Intelligence in Nature: An Inquiry Into Knowledge

By Jeremy Narby

Book Overview

Continuing the journey begun in his acclaimed book The Cosmic Serpent , the noted anthropologist ventures firsthand into both traditional cultures and the most up-todate discoveries of contemporary science to determine nature's secret ways of knowing. Anthropologist Jeremy Narby has altered how we understand the Shamanic cultures and traditions that have undergone a worldwide revival in recent years. Now, in one of his most extraordinary journeys, Narby travels the globe-from the Amazon Basin to the Far East-to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers understand about the intelligence present in all forms of life. Intelligence in Nature presents overwhelming illustrative evidence that independent intelligence is not unique to humanity alone. Indeed, bacteria, plants, animals, and other forms of nonhuman life display an uncanny penchant for self-deterministic decisions, patterns, and actions. Narby presents the first in-depth anthropological study of this concept in the West. He not only uncovers a mysterious thread of intelligent behavior within the natural world but also probes the question of what humanity can learn from nature's economy and knowingness in its own search for a saner and more sustainable way of life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B001S2PR4I
• ISBN13: 9781585424610
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

An adventure for your brain and senses

Narby takes the reader on a fantastic global journey, attempting to answer the question "Are things in nature intelligent?" The very word intelligent has to be defined and redefined as Narby discovers amazing feats of nature. Plants that move location in response to their environment, slime molds that can 'run' a maze, 'trained' bees. If you can't believe this, believe it! Narby visits scientists, professors and other researchers from various parts of the globe. The writing is intimate and captivating. If you are a nature lover or an inquisitive science lover, this is a wonderful book to read. You'll be shaking your head in amazement. Enjoy it. I did.

The Scientists meet the Shaman and Discovers Nature's Intelligence

In this immensely readable, fascinating book anthropologist author Jeremy Narby explodes the myth that 'the lower animal, insects, organisms' do not possess intelligence. Whether or not the reader subscribes to all of Narby's findings and postulates really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is the fact that this bright gentlemen has opened windows into the concept of 'knowledge', that knowledge is not the property of man, that lower animal life and plant life demonstrate an economy of putting information together that allows them to survive and outwit their predators! Some aspects of insect and animal behavior have been observed and then relegated to Darwinian survival of the fittest without pursuing it further: camouflage techniques, heightened sense of smell, night vision are easy categories to assign as 'traits'. Narby enters the world of shaman and shares how trances induced by varied means give the shaman the ability to communicate with organisms, understanding their innate intelligence. But the real joy of reading this treatise is the manner in which Narby relates his information. No 'from the pulpit' technique here, instead this is a conversational, open minded, keenly observant and intelligent man who encourages us to be more aware of the fellow nature creatures around us, giving them the respect that is their due. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06