I’ve posted a new batch of reviews for Soul Made Flesh on my web site. The newest is from Ross King, the author of Brunelleschi’s Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling. His review in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times is a rare sort–he likes the book (which he calls "thrilling") for what the book really is, rather than as a projection of some phantom in his own mind.
A review of a different sort comes from Simon Conway Morris of the University of Cambridge. Conway Morris is a first-rate paleontologist who has shed a lot of light on how the major groups of animals alive today emerged in the Cambrian Period. In recent years he’s also started to nudge some more spiritual notions into public view, suggesting for instance that the evolution of life has displayed a built-in direction towards us, or at least something like us. Conway Morris reviews Soul Made Flesh in the March issue of Bioscience, which is published by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. I can’t complain about a review that calls my book "a wonderful read," but on the other hand, I found it odd that Conway Morris criticizes me for concluding that we know something more about how the brain works now than people did in 1600. He seems to think I’m attacking his personal notion of the human soul, when in fact I’m actually talking about how the seventeenth century notion of the soul was transformed–in part–into an understanding of the brain. As peculiar as it may be, it’s well-written, though.
Go Further
Animals
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- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Travel
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico