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The Romeo Error: The Matter of Life and Death
A matter of life and death
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
10 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Lyall Watson
92 books101 followersLyall Watson was a South African botanist, zoologist, biologist, anthropologist, ethologist, and author of many new age books, among the most popular of which is the best seller Supernature. Lyall Watson tried to make sense of natural and supernatural phenomena in biological terms. He is credited with the first published use of the term "hundredth monkey" in his 1979 book, Lifetide. It is a hypothesis that aroused both interest and ire in the scientific community and continues to be a topic of discussion over a quarter century later.
He was born in Johannesburg as Malcolm Lyall-Watson. He had an early fascination for nature in the surrounding bush, learning from Zulu and !Kung bushmen. Watson attended boarding school at Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town, completing his studies in 1955. He enrolled at Witwatersrand University in 1956, where he earned degrees in botany and zoology, before securing an apprenticeship in palaentology under Raymond Dart, leading on to anthropological studies in Germany and the Netherlands. Later he earned degrees in geology, chemistry, marine biology, ecology and anthropology. He completed a doctorate of ethology at the University of London, under Desmond Morris. He also worked at the BBC writing and producing nature documentaries.
Around this time he shortened his name to Lyall Watson. He served as director of the Johannesburg Zoo, an expedition leader to various locales, and Seychelles commissioner for the International Whaling Commission.
In the late 1980s he presented Channel 4's coverage of sumo tournaments.
Lyall Watson began writing his first book, Omnivore during the early 1960s while under the supervision of Desmond Morris, and wrote more than 20 others.
He was born in Johannesburg as Malcolm Lyall-Watson. He had an early fascination for nature in the surrounding bush, learning from Zulu and !Kung bushmen. Watson attended boarding school at Rondebosch Boys' High School in Cape Town, completing his studies in 1955. He enrolled at Witwatersrand University in 1956, where he earned degrees in botany and zoology, before securing an apprenticeship in palaentology under Raymond Dart, leading on to anthropological studies in Germany and the Netherlands. Later he earned degrees in geology, chemistry, marine biology, ecology and anthropology. He completed a doctorate of ethology at the University of London, under Desmond Morris. He also worked at the BBC writing and producing nature documentaries.
Around this time he shortened his name to Lyall Watson. He served as director of the Johannesburg Zoo, an expedition leader to various locales, and Seychelles commissioner for the International Whaling Commission.
In the late 1980s he presented Channel 4's coverage of sumo tournaments.
Lyall Watson began writing his first book, Omnivore during the early 1960s while under the supervision of Desmond Morris, and wrote more than 20 others.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2008
I read this book roughly 15 years ago and just reread it again. Considering that it was copywrited (copywritten?) in 1974, I am amazed at how cutting edge it still seems.
I really find this so very fascinating.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has read this and be able to discuss this. What did you think?
I really find this so very fascinating.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who has read this and be able to discuss this. What did you think?
September 18, 2008
Non-fiction book concerning all aspects of death from the biological to the anthropological. Sounds grim but is absolutely fascinating.
October 9, 2019
This book changed my perception towards life and death. Its not just a book but the research work with alot of real life references. The dots are perfectly connected. It clearly defines that we know very less of cosmos and there are alot of possibilities. This read opened up so many aspects of life which were hidden for long.
December 26, 2024
this put me int a reading slump
May 31, 2021
Qu'est-ce que la vie ? Où finit-elle et où commence la mort ? Où se situe la frontière qui les sépare ? Cette frontière même existe-t-elle ? À ces questions qui hantent l'homme depuis la nuit des temps, Lyall Watson - un scientifique de réputation internationale - apporte aujourd'hui des réponses. Biologiste, anthropologue, qui s'appuie sur les techniques d'investigation les plus modernes, observe, analyse, éclaire, parmi cent autres, des cas, des phénomènes étonnants.
September 3, 2011
This thought-provoking book gives accounts of different near-death experiences. It greatly inspired me to write my second novel.
One of the loveliest accounts that will stay with me forever is the near-death experience of a farmer who, before he was resuscitated, saw his bed surrounded by all his formerly deceased dogs - expectantly wagging their tails, waiting for him. :)
One of the loveliest accounts that will stay with me forever is the near-death experience of a farmer who, before he was resuscitated, saw his bed surrounded by all his formerly deceased dogs - expectantly wagging their tails, waiting for him. :)
August 14, 2014
The most imressive book i've ever read. Then i lost my book. What a great responsibility, i'm still looking for it but can't find any library have it around here... I should say that again; "READ IT!"
April 6, 2016
Life after death... Huh? More likely death after life. Read it many moons ago when I was into Lyall Watson.
May 17, 2016
It's an interesting book, but didn't engage me in the same way as Supernature.
July 19, 2016
Lyall Watson looks at the transition from life to death, revealing in the process how we still don't really know where one ends and the other begins.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews