Uncommon Wisdom : Conversations With Remarkable People

by Fritjof Capra

SABIDURIA CONVERSACIONES CON PERSONAJES EXCEPCIONALES

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Essays, Psychology, Physics

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Fritjof Capra (born February 1, 1939) is an Austrian-born American physicist. He is a founding director of the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California, and is on the faculty of Schumacher College. Capra is the author of several books, including The Tao of Physics (1975), The Turning Point (1982), Uncommon Wisdom (1988), The Web of Life (1996) and The Hidden Connections (2002).

Reviews

[Jayaraj Velayudhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisdom is always uncommon

[Krunal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conversations are a treat to read, but in some chapters your mind just shuts-off as the ideas are too radical and abstract.

Also one wonders if these well modeled ideas, which seem to answer the questions related to the flaws of modern economics and ecological degradation, already existed decades ago why haven't they been accepted and implemented.

A good read for a 30 hours train journey.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capra is the person who got me interested in thinking differently about technology, politics and society. Check out a film he co-wrote and his brother directed - "Mindwalk" (1990). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100151/?... Made a big impression on this grad student.

[Luke Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is basically an autobiography consisting of anecdotal interactions between Fritjof and a selection of people ranging from clearly interesting, reputable professionals to borderline-fraudulent quacks.

It’s OK. That’s it. There are some dialogues where you can see how the ideas under discussion are truly interesting and may very well form the basis of future ‘holistic’ social frameworks. However, the ideas themselves are not expanded upon enough and instead all you end up reading is basically a transcript with no analysis. He also manages to give off a lurid air of pomposity in a book focussing on the wisdom and importance of others.

Harsh summary: It reads like a desperate justification for his life’s work - largely unfounded by evidence.

Generous summary: Mildly interesting, with some genuine gems of insight, but not one I’d read again.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of conversations!..

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so much. Seemed to be a lot of Capra's interpretations writing about his conversations with 'great' thinkers. So it makes sense it sets up his book Turning Point and Mindwalk, the movie based on that book. I did enjoy the movie a lot. I do like the company he keeps and his exploration of accepted ideas.

[Saravana Sastha Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who have read 'Tao of Physics' and 'The Turning Point' with awe and respect for Fritjof Capra will find this book equally engrossing but very different. It's about his journey, his meeting people with extraordinary wisdom and trade, and about the exchange of ideas. A very interesting and enjoyable read.

[John Francy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although some interesting ideas are discussed, it seems to be a journal of preparations to write his new book, The Turning Point. Also many references back to his earlier book, The Tao of Physics. Altogether too much about the author himself. I did enjoy the chapter on Alternative Futures but could have skipped several other sections.

[Mesut Yılmaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thoughts and knowledge worths appreciation. But undisciplined thoughts prevent us to discover more.

Capra's knowledge is worth appreciation, his knowledge is close to sociology of science and social sciences. But his works is far from being disciplined and condensed.

[Barongia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molto carino, affronta argomenti molto diversi tra loro ma tutti collegati dall’esperienza della filosofia orientale; attraversato come da un flashback della vita dell’autore con le numerose personalità che hanno contribuito a formare il pensiero dell’autore e la base del libro

[Chris Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like there was a lot of self-promotion here - at times this is as much about Capra as it is the people he meets.

Having said that, I do have respect for most of the people he talks about, and if you want a superficial idea of what they're known for, then it might be worth considering this.

[Michelle]

Fritjof Capra is a man who loves ideas and loves talking about them with very unusual and intelligent people. This book is one of his early works after THE TAO OF PHYSICS.

For me, I am very excited to have been inspired by his curiosity. I too share immense curiosity.

SYNCHRONICITY.

[Ihor Kolesnyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Псевдонауковий, ньюейджівський щоденник.

[Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical of capitalism and full of exciting ideas regarding feminism, ecofeminism, and socialism. Written beautifully and informative. The author is not humble, but you see past it.

[Rodeweeks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, love the mixture of modern science and the mystical traditions. A bit old though and I don't know how much of it still holds for today.

[Felix Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch erklärt in verständlicher Sprache die Reise und die Einsichten von Fritjof über die Natur ganzheitlicher Wissenschaften.

[Ilija B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

remarkable conversations, remarkable people!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Capra's account of his journey of writing The Turning Point which includes various personalities and ideas that influenced him. Lovely read.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dieses Buch ist ein "The making of ..." der zuvor erschienenen Bücher von Fritjof Capra und bietet außer dem reißerischen Titel, abstrusen Thesen und Kommentaren nur Anekdoten von Begegnungen Capras mit anderen mehr oder weniger bekannten Persönlichkeiten, deren Bücher zweifellos weitaus lesenswerter sein dürften als dieses Buch.

Nach dem Erfolg von "The Tao of Physics" (1975) versteigt sich Capra zu dem größenwahnsinnigen Versuch, seine "Erkenntnisse" anderen Wissenschaftszweigen zugute kommen zu lassen, von denen er keine detaillierten Kenntnisse besitzt, wie er auch noch selber zugibt ("Ich war von Schumachers Buch begeistert, lieferte es mir doch eine deutliche Bestätigung meiner eigenen grundlegenden These im Rahmen der Ökonomie, eines Gebietes, von dem ich keine detaillierten Kenntnisse besaß."). Das "Neue Denken" Capras lässt sich mit den schwammigen Adjektiven "ganzheitlich", "ökologisch" und "feministisch" beschreiben, welche demgemäß auch buchstäblich hunderte Male auftauchen und schön modisch klingen.

