Book Reviews (July 2009)

The Pear Proposition: Scientific Study of Consciousness-Related Physical Phenomena.
2 DVD discs, 1 Audio CD. StripMinMedia 2005  www.stripmindmedia.net   www.princeton.edu/-pear  www.icrl.org

Excellent discussions by Robert Jahn with powerpoint presentations on consciousness and its interactions with the physical world. I particularly resonated with his term, 'proactive consciousness,' suggesting that consciousness is a primary, moving force in the universe rather than the reactive response of a nervous system in a living organism. It is a lovely experience to attend Jahn's lectures on a DVD, where it is possible to pause and reflect of the richness of his materials and the breadth and depth of his teachings.

(Read more in IJHC May, 2009)

Mehmet Oz, MD with Ron Arias and Lisa Oz. Healing from the Heart: A Leading Surgeon combines Eastern and Western Traditions to Create the Medicine of the Future, New York: Plume/ Penguin 1998   201 pp  12.95This is an easy read by a most interesting surgeon who shares the story of his personal journey into and through a holistic surgical practice. Oz is Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College. His claim to fame, besides having been featured recently over an extended period on the Oprah show (well after this book was written), is that he incorporates a spectrum of complementary therapies in his practice. These include homeopathy, nutritional and vitamin supplements, acupuncture, massage and bioenergy healing. The open-mindedness of Oz to these therapies is 
very unusual for a surgeon.

(Read more in IJHC May, 2009)