The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby

3.85 AVERAGE

colleenc13's review against another edition

3.5
informative fast-paced
dante44's profile picture

dante44's review against another edition

4.0
adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

lunarego's review against another edition

2.0
This book is well written, but its arguments are poorly supported. The latter half is just a series of post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacies. Narby’s attempts to poke holes in Western empiricism to support his claims are the stuff of conspiracy theory logic.
octavii42's profile picture

octavii42's review against another edition

4.5
challenging informative inspiring medium-paced
Absolutely fascinating book. Could be difficult to understand at times but it is a real eye opener and will get you thinking and rethinking and gasping! 

inthedark's review against another edition

4.0
informative reflective medium-paced

lizhickss's review against another edition

3.5
inspiring medium-paced
Intriguing & thought provoking. Had some interesting points which do make you wonder, some of the more scientific biology parts were vague but still the overall message was something I really liked. Unique!

quenchgum's review against another edition

3.0
This really doesn't belong on a science shelf. Terrible biology but cool reading on psychedelics and an interesting (and utterly failed) attempt to scientifically explore the origin of knowledge.
maddieramone's profile picture

maddieramone's review against another edition

1.0
informative slow-paced
Man takes hallucinogenics and realizes he is connected to humanity. *Non-fiction edition*

liberty_bojangles's review against another edition

3.0
Ce livre, plutôt récit autobiographique qu’essai formel, explore les liens entre la connaissance traditionnelle des peuples indigènes de l’Amazonie et les découvertes de la science moderne, notamment entre les visions produites par les substances hallucinogènes et l’ADN. Il s’appuie sur les témoignages de chamans, qui racontent que les savoirs élaborés de leurs peuples sur la nature, les plantes médicinales et la vie en général pourraient être issus de visions et d’expériences spirituelles provoquées par des psychotropes, particulièrement de l’ayahuasca. Le serpent dans tout ça ? Souvent symbole de sagesse et de connaissance, cette vision récurrente pourrait refléter une compréhension intuitive des processus biologiques fondamentaux, tels que l’ADN et l’évolution. Pas réellement une démonstration scientifique, qui serait de toute façon impossible, mais un récit qui ouvre des petites fenêtres dans nos idées toutes faites. Intriguant.

https://redheadwithabrain.ch/index.php/2024/03/28/le-serpent-cosmique-jeremy-narby-1995/
kira_nyanya's profile picture

kira_nyanya's review against another edition

3.5
challenging informative inspiring reflective fast-paced