from the Principal Upanishads about consciousness, Yoga Philosophy, and mediation. He describes meditation is an exploration of the inner terrain and its depth. By his method, over time, you can learn to lead your mind to a place of profound silence and develop the capacity for laser-like concentration and to remain deeply absorbed for extended periods of time. Bliss is an inner-most experience and the essential nature of the experiencer. Swami Tadatmananda’s profound exploration of yogic practice is based ancient Hindu scriptures that masterfully articulates meditation and the needed exercises. I very much enjoyed reading this book that is built upon the concepts of Patanjali’s yoga sutra.

Book Reviewed: The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide by Nicholas Sutton

Revisiting the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita The problem with an English translation of the Bhagavad-Gita is that it tends to be either too literal to the Sanskrit text which would obscure the intended meaning, or it is translated to strengthen a particular philosophical perspective. Modern English translators like Nicholas Sutton tend to be closer to the meaning of the sacred texts but lacks the poetic touch. One of the challenges is that the translations cannot be entirely separated from interpretations since different meaning is derived from similar construction of words, and thus tend to reflect the translator's own philosophical orientation. Major commentaries due to Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya and later followers of Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies stretch the meaning of the Sacred Word. The author of this book illustrates this point with a good discussion of various translations and commentaries. The idea of good and bad occurring in life is due to previous actions (or karma) in a prior life, in the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Hindu scriptures like Bhagavad-Gita and Upanishads teaches us the way one can put an end to this cycle i.e., release from rebirth (Moksha). The teachings are based on the concept of dharma or duty that should be performed without desire for personal gain. The practice of dharmic duty represents worshiping God who is the creator of dharma. Dharma is not just a series of tasks one ought to perform but it should a part of one's very nature. it reflects a person's inner nature (Sva-bhava) generated because of past karma. Karma influences the three gunas (qualities) over human action and thus lead the life’s sufferings (Samkhya Philosophy). The Bhagavad-Gita teaches that it is not the action but the selfish desire that prompts it must be renounced. In this way, the performance of dharmic duty becomes compatible with escaping from the cycle of good and bad karma. Gita also teaches that spiritual knowledge (jnana) and the practice of devotion (bhakti) to Lord Krishna also help us overcome previous karma to seek release from rebirth. This book reads well, and the discussion of various translations and commentaries are well presented.

Book Reviewed: The Mutant Project: Inside the Global Race to Genetically Modify Humans, by Eben Kirksey

Reflections on recent advances in gene surgery to create modified human babies This is a nicely written book which focuses on current biomedical advances that allows medical professionals to tinker with Mother Nature. Applications of gene editing has tremendous potential in the pharmaceutical industry largely driven by economic interest. Academics are persuaded to get involved for the name, fame, and fortunes that rollout from this venture. But activists, sociologists, and ethicists are pushing back. The author narrates the discussions he had with leading figures in this growing field and offers insight into scientific developments in human gene editing and associated ethical issues. There are profound questions about how people may choose to alter their own DNA. If everyone uses these tools and achieve unimaginative dreams, to grow big muscles or have blonde hair with blue eyes and great figure, the humanity will be stripped of character and biological diversity. In November 2018, when a Chinese scientist named, Jiankui He created the first human genetically edited twin girls. He used their parents' sperm and eggs, and to protect the children from the HIV, since the father is HIV-positive, he used the CRISPR technique to edit the genes, and after fertilization created the HIV-free embryos. It was as initially praised as a major scientific advancement. But following scrutiny on how the experiment was executed, He received widespread condemnation and three-year jail term. The author narrates his discussions with leading figures in this field that includes; Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna (2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery CRISPR genome editing), Biochemist Gregor Wolbring, Biologist Jiankui He, physicist Michael Deem, Feminist Studies Professor Donna Haraway of UCSC, Harvard geneticist George Church, Historian Ben Hurlbut, HIV researcher Jay Lalezari, HIV-patient advocate Jay Johnson, artist Tamara Pertamina, and several members of transgender community and HIV activists. The book reads flawlessly and offers an insight into what is happening in the emerging world of human gene surgery.

Book Reviewed: Gita For Children /A Teaching Tool for Elders by Swami Chinmayananda

Teaching the Word of God to Hindu children Bhagavadgita is the Song of Lord Krishna that has the message of dharma yoga, karma yoga and paths to reach Moksha (salvation). This book, intended for parents, is graciously written, and summarized by Swami Chinmayananda, one of the well-known and respected scholars of Vedanta philosophy of 20th century. Swamiji was the founding guru of Bala Vihar, and Shishu Vihar at his missions to inculcate in Hindu children a reverence for the Vedic heritage and inspire them to live with discipline. He intended to create self-confidence in serving their communities while learning the Sanatana Dharma. Bala Vihar is the Hindu equivalent of Sunday schools in a Christian church. The author summarizes each chapter of Bhagavadgita followed by exercises, questions and answers related to the teachings. These exercises are helpful as a learning tool to understand the message of Lord Krishna. The seed of god’s love as described by the author offer positive parenting solutions. John 3:16 is one of the most powerful verses of New Testament that figures often in Sunday schools. There are several hymns that enable and motivate children to learn the message of Bhagavadgita. Examples include hymns, 6:30; 10:8-10; 18:61; 18:65; 8:3; 2:20; 2:51; 10:20; and 4:42

Book Reviewed: The Grand Biocentric Design: How Life Creates Reality Hardcover by Robert Lanza and Matej Pavsic

Consciousness and the cosmic self This is the third book by author Robert Lanza about Biocentrism, an idea that life and consciousness create physical reality. This book propose that our observations and knowledge affect how physical objects behave and appear. Hence the principal argument here is that life isn't just a part of the universe, but life determines the structure of the cosmos including spacetime, matter energy, forces, and fields. The authors propose 11 principals of biocentrism, which states that matter and spacetime are not independent realities but rather tools of our mind. The ideas presented in this book is somewhat farfetched and may be outlandish. Simple considerations of the concepts of physics and biology illustrates the veracity of authors contention. The 4-dimensional spacetime is assumed to be the fabric of reality on which matter, and energy behave according to the laws of physics. Space behaves differently from matter, it can expand faster than speed of light, as it happened during the inflationary epoch. And spacetime apparently does not require energy for existence. But it also falls apart at the black hole implying that it is not fundamental, but an emergent structure from something deeper. General relativity treats gravity as the geometry of spacetime, but it also entails its dissolution which may explain why information escapes from a black hole. When black hole evaporates fully, the information also escapes completely because there is no black hole and no space. Dark energy is probably the intrinsic energy of space. At the cosmic level, the dark energy is overpowering gravity and pushing spacetime apart. When the universe was 380,000-year-old, the universe had 63% dark matter and no dark energy. But after 13.8 billion years, the dark matter is reduced to 23% and dark energy rose to 72% with only 5% visible matter. The universe consists of information; every elementary particle carries information about their physical properties that characterizes them. Fundamental particles like quarks and Higgs Bosons are not directly observed since they are extremely unstable, and generally characterized by the information associated with them. Hence, matter becomes the secondary concept. In addition, space is not smooth and continuous as we see and perceive. At quantum scales space is grid like and exists in discrete bits (like information). It is possible that our universe could be a simulation running on a cosmic computer using these information as codes. Information as a fundamental component of physical reality emerges from the fact that the universe may be like a hologram or an illusion, as illustrated by analyzing the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation left over from the Big Bang. A black hole also contains information about matter and energy that fell into it. This information is stored on a two-dimensional surface but contains information that came from three-dimensional space. Spacetime may also exist in a knot into doughnut- or pretzel-like shapes. The extra connectivity creates tunnels or wormholes between otherwise far-flung places in the universe and permits quantum entanglement and information exchange that is otherwise forbidden by special relativity. Wormholes, the holographic principle, emergent space-time, quantum entanglement, and quantum computation are some of the concepts in physics that makes understanding physical reality captivating and confounding. At best, the laws as we understand, explains many puzzling things in cosmos, but not all! We know all there is to know about the genome a laboratory mouse, but we don’t know what it feels like to be a mouse. Living systems are defined by the concept of "organization. Cells are autopoietic systems that build themselves: they literally construct their own constraints on the release of energy into a few degrees of freedom. Life’s emergence might rest on the foundations of physics, but it is not derivable from them. Living systems achieve a local reduction in their entropy as they grow and develop; they create structures of greater internal energy (lower entropy), higher order, and higher information out of the nutrients they absorb. Central to this philosophy is life is not an objective property of the cosmos, but a collection of special cases that links of non-equilibrium processes and boundary condition constraints on the release of energy into a few degrees of freedom. In reproducing systems such as cells, a closure is achieved linking these processes and constraint construction into an organization that closes on itself. Such a system is a self-controlled machine that is independent. Experiments on self-assembly and self-organization in large molecules such as metal oxides are attempting to take an ensemble approach to provide new paths for developing general theories on the universal principles bridging matter and life. Is quantum reality (of subatomic particles) linked to classical reality (of larger molecules/structures) in everyday life? It should be because all objects are made of subatomic particles. It appears that deep down spacetime and matter-energy, the underlying realities may also include consciousness that appears in the interpretations of quantum reality. The nature of dark matter and dark energy and their relationship to each other and their impact on spacetime is also unclear. In metaphysical terms, the book contains ideas of Advaita Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism which proposes that the Pure Consciousness (Brahman) is the Ultimate Reality, and the phenomenal transient world is an illusion (Maya). Brahman is the material cause of all that exists in the cosmos. it is the primordial reality that creates, maintains, and withdraws from the universe. Brahman's qualities are called Sat-Cit-Ananda (Eternal Being-Consciousness-Bliss.)