The Global Brain

by Peter Russell

We've seen the power of the internet to connect people around the world in ways never before known. This remarkable book argues that the billions of messages and pieces of information flying back and forth are linking the minds of humanity together into a single, global brain - a brain with astonishing potential for the Earth.

Peter Russell, an acclaimed author and speaker, weaves together modern technology and ancient mysticism to present a startling vision of the world to come - one in which humanity is a fully conscious super-organism in an awakening universe. He shows that the human potential movement is growing quickly while influencing business, politics, and medicine.

This new edition is fully updated for the challenges we face in the twenty-first century.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Peter Russell M.A., D.C.S., is a British author of ten books and producer of three films on consciousness, spiritual awakening and their role in the future development of humanity. He has designed and taught personal development programs for businesses, and has remained a popular public speaker.

In 1965 he was awarded an Open Exhibition to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, to study Mathematics. In 1969, he gained a First Class Honours in Theoretical Physics and Experimental Psychology. He then went to Rishikesh, India, where he trained as a teacher of Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In 1971, he gained a post-graduate degree in Computer Science. From 1971 to 1974, he studied for a Ph.D. on the psychophysiology of meditation at Bristol University.

Reviews

[Who · Rating 3 out of 5]

a mixed bag of thought-provoking ideas and whimsy pseudoscience. Skip the last three chapters

[Steven H · Rating 4 out of 5]

IS HUMANITY ON THE VERGE OF A GREAT GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION?

Author Peter Russell wrote in the ‘Invitation’ to this 1983 book, “I would like you to come with me on a great adventure, an exploration of humanity’s potential as seen through the eyes of the planet, and to share with me a vision of our evolutionary future… allowing us … to consider new ways of seeing ourselves in relation to the whole evolutionary process… Humanity could be on the threshold of an evolutionary leap… such as occurs only once in a billion years. The changes leading to this leap are taking place … within our own minds.” (Pg. 7)

He continues, “I was at Cambridge University studying theoretical physics. Fascinated as I was by science, however, I was even more fascinated by the workings of the mind… More and more it appeared that we alive today might be standing on the threshold of an evolutionary development as significant at the emergence of life some 3,500 million years ago. The nature of this possible transformation and the ways in which it could come about are what I want to explore with you in this book.” (Pg. 8-9)

He adds, “My goal is to convey a vision as a whole. It is the overall picture that is important, not specific details. You may not like to agree with every point… [but it] may be enjoyed as a whole without your having to agree on the placement of every [detail]. Nor need the picture that emerges for you be the same as mine… My goal is to set you thinking about positive alternative futures.” (Pg. 10)

He suggests, “If we are to fulfill our role as a part of the planetary brain, our malignant behavior must be stopped. To bring this about, we will need to change, in the most radical way, our attitudes toward ourselves, others, and the planet as a whole.” (Pg. 33)

He says, “It certainly seems as if we who are alive today are at a unique point in evolution… If this is so, if the rapid acceleration so characteristic of today is heading us toward an evolutionary leap, what lies beyond? Could we be on the threshold of a leap as significant as the evolution of life from inanimate matter?” (Pg. 74-75)

He observes, “No longer will we perceive ourselves as isolated individuals; we will know ourselves to be part of a rapidly integrating global network, the nerve cells of an awakened global brain.” (Pg. 93)

He speculates, “Never in the history of the human race have the dangers been so extreme; yet in their role as evolutionary catalysts, they may be just what is needed to push us to a higher level.” (Pg. 105)

He summarizes, “science seems to be discovering the perennial philosophy for itself, reaffirming that at the deepest levels we are all one.” (Pg. 143)

He says, “It does indeed possible that we alive today could witness the beginnings of the emergence of a high-synergy society, a healthy social superorganism. If so, we could be among the most privileged generations ever to have lived.” (Pg. 198)

He concludes, “But the task of showing whether or not humanity is viable rests with us---each of us… Within our own hand… lies the evolutionary future of this planet. We can CHOOSE to carry ourselves through. Will we be able to choose in time? No one can say. But as long as the door is open to us and as long as the evolutionary impulse shines though us, let us follow that inner urge. This is the cosmic imperative.” (Pg. 228)

The optimistic outlook of this book seems rather ‘dated,’ today. But it may still appeal to some with ‘New Age’ sympathies.

[ShawnLeeZX · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thesis closely follows the intellectual development in biology, information technology, and is superb until about the half of the book is reached. Then, the books turns to spirituality that deviates from science. Though the message that men is part of the natural order, which is the revelation in many of the previous religion (i.e, Daoism, Buddhism), is insightful, the paths hereafter followed by the author might miss the larger picture of this intellectual development. I am not saying that the spirituality proposed by the book is poorly devised---this could be explained by the information processing in the neural system on the interdependence between humans and nature, though this explanation (by me) is under-developed---it is the author largely ignores that energy and matter are intimately partly of the information; an overwhelmingly emphasis on the spirituality overlooks the materials foundations the information relies on, and deviates into the same path as the previous religions. To make this point clearer, let's look at naive hypothesis on the development of religion. When folks cannot satisfy their biological needs on good, a place to rest, and etc., the spirituality does not make any sense anymore, and they would turn to the heaven for solace. And this is when the old religion morphs from spirituality to person God that is supposed to be caring. Extrapolating this trend, there is large space the New Age spirituality does not explore: morality, the interplay between technology and the society, political philosophy, etc.. Again, this is also an under-development argument. Weighing by the things that such spirituality is mising, the awakening of a "global brain" solely by individual consciousness is not adequate, and the thesis might miss serious component to build a Utopian outlined in the last chapters of the book.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less poetic and more pragmatic than the Gaia hypothesis.

[Roger Buck]

No rating as I am unable to be objective, having known and been deeply and personally helped by the author in my youth. The book has many insights and meant a great deal to me when I was young. Later I found the author's essentially Eastern approach, however, could not grasp the central dynamic of the West.

Because one autumn in 1997 everything changed and I left behind forever the eastern - "holistic" path I had been treading. More about this here: http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2013/...

God be with you, Pete ...

[Ovi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Presents a positive view on the future of human race and explains what it's gonna take for us to evolve and grow instead of destroying ourselves.

[Nadine May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading in between