• "Though he did the majority of his work in the 20th
century, theoretical physicist and self-proclaimed scientific heretic
Freeman Dyson may well be remembered as one of the greatest thinkers
of the 21st. His talks and writings are reliably filled with far-seeing
speculations on the nature of things to come, and this latest
book—a collection of essays on biotechnology, the cosmic destiny
of life, and the intersection of biology and religion—is no
exception."
—SEED Magazine
• "The science is beautifully presented, with clarity
and obvious passion. Dyson's remarkable mind creates all sorts of
unexpected connections. Many readers will greatly rejoice in this
book’s wisdom."
—Marcelo Gleiser, Dartmouth College, author of The Prophet
and the Astronomer: Apocalyptic Science and the End of the World
•"In a consistently graceful and poetic style, and always
with a deeply original voice, Dyson weaves adroitly together a variety
of subjects onthe general theme of life in the Universe. An inspiring
and mind-expanding view of biotechnology in the future, with a thoughtful
discussion of the human condition."
—Trinh Xuan Thuan, Professor of Astronomy, University of Virginia,
author of The Quantum and the Lotus
|
A Many-Colored Glass:
Reflections on the Place of Life in the Universe |
| |
| Freeman J. Dyson |
| 160 pages, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 |
| Cloth 978-0-8139-2663-6 • $21.95 |
| Page-Barbour
Lectures |
 |
Freeman Dyson's latest book does not attempt to bring together
all of the celebrated physicist's thoughts on science and technology
into a unified theory. The emphasis is, instead, on the myriad
ways in which the universe presents itself to us—and how,
as observers and participants in its processes, we respond to
it. "Life, like a dome of many-colored glass," wrote
Percy Bysshe Shelley, "stains the white radiance of eternity."
The author seeks here to explore the variety that gives life its
beauty.
Taken from Dyson's recent public lectures—delivered to
audiences with no specialized knowledge in hard sciences—the
book begins with a consideration of the practical and political
questions surrounding biotechnology. As he seeks how best to explain
the place of life in the universe, Dyson then moves from the ethical
to the purely scientific. The book concludes with an attempt to
understand the implications of biology for philosophy and religion.
The pieces in this collection touch on numerous disciplines, from
astronomy and ecology to neurology and theology, speaking to the
lay reader as well as to the scientist. As always, Dyson's view
of human nature and behavior is balanced, and his predictions
of a world to come serve primarily as a means for thinking about
the world as it is today.
Freeman J. Dyson, Professor Emeritus of
Physics from the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton University,
is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the
Royal Society of London. His books include Infinite in All Directions,
Origins of Life , and The Sun, the Genome, and the Internet.
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