The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby
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Book Reviews of The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
Book Review: Good questions, but inconclusive
Summary: 4 Stars
Jeremy Narby's argument is that when shaman's drink hallucinogenic brews, their consciousness sinks to the molecular level, and literally communicates with DNA, the basic building block of life. DNA appears to shamans, and others who drink these magic brews, as serpents. This is why, Narby claims, serpents loom large in ancient cultures around the world. It is also how shamans get their expert knowledge of plants. When shamans say that the spirit in the plants tell them how to concoct life-saving remedies, they mean what they say. In hallucinogenic trances, the plants speak. Narby goes onto to speculate that the world is one vast communication network among strands of DNA. You don't have to buy the DNA-communication theory to enjoy this book. It is written in an engaging, personal, first person narrative style. It shows how science works, how "eureka moments" occur when one is relaxed and thinking about other things. Maybe his theory is totally off-base, but even so, big ideas like this one often spur research in different, interesting directions. We are only as good as our questions, and Narby's question is a great one: What if the shamans are right?Book Review: narby vs darwin
Summary: 4 Stars
I learned more about DNA in this book than I did all through high school!(which might tell you something about me...or my teachers) Though looking over the other reviews here, I found that others think he is not a very well researched scientist, though I don't know enough about the subject to tell. Most books about DNA are written textbook style, by people who like to use big words, to impress, I suppose. I usually think that if something is written understandably(like Cosmic Serpent), it is because the author really knows his stuff, and doesn't need to try to confuse people with too many technical terms. Or maybe I am just dumb. Anyway, I think it is great that Narby questions Darwinist theory. Darwin's theory of evolution is taught in school as truth, and, assumably, just readily accepted by most scientists. You know, it was also assumed for a thousand years or so that the earth was flat and everything evolved around it. It is always good to question. While all of his theories might not hold up, he still gets one's mind a turnin'! This book really opened up my mind(apologies for being cliche)Book Review: Incredible Ruminations
Summary: 4 Stars
This book takes you on a wild ride of DNA, mythology, and culture and somehow integrates them. The only problem is you have to be somewhat of a believer in the first place to allow Mr. Narby to buckle you in and hit the thrusts. Really though, it is a fascinating cultural study that never claims to be true or untrue, it just reports what was said and seen. There is a power to ayahuasca and hallucinogenic drugs of which we still don't know the full extent. This book is far-fetched but in today¡¯s rapidly changing world it¡¯s not impossible that we (from the modern world) will not soon agree with them (from the 'primitive' world).The best part of the book is the way it personalizes and characterizes DNA. After reading it it¡¯s all you will think about: how much is DNA effecting everything we do.
It¡¯s a fascinating read. It points out simple similarities like the fact that the double helix is shaped like a snake but then goes into detail that I can't do justice to here. If you have any interest in DNA or anthopological studies then this book is a must.
Book Review: Intriguing
Summary: 4 Stars
Are there other roads to knowledge other than reason? It would appear that ayahuasca using shamans ascertain information by accessing imaginal (not imaginary) worlds. This is what they claim and it is hard to explain their vast and complicated understanding of herbal pharmacology in some other way. This was the point that this book impressed upon me.Also, it would appear that big pharmaceutical companies exploit these shamans by stealing their information and taking the credit and the profit for it.
I cannot go so far as believing that the serpent visions are somehow projections of DNA. It is an interesting hypothesis though, and perhaps in the future science MAY confirm Narby's theory.
Anyway, I have heard so many good things about the entheogen ayahuasca (from varied sources) that I would definitely like to try it in the future
Book Review: Do You Wish to Open Your Mind?
Summary: 4 Stars
It really doesn't matter whether what Narby concludes is total nonsene or not. Some of the scientific reasoning is pretty weak. The microbiological evidence remains thin. Nevertheless. What matters is that Narby develops a view of the world that's outside the envelope. He invites readers to suspend belief in the version of reality that they have grown up in and to open their minds to one of a million of other ways of looking at the world. I believe that if you want to feel that little "snap" in your mind that signifies opening to a new way of seeing; if for just a moment you want to allow yourself to feel less secure on the foundation of scientific "truth" that has become the standard for describing the world we experience; then this book could be worthwhile reading for you. It sure was for me.