Destiny Vs. Free Will

by David R. Hamilton

This fascinating book explores destiny versus free will and delves into what extent we actually have control over our lives compared to what is predestined fate.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

216 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2007

About the author

David has a first class honors degree in chemistry, specializing in biological and medicinal chemistry. He has the slightly geeky honour of having achieved 100% in his 3rd year university degree exam in ‘Statistical Mechanics’, which is a branch of quantum physics applied to chemistry.

After completing his PhD, he worked for 4 years in the pharmaceutical industry, first developing drugs for cardiovascular disease and cancer, then a year managing leadership and change projects. During this time he also served as an athletics coach and manager of Sale Harriers Manchester, one of the UK’s largest athletics clubs, leading the Junior Men’s team to three successive UK finals. Upon leaving the pharmaceutical industry, he co-founded the international relief charity Spirit Aid Foundation and served as a director for 2 years.

While writing his first book (2004-2005), he taught chemistry (main) plus ecology and mathematics (secondary) at West College Scotland (formerly, James Watt College of Further and Higher Education) and tutored chemistry at the University of Glasgow.

He’s now a bestselling author of 8 books (No’s 9 and 10 are due out in 2017) published by Hay House UK, and offer talks and workshops that use science to inspire – fusing neuroscience, the mind-body connection, kindness, and philosophical and eastern spiritual teachings. He also writes a regular blog on his website as well as occasional blogs for the Huffington Post (US edition) and Psychologies Life Labs, and is a columnist for Soul and Spirit Magazine. In 2016, David won the Kindred Spirit, ‘Best MBS Writer Award’.

He has been featured in numerous publications, including ELLE, RED Magazine, Psychologies, YOU Magazine, Good Housekeeping (both UK & US), and several newspapers.

You might wonder how he got into writing on the subjects he does. In his own words, “Well, during my time in the pharmaceutical industry, I was fascinated by the placebo effect – how people improve through believing they are receiving a drug – so I began to study mind-body interactions in my spare time. I decided to leave the pharmaceutical industry after 4 years because I wanted to educate about the mind-body connection, help people to believe in themselves more, and spread a little more kindness in the world in my own way.”

Reviews

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am vrut sa citesc cartea de foarte mult timp, avand varianta reeditata, in care Hamilton a adaugat foarte multe studii despre intuitie, presentiment, mediu etc.
Am fost destul de dezamagita cand a sugerat ca suntem programati de mediul in care traim, de ciclurile care au loc pe aceasta planeta, considerandu-le forte ale destinului .... dar mie mi se pare normal sa fi intr-o relatie cu mediul si acesta sa te influenteze .... ca pana la urma nu traim in vid si mi se pare de bun simt sa te adaptezi la mediul in care traiesti ! ("In loc sa fim independenti fata de natura, de fapt suntem condusi de ea.")
O alta concluzie a lui Hamilton este ca nu suntem condusi de gene ( Slava Domnului) in functie de mediu, stil de viata, alegeri putand sa ne schimbam anumite situatii.
Desi a incercat sa sugereze ca nu suntem controlati, a afirmat ca destinul nu il poti schimba decat perceptia noastra asupra evenimentelor..... aici sunt de acord.
Un capitol interesant a fost cel despre intuitie si presentiment, afirmand intr-un final ca intuitia este influentata de starea de spirit.
Cred ca am avut foarte multe asteptari de la aceasta carte, sau am sperat ca imi va raspunde la niste intrebari legate de spiritualitate ..... dar parca le-a ocolit .... mi s-a parut ca Hamilton nu a explorat subiectul ,,liber arbitru si destin" pana in profunzime, poate si din cauza studiilor care le-a utilizat pentru argumentare ...iar foarte multe informatii le stiam si mi s-a parut ca erau mai mult un rezumat a ceea ce citisem.