Ab der Mitte des Buches werden Capras Thesen und Zitate zunehmend noch wirrer, abstruser und technologiefeindlicher, z.B.
- "In der Praxis haben wir immer wieder erlebt, wie die abendländische Medizin in Ländern der Dritten Welt versagt hat."
- "heute werden die Naturwissenschaften und die Technologie überwiegend für Zwecke genutzt, die gefährlich, schädlich und zutiefst anti-ökologisch sind."
- "Die eigentliche Grundlage unseres Gesundheitsproblems ist für mich ein tiefreichendes kulturelles Ungleichgewicht, nämlich die Überbetonung des Yang, also maskuliner Werte und Verhaltensweisen."
- über die indische Kultur: "Die ganze Kultur schien mehr feminin orientiert", und zwei Seiten später scheinen "viele indische Sitten im Zusammenhang mit Ehe und Familie sehr patriarchalisch zu sein und dazu angetan, die Frau zu unterdrücken."
- für Capra ist "Krankheit eine Manifestation eines Ungleichgewichts und mangelnder Harmonie", ohne natürlich genauer zu definieren, was denn als Gleichgewicht und Harmonie zu verstehen ist.
etc.

Wer sich nicht davon abhalten lässt, ein Buch von Capra zu lesen, sollte lieber zu "Das Tao der Physik" greifen.

[Abbas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Когда читал эту книгу поразился тому насколько ученные могут более широко смотреть на вещи. Если рядовые люди смотрят на многое как на данность и не думают, что это могло бы быть по другому, то ученные пытаются переосмыслить это многое. У рядового человека не хватает ума даже распознать эти паттерны в нашей жизни.

Основная идея книги в том чтобы понять наш мир не по частям, а целиком. Я так и не понял как это сделать, но автор копал в этом направлении. Автор показывает как на мир смотрят через другие мировоззрения: феминизм и восточные учения (даосизм, дзен, буддизм). Например, феминистки считают, что та наука, которая есть сейчас, она носит мужской облик. Т.е. мужчины относятся к природе так как относятся к женщине - завоёвывают её. И возможно женщины бы как-то по другому строили науку. Ничем не подкрепленное утверждение, но идея такая в книге. Под наукой тут понимаются не только знания о мире, но и человеческая деятельность.

Параллельно с этой книгой я читал Библию в иллюстрациях. И случайно подумал, а что если раньше человек был ближе к природе и поэтому мог так скажем слышать Бога, ну или как-то контактировать с ним, если не все, то избранные. А сейчас человек ушел в технику и технологии тем самым потеряв связь со своей природой и со своим творцом. Ну это просто мысль, никаких подтверждений этому нет.

[John Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the late 80s when it first came out. I am reading it again and I am enjoying more now than I did then. One reason is that now I am a Yoga teacher and more in tune with Eastern thinking. This narrative about Capra's thinking during the times he wrote his book makes for an easy read. I enjoyed getting a feel for the people who meant so much in his life. What got me the most was the spirit of the times when this all thook place, late 1960s through the 1970s. Although I was involved in more mundane exploits. I could feel those times and there was an excitement in the air. It is making me take a look at how I teach. It also confirmed my search and love for intellectual ideas.

[Suzane Cdb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sobre mi forma de puntuar:
1- Mal libro, no lo disfruté, no me enseñó nada, no lo recomendaría, mejor habría sido dedicar mi tiempo a otra cosa.
2- Pasable, aprueba, me aportó a algún nivel, pero poca cosa.
3- Disfrutable, podría recomendarlo a ciertas personas.
4- Muy disfrutable, ha hecho que me cuestionase cosas y ampliado mi perspectiva del mundo y/o lo considero con valor artístico. Lo recomendaría sin duda a ciertas personas.
5- De mis favoritos, me ha cambiado y dado mucho en qué pensar, obra maestra. Muy recomendable.

Libro interesante en el que se hace una crítica al paradigma previo al posmoderno y explica un poco el por qué de la necesidad de una deconstrucción y de una puesta en duda de las estructuras creadas y rígidas de entonces.

[Bianca Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enfim chego ao final desse grande livro, fechado o livro sinto que me despedi de um grande amigo que passou por mim e me ensinou a ver as coisas mais lindas sobre o mundo. Capra tem essa perspicácia dos grandes escritores que escreve com leveza assuntos de extrema austeridade, mas nesse livro ele ganhou, pra mim, um quê de superação sem igual. Fui presenteada com uma obra prima, e mais ainda quando já na dedicatória desse livro me faz um convite do qual não pretendo me esquivar: Bem-vinda ao caos! Vamos criar? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Braden Canfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get past Fritjof Capra's false humility in the face of his interviewees, it's a fun read...

[Stas Sajin · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is trash, a blight

[Marcello Eduardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capra´s best book.