BlindSpots

Subtitled '21 good reasons to think before you talk', this is popular philosophy at its best, questioning cliches and generalities such as we create our reality, time is an illusion, everything is energy or information, humans are special, and everything is determined by fate. Written from a process angle with a deep knowledge of consciousness studies, the book contains a detailed analysis of blind spots with corresponding 'depth alerts', some in the form of dialogues. The author introduces a number of important distinctions, such as the philosophical and psychological meanings of consciousness. He also has a very interesting perspective on free will, arguing that consciousness is always the subject that knows and that choice is the injection of order into otherwise random processes by creatively selecting from available options (p. 271). It was also an illuminating moment to read Herbert Simon's assertion that information consumes attention and that a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention - as we are discovering to our cost.

The epilogue questions the assumption that human ingenuity and technology will save us, referring to the author's conversation with his friend Peter Russell about the race between collective transformation and systemic collapse. Pete's view is that we are heading for systemic collapse, a scenario also considered 50% likely by Lord Rees, past President of the Royal Society. In the absence of a collective transformation of consciousness, business as usual will probably assure this, which makes it all the more urgent and important to be part of this waking up process. The short chapters make it possible to dip in and out of the book, and readers will invariably find their assumptions and habitual thought patterns probed and questioned in a highly constructive manner. Strongly recommended as a contribution to independent and clear thinking.