by Deepak Chopra & Leonard Mlodinow

Harmony, $26.00, 314 pages

The War of the Worldviews by Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow is a thorough exploration of the differences and conflicts between Spirituality and Science. Unfortunately, these differences exist in the realm of the invisible and some of the explanations are impenetrable.

Most of us go through our daily lives not worrying about whether the chair we’re sitting on is 99 and 44/100 percent empty space or whether the greater Megellanic cloud is planning our future. But, in a way, these are some of the things this book asks us to consider. To get the most out of it, you should have at least some college level physics training and several years in an Ashram. The chapters are comprehensive and divided into sections from: The Cosmos, life, mind and brain, and god. ( I didn’t capitalize because they’re not necessarily talking about “God”).

Basically, Deepak uses the uncertainties built in to the scientific method to leave room for a much higher power to take over and add meaning and structure to life. Leonard, on the other hand, says that hey! Science has taught us a lot and we don’t have to go searching for will-o’-the wisps in the swamp of spirituality to explain things. For example: Deepak–Intelligence, creativity and organizing power is embedded in the cosmos. Leonard—If, in the early Universe, the density of matter had been even slightly less than the critical density, the Universe would today be saddle shaped and vastly more diluted than we find it.

Well, we’re expected to take one of their words for it, and it will most likely be the word we’re already inclined toward that prevails. Read at the risk of being confused and infuriated, but with a working knowledge of the dispute.

Norman West