[Phuongvu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Một quyển sách tuyệt hay và rất đúng thời điểm.
10 bí mật tâm linh
1. Hãy chọn điều truyền cảm hứng cho bạn
2. WVA
W: Write Hãy viết ra các mục tiêu của bạn.
V: Visualize Hãy hình dung, hoặc suy ngẫm thường xuyên về các mục tiêu
A: Act hãy hành động để tiến đến mục tiêu
3. Cho đi để được nhận
Cho biết đem lại sự dư dả
Cho đi chính bản thân bạn
Cho đi lời cảm ơn - sự biết ơn
4. Cảm xúc tích cực thúc đẩy mọi thứ; cảm xúc tiêu cực làm mọi thứ chậm lại
5. Nhận dạng và thay đổi những niềm tin sai lầm
6. Những xác quyết--- tôi sống mỗi ngày trong hạnh phúc vui vẻ tin rằng những thứ tốt đẹp sẽ đến với mình.
7. Kiên nhẫn--- tôi là người kiên nhẫn. Tôi sống trong từng khoảnh khắc và tin rằng những điều tốt đẹp đang đến với mình
8. Thăng trầm là bình thường
9. Nếu bạn không thể thay đổi thế giới, hãy thay đổi bản thân
10. Tình yêu. Một trong những điều quan trọng nhất mà tôi học được là không nhất thiết phải làm được điều gì đó trong đời, mà làm nó như thế nào. Bất kể bạn làm gì hãy làm với sự cảm thông, lòng trắc ẩn, sự tử tế, chân thành và tràn đầy tình yêu.
Mọi thứ có thể bị tước khỏi con người trừ một thứ, thứ cuối cùng của tự do của loài người: quyền được tự lựa chọn thái độ sống trong bất kỳ hoàn cảnh nào, quyền lựa chọn con đường cho riêng mình.
Ngay bây giờ hãy tự hỏi :"Tôi có thể chọn yêu thương nhiều hơn trong cuộc đời mình không?"

[Hazel Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a good summary of many fields, guiding the reader from different angles right into the core of how you can utilise research and teaching for themselves. I would have wished for a little more direct referencing throughout the book, to help the reader dive deeper into the topics that catch their interest. The research on offer is so rich, it would be great to have more direct references in the run of the text, or at the end of a chapter. The references at the end of the book offer a more general "further reading" which is less of a guide for the curious mind.

[Khang Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will recommend it for someone who is still wandering and is keen on the same question with the author. The explanation in each chapter is a bit intricate but the summary of important points and practical examples at the end of each chapter are useful enough for us to understand the author's point of view. Finally, his conclusion does satisfy and share the same idea with me.

[Reffi Dhinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to explain how our life and destiny is mapped out but also it depends on our choice

[Lilian Costa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit silly, not much scientific approach as expected.

[Mihaela Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am scris recenzia pe blog: http://www.mihaelatoila.ro/2025/09/vi...

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unravelling the mystery of destiny vs. free will. It's the subtitle of this very interesting book. This book presents an interesting point of view, based on scientific research done throughout many years in different subjects, and combining it with personal and human experience and feedback from the author. The result is a fascinating, impressive and subtle journey into another side of the law of attraction.

It is very enlightening to read some of the research described in these pages, as well as to realize we have certainly come to experience some of the very same emotions and situations that are inherently human. The clarity with which Dr. Hamilton presents his findings and conclusions brings on the perception that we have already seen it before... not necessary a "dejavu" feeling, but more of a common sense approach. After each chapter, the "key points" section summarize most of the ideas presented in the previous chapter and the "life experiments" section provides suggestions which are very interesting to try. I've tried a couple of them during my journey reading the book and they actually work well. One suggestion I have when you read this book is to keep a highlighter next to you and underline the most interesting aspects of the book, those parts that talk to you the most. And then, go back to those areas periodically and concentrate on them to improve and develop your skills and perceptions.

One of my favorite parts makes assumptions about our supposed soul mate idea. I particularly like the thought presented in the book, and it made me recall a book by Paulo Coelho, Brida, which also talks about the other "half", if it can be so described, of someone's soul searching for the perfect companion.

You should keep a very open mind while reading some of the chapters in this book. Ideas of past and present and future described can oftentimes become confusing and intertwined in an array of kaleidoscopic wavelengths which are hard to swallow. It may not seem feasible, possible and even comprehensible, but there's an appeal to the ideas and the overall message is one that will definitely make sense.

I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for review purposes.

[Natasa Tovornik · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting ideas, a bit a summary of some other ideas too. but i liked a lot the idea of all being alinged before our birth and still having a choice. this is really something that keeps you going. great thought.

[Natasha Acres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts by making you think differently. Towards the end the author starts to use a little of his own free will! But it is still a lvey way to look at life...

[Gary Patton]

I'm looking forward to reading this book as a Jesus Follower.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. I love reading books like this that are based on fact. Very scientific but that's the way I like it. I highly recommend.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly thought-provoking. Deserves multiple readings.

[Tjasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Anshin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro che ti cambia la vita.