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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Really interesting concepts and ideas, just dragged a bit in the middle and I feel like it could've benefited from being longer, as some things definitely warranted more explanation.
I've picked this book off a guy I used to know. I had just read another book (The Secret History of the World) that belonged to a person from the same drunk/friend group and it was positively mad, so I expected The Cosmic Serpent to be mad too. I mean, look at the title. But Narby is an anthropologist who does the most amazing thing: he shows how shamanic knowledge, gained through an altered state of consciousness, is correspondent with what our scientists know about DNA. Only, you know, our science took until 50s to discover DNA. There's much more to Narby's findings and they completely blew my mind. Meticulous referencing too.
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book is quite easily one of the most thought provoking and mindset altering books I’ve ever read. It shakes the very foundations of how science and anthropology should be read and understood based on the apparent flaws in their origins and set laws/practices.
I was always taught to take scientific laws as fact, and accept anthropological findings as objectively founded. Mr. Narby has delved into the worlds of science and anthropology and completely uprooted my faith in both areas of study. He introduces different (seldom highlighted) studies that contradict general beliefs, and present more authentic and transparent findings.
I suppose one has to be in the right frame of mind to properly and openly contextualize a lot of what’s in this book. If I hadn’t read and explored some of the books and forums I’ve read. Or experienced some of what I’ve experienced through meditation and my own faith, a lot of the book would seem far fetched and Mr. Narby would probably seem a bit mad to make some of these connections.
For me,however, I found a lot of continuity and connections to other readings and experiences.
If you are on a journey of enlightenment and want a tie in to science, this is for you! The autobiographical narrative is littered with all sort of interesting connections for further contemplation, and the Notes/annotations are a solid basis for seeking more on each topic.
The way Narby goes into detail about indigenous people, their knowledge, and how they fit into contemporary western civilization is also a reason to pick this up. His interactions and openness with different members of indigenous communities is so eye opening and inspiring.
I think the final sentence of the book sums it all up perfectly. “All things considered, wisdom requires not only the investigation of many things, but the contemplation of the mystery.”
If you are willing to not only investigate, but contemplate mysteries that may not seem familiar to you.. this book will change your perception of life and nature for the better.
I was always taught to take scientific laws as fact, and accept anthropological findings as objectively founded. Mr. Narby has delved into the worlds of science and anthropology and completely uprooted my faith in both areas of study. He introduces different (seldom highlighted) studies that contradict general beliefs, and present more authentic and transparent findings.
I suppose one has to be in the right frame of mind to properly and openly contextualize a lot of what’s in this book. If I hadn’t read and explored some of the books and forums I’ve read. Or experienced some of what I’ve experienced through meditation and my own faith, a lot of the book would seem far fetched and Mr. Narby would probably seem a bit mad to make some of these connections.
For me,however, I found a lot of continuity and connections to other readings and experiences.
If you are on a journey of enlightenment and want a tie in to science, this is for you! The autobiographical narrative is littered with all sort of interesting connections for further contemplation, and the Notes/annotations are a solid basis for seeking more on each topic.
The way Narby goes into detail about indigenous people, their knowledge, and how they fit into contemporary western civilization is also a reason to pick this up. His interactions and openness with different members of indigenous communities is so eye opening and inspiring.
I think the final sentence of the book sums it all up perfectly. “All things considered, wisdom requires not only the investigation of many things, but the contemplation of the mystery.”
If you are willing to not only investigate, but contemplate mysteries that may not seem familiar to you.. this book will change your perception of life and nature for the better.
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
As someone who’s very interested in the origins of humans and how hallucinogenic drugs interact with our brains, I found this book incredibly fascinating. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read.
I loved delving into shamanic knowledge and found it so interesting how ayahuasca reveals to indigenous people things inherent to our biochemistry.
I found the book a bit short. The author goes into great detail on the complicated questions he has about shamanic knowledge and the links between DNA, nature, and consciousness. However, the book doesn’t have any real conclusion or answers to these questions. I suppose that leaves scope for the reader to come to their own conclusion and do further research, but I would love an updated version with up-to-date science about the topic. I feel like I need answers!
I loved delving into shamanic knowledge and found it so interesting how ayahuasca reveals to indigenous people things inherent to our biochemistry.
I found the book a bit short. The author goes into great detail on the complicated questions he has about shamanic knowledge and the links between DNA, nature, and consciousness. However, the book doesn’t have any real conclusion or answers to these questions. I suppose that leaves scope for the reader to come to their own conclusion and do further research, but I would love an updated version with up-to-date science about the topic. I feel like I need answers!
reflective
medium-paced
Oh my god, literally opens with a man doing hallucinogenic drugs and realizing he’s a human and part of a greater system of humans. Men really need ayahuasca to understand they’re not the center of the universe. The rest is ok/interesting, but he literally opened with the thing that’s a joke that’s not a joke at all.