Immortality shows how the quest to live forever has driven the development of human civilisation, and how that quest is now coming to a climax through modern science. It argues that humans are hardwired to pursue eternal life - and that the way they have done so has stayed remarkably consistent through the ages. All the main beliefs on defying death, from freeing your soul to freezing your brain, fall into four simple categories - the four paths to immortality. Although all four paths are ancient, science is now showing us - for the first time in human history - which of them could really lead to infinity. Immortality uses the stories of ten exceptional characters, from Queen Nefertiti to the Dalai Lama, to show how these four paths have shaped our culture from ancient times through to today. Unlike most books on this hugely popular subject, Immortality does not argue from a particular religious viewpoint. Written by Stephen Cave, philosopher (PhD, Cambridge) and regular writer for the Financial Times, it shows general readers how the latest research in fields from anti-aging to neuroscience is providing new answers to life's most important question.
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"A beautifully clear and entertaining look at life after death. Cave does not shrink from the hard questions. Bold and thought-provoking."
--Eric Olson, author of "The Human Animal "and "What Are We? "
" "
""Immortality "plumbs the depths of the human mind and ties the quest for the infinite prolongation of life into the very nature of civilization itself. Cave reveals remarkable depth and breadth of learning, yet is always a breeze to read. I thoroughly enjoyed his book--it's a really intriguing study."
--David Boyd Haycock, author of "Mortal Coil "and "A Crisis of Brilliance"
"I loved this.Cave has set himself an enormous task and accomplished it--inspades. Establishing a four-level subject matter, he has stuck to his guns and never let up. As he left one level and went to the next, I was always a little worried: Would he be able to pull it off? This was especially true as he approached the end. There is a sense in which each level, as he left it smoking in the road, looked easy as he started the next. In fact, the last level, while it is the most difficult, is the best, the most satisfying. I am happy to live in the world Cave describes."
-- Charles Van Doren, author of "A History of Knowledge "
"Cave is smart, lucid, elegant and original. "Immortality" is an engaging read about our oldest obsession, and how that obsession propels some of our greatest accomplishments."
--Greg Critser, author of "Eternity Soup "
" "
"In "Immortality" Stephen Cave tells wonderful stories about one of humanity's oldest desires and comes to a wise conclusion."
-- Stefan Klein, author of "The Science of Happiness "and "The Secret Pulse of Time "
"Cave has produced a strikingly original and compelling exploration of the age-old conundrum: Can we live forever, and do we really want to?"
--John Horgan, science journalist and author of "The End of War"
'An epic inquiry into the human desire to defy death and how to overcome it' - Julian Baggini, Financial Times --http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b1c3570a-7765-11e1-93cb-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qs7RSf19
'A must-read exploration of what spurs human ingenuity' - S. Jay Olshansky, New Scientist --http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428592.500-our-desire-to-thwart-death-drives-progress.html
'An epic inquiry into the human desire to defy death and how to overcome it' - Julian Baggini, Financial Times --http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b1c3570a-7765-11e1-93cb-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qs7RSf19
'A must-read exploration of what spurs human ingenuity' - S. Jay Olshansky, New Scientist --http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428592.500-our-desire-to-thwart-death-drives-progress.html
--Eric Olson, author of "The Human Animal "and "What Are We? "
" "
""Immortality "plumbs the depths of the human mind and ties the quest for the infinite prolongation of life into the very nature of civilization itself. Cave reveals remarkable depth and breadth of learning, yet is always a breeze to read. I thoroughly enjoyed his book--it's a really intriguing study."
--David Boyd Haycock, author of "Mortal Coil "and "A Crisis of Brilliance"
"I loved this.Cave has set himself an enormous task and accomplished it--inspades. Establishing a four-level subject matter, he has stuck to his guns and never let up. As he left one level and went to the next, I was always a little worried: Would he be able to pull it off? This was especially true as he approached the end. There is a sense in which each level, as he left it smoking in the road, looked easy as he started the next. In fact, the last level, while it is the most difficult, is the best, the most satisfying. I am happy to live in the world Cave describes."
-- Charles Van Doren, author of "A History of Knowledge "
"Cave is smart, lucid, elegant and original. "Immortality" is an engaging read about our oldest obsession, and how that obsession propels some of our greatest accomplishments."
--Greg Critser, author of "Eternity Soup "
" "
"In "Immortality" Stephen Cave tells wonderful stories about one of humanity's oldest desires and comes to a wise conclusion."
-- Stefan Klein, author of "The Science of Happiness "and "The Secret Pulse of Time "
"Cave has produced a strikingly original and compelling exploration of the age-old conundrum: Can we live forever, and do we really want to?"
--John Horgan, science journalist and author of "The End of War"
'An epic inquiry into the human desire to defy death and how to overcome it' - Julian Baggini, Financial Times --http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b1c3570a-7765-11e1-93cb-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qs7RSf19
'A must-read exploration of what spurs human ingenuity' - