The Patterning Instinct
A Cultural History of Humanity’s Search for Meaning
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The Patterning Instinct
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Narrated by:
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Derek Perkins
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Written by:
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Jeremy Lent
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Fritjof Capra - foreword
About this listen
This fresh perspective on crucial questions of history identifies the root metaphors that cultures have used to construct meaning in their world. It offers a glimpse into the minds of a vast range of different peoples: early hunter-gatherers and farmers, ancient Egyptians, traditional Chinese sages, the founders of Christianity, trailblazers of the Scientific Revolution, and those who constructed our modern consumer society.
Taking the listener on an archaeological exploration of the mind, the author, an entrepreneur and sustainability leader, uses recent findings in cognitive science and systems theory to reveal the hidden layers of values that form today's cultural norms. Uprooting the tired clichés of the science-religion debate, he shows how medieval Christian rationalism acted as an incubator for scientific thought, which, in turn, shaped our modern vision of the conquest of nature. The author probes our current crisis of unsustainability and argues that it is not an inevitable result of human nature, but is culturally driven: a product of particular mental patterns that could conceivably be reshaped. By shining a light on our possible futures, the book foresees a coming struggle between two contrasting views of humanity: one driving to a technological endgame of artificially enhanced humans, the other enabling a sustainable future arising from our intrinsic connectedness with each other and the natural world. This struggle, it concludes, is one in which each of us will play a role through the meaning we choose to forge from the lives we lead.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2017 Jeremy Lent and Fritjof Capra (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.What listeners say about The Patterning Instinct
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Felipe Almeida
- 2021-02-17
FASCINATING
One of the most important and interesting readings of my life. From historical mapping to current and prospective views of the future given linked to the biases of thousands of years ago. A book that opens your to the the urge of redifining our view of our internal self, of others and of the systems we put we place. Absolutely necessary book to anyone with serious curiosity about our past, present and future and our impact in the much larger chain of reactions called ecosystem.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-11-09
A most important book. Comprehensive coverage
this is one of the most important books I have had the pleasure of reading! It puts the human worldviews in broad perspective.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-06-04
It's like a survival guide for the next century
This book enriched my view of myself as a human being in a positive way. It is a long listen, but well worth the time. I think that Lent effectively brings together a myriad of ideas from many great thinkers to paint a holistic and poignant picture of our current global predicament.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- achen
- 2018-03-22
Interesting but ultimately over ambitious
A wide ranging journey of ideas familiar and new (to me, at least), the book takes an interesting perspective on humanity's fundamental nature. This will appeal to those who enjoyed Harari's Sapiens.
However, over the course of the (literally) hundreds of chapters, the underlying thread of "The Patterning Instinct" becomes harder and harder to discern. It ends up seeming like more of Jeremy Lent's thoughts on everything, ranging from areas where he has clear expertise, to one's where the depths of his knowledge is more threadbare.
Although interesting, the meandering journey ultimately dilutes the thesis. Worthy of a read for the many thought provoking paths it leads you down, but nevertheless lacking the satisfactory oomph of an idea well and conclusively argued.
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1 person found this helpful