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missyjohnson's review
4.0
A lot of this book was over my head but I still found a lot to think about. I will likely need to re-read this in a few years to see if I have grown and maybe gotten a bit smarter. The parts concerning quantum physics and the relationship to spirituality were beyond my comprehension but I will work on this. I also have a better understanding and appreciation for buddhism. The consciousness of sentient beings and the desire to eliminate suffering is not so different from other religions. The fact that the early buddhist scholars had so many things figured out that science has only proven in the past century or so is interesting. The idea of doing thought experiments should be utilized much more often in today’s decisions in both religion and politics. I also learned how much education the Dalai Lama experienced in his life and appreciate his desire to learn more throughout his life.
whatsupelisabeth's review
4.0
I am delighted that this jumped into my queue right after Harari's Homo Deus. (I randomize what I read so to stay on theme, I am chalking this one being my next book up to potential intervention by higher powers beyond scientific analysis.) It was just what my sanity needed, a more compassionate view of the somewhat bleak and reductionist pure-science perspective of our future that I had been grappling with.
In addition, I do find this a remarkably thoughtful weighing of religious and scientific insight. There is no smudging of scientific facts here nor forcing of congruence where it doesn't exist. Rather, it is the perspective of a spiritual scholar who has deeply conversed with the scientific community, and can now find overlap, identify where religious teachings need to catch up with scientific insight, and point out potential synergies.
In addition, I do find this a remarkably thoughtful weighing of religious and scientific insight. There is no smudging of scientific facts here nor forcing of congruence where it doesn't exist. Rather, it is the perspective of a spiritual scholar who has deeply conversed with the scientific community, and can now find overlap, identify where religious teachings need to catch up with scientific insight, and point out potential synergies.
lizchereskin's review
4.0
The Dalai Lama fully embraces scientific discovery in this book, (which was really refreshing to hear from a religious leader) and shares how Buddhism aligns with current theories and where it stands on the ethical issues that are arising around us as a result of "progress." That being said, it'd help to come to this book with an interest and working knowledge of Buddhism and scientific concepts like quantum physics. (Even with both, I found myself a little lost every so often.)
I appreciated the Dalai Lama's voice, and his humility, in the face of these complex topics. He openly admits in points of the book when his knowledge on a scientific topic ends and when, for him, it began to get confusing. Considering there were times I was also confused, I was thankful he didn't get too technical.
While this book was dry at times, I really enjoyed the perspective the Dalai Lama brings to the constantly changing landscape of scientific discovery and how Buddhism can help enhance this understanding.
I appreciated the Dalai Lama's voice, and his humility, in the face of these complex topics. He openly admits in points of the book when his knowledge on a scientific topic ends and when, for him, it began to get confusing. Considering there were times I was also confused, I was thankful he didn't get too technical.
While this book was dry at times, I really enjoyed the perspective the Dalai Lama brings to the constantly changing landscape of scientific discovery and how Buddhism can help enhance this understanding.
jackgoss's review
3.0
I expected this book to be amazing and change my life and finally allow me to fully understand how Buddhism and atheism can play well together. Unfortunately, I was expecting too much. It's not the book I was expecting to read. I'd describe it as HHT Dalai Lama's memoir of science and how he resolves it with traditional Buddhist beliefs.
I remember when I first heard of The Universe in a Single Atom. In fact, I'm fairly certain that reading the book jacket in Powells was the spark for my interest in Buddhism over the past year or so. For no good reason, I didn't get around to reading it until last month. And it took me a full two months to finish it. I'm glad I didn't read it right away, I think it would have been too over my head had I not had the basic understanding of Buddhism that I have now. Yet, even so, some of the concepts were over my head!
It's tough text to sit down with.
The chapters on Buddhist psychology were the only that really interested me.
The rest was hard to get through. Example: the concept of Emptiness and quantum mechanics complementing each other: I don't get it. Maybe because I don't truly understand either topic. Or maybe because it's a stretch to compare them. Same goes for karma/evolution. I don't see the parallel and completely and totally fail to understand how reincarnation can jibe with science.
Additionally, I think he was grasping with the descriptions of ancient Tibetan explanations of the world. All cultures have stories and explanations on topics like the origin of the universe/Earth/life and the makeup of stuff (elements). They can't all be true, even if they are the basis of The Dalai Lama's home culture. He seemed to be trying to claim that science is proving the Tibetans to be correct- another stretch. Can we admit confirmation bias here?
In all, I hate to give a bad review, because I admire the Dalai Lama so much. So I'm lets call this a moderate review. Glad to have read it, maybe even will try again if I ever get to a point where I understand the Buddhist philosophy well enough. But definitely wouldn't recommend this as casual or scientific reading.
I remember when I first heard of The Universe in a Single Atom. In fact, I'm fairly certain that reading the book jacket in Powells was the spark for my interest in Buddhism over the past year or so. For no good reason, I didn't get around to reading it until last month. And it took me a full two months to finish it. I'm glad I didn't read it right away, I think it would have been too over my head had I not had the basic understanding of Buddhism that I have now. Yet, even so, some of the concepts were over my head!
It's tough text to sit down with.
The chapters on Buddhist psychology were the only that really interested me.
The rest was hard to get through. Example: the concept of Emptiness and quantum mechanics complementing each other: I don't get it. Maybe because I don't truly understand either topic. Or maybe because it's a stretch to compare them. Same goes for karma/evolution. I don't see the parallel and completely and totally fail to understand how reincarnation can jibe with science.
Additionally, I think he was grasping with the descriptions of ancient Tibetan explanations of the world. All cultures have stories and explanations on topics like the origin of the universe/Earth/life and the makeup of stuff (elements). They can't all be true, even if they are the basis of The Dalai Lama's home culture. He seemed to be trying to claim that science is proving the Tibetans to be correct- another stretch. Can we admit confirmation bias here?
In all, I hate to give a bad review, because I admire the Dalai Lama so much. So I'm lets call this a moderate review. Glad to have read it, maybe even will try again if I ever get to a point where I understand the Buddhist philosophy well enough. But definitely wouldn't recommend this as casual or scientific reading.
kait_unicorn's review
5.0
A valuable and worthy read. I particularly appreciate his definition of spirituality- not as something to do with the soul but recognising shared human spirit and the very human longing to be free of suffering.
justiceofkalr's review
3.0
Interesting in concept, but it felt a little too broad for me. While it gave a good general outline and was fairly easy to grasp, I strongly wished for more explanation and details on several points. HH the Dalai Lama did do a wonderful job explaining his ideas, if only he would have gone a bit more in depth. I felt that most of the chapters and the ideas within could easily have been expanded into their own books. Trying to fit so much into such a brief book caused some of the points to suffer as they felt a little too brief and like too much of an overview or an outline. So nice overall with interesting ideas, just not as much detail as I would have liked to have seen.