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Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite
Oliver Elliot takes readers on a fascinating exploration of our mental and physical world in Brain, Nature, Mind, Universe: Interesting Facts and Unsolved Mysteries of Science and the Cosmos. He begins by presenting the physical world in terms of examples from nature, examining animal, bird, and plant species and recording the fastest, slowest, biggest, and smallest by highlighting their unique characteristics. He moves on to look at the weather, tides, lightning, earthquakes, rivers, and oceans. The next element studied revolves around unexplained natural events such as the disappearance of aircraft and ships in the so-called Bermuda Triangle. The greater universe is evaluated in terms of time, space, gravity, eclipses, comets, black holes, dark matter, and energy. This leads to a discussion concerning the universe's origin, quantum theory, the question of whether we are alone, and if or when the universe will end. A final section delves into the workings of the human brain, which the author regards as a super-computer, as well as the power of the mind, and its interface with the body.
Oliver Elliot does more than present a mini-encyclopedia of world facts in a unique manner. While these are all interesting in themselves, he uses them as an introduction to paint a wider picture, venturing into philosophical questions, higher consciousness, and spirituality. His study of the human brain is particularly interesting. Case studies examine a wide range of topics as diverse as near-death accounts, whether male and female brains differ, mental considerations that include superpowers, amnesia, and phantom limbs. All this provides a deeper understanding of the brain but also illustrates that science is still learning and that the mainstream remains skeptical of the spiritual realm, particularly notions such as reincarnation and out-of-body experiences. The role of AI is aired in terms of its ability to act as a useful tool, versus the downside of job replacement. Brain, Nature, Mind, Universe awakens readers to a broader view of the world by combining scientific facts with glimpses into psychology, ailments that afflict the brain, and our ability to both alter our behavior and heal ourselves through mindfulness and meditation. The author’s opinions are backed by an extensive list of sources. Readers will be entertained and informed by this insightful work. It is highly recommended.
