The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe

The Web of Meaning is a welcome and promising book. In it Jeremy Lent spans the evolution of life and makes a link with Eastern philosophical concepts. It is rare to read something that takes such as wide-ranging universal perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book.Unfortunately, the second half of this books sees a considerably different perspective and its quality dips sharply. Here the author draws from highly subjective and current cultural values instead of further analysing life from a universal perspective. Perhaps the book therefore should have been published in two volumes instead.Amongst his subjective views and narrow interpretations of life in the second part he claims there is a mental hierarchy between animals and humans with humans placed on the top of it. Yet in chapter 10 he criticises man’s anthropocentrism and he does not explain this dichotomy in his thinking. Neither does he supply any evidence to his claim that humans are on the top of the evolutionary hierarchy.In the second part he frequently lashes out at men/males who he claims have for 12000 years, since the age of settlers, engaged in senseless machismo leadership domination thus creating a naive victim-perpetrator fallacy between men and women. This black and white victim-perpetrator claim is not only insulting to those women who do not feel their main quality is that of a victim but it leads to what the contemporary philosopher Dr. Svenja Flaßpöhler called a perpetuation of “penis envy”.Again, in chapter 10 he says the cause for the destruction of nature are the ignorant deeds of white Christian males who also put non white people down. Here, Lent is wholly ignoring, for example, how during the current spread of populist and hyper nationalist politics women have taken many leading roles. He further paints Western cultures as the sole reason for the destruction of and alienation from nature. Looking at the sadism with which animals are treated in Asia and Africa, such as a dog meat trade in China where dogs are tortured to death in the belief their meat tastes better if they died in agony, the destruction of the rain Forests for the benefit of corrupt and dysfunctional leaders in non-Western countries, the wide-spread absence of human rights all show that Lend maybe taking a too narrow view. Will these views really lead to a more connected world or will they cause a more divided world I wonder?

This is a wonderful and important book. I got in on Audible, then bought the hard copy and I am now studying it. It is wise, erudite and a call to action. Anyone interested in questioning the status quo should read this book.

The clarity with which the science of humanity's relationship with the universe is explained is enlightening.This is essential reading. One of the most important books I've ever read. If our politicians read this book the world will be transformed

Basically a shorter rehash if his previous book

Gave this one a fair shot, though after a while 'the science' just made me cringe and I had to stop. If you love the esoteric, and want your views gently confirmed with pseudo-science and vague, generic 'wisdom' from ancient times... this might just be the book for you.

Jeremy Lent builds on much recent literature revealing biological and neurological insights into the nature of consciousness and awareness. But unlike many who merely draw attention to the history and deficits of a 'reductionist' view of the World, he goes much further. A door is opened and light cast on the potential emergence of your integrated and 'democratised' self: a life-changing, paradigm shift in awareness, and personal potential.These insights offer a catalyst and source of immense personal resilience, for those willing to embrace and become part of an emergent flow where inter-dependence and kindness supersede and transcend egotism and greed.

Lent's critique of the foundational building blocks of our culture's dominant worldview - and deeply personal AND socially integrated suggestions for replacement of same - provide a wonderful outline for a way forward which echoes so much of the transformational literature around personal, organisational, scientific and cultural growth. Powerful, bracing and hopeful work.

I appreciate the thesis. Recommended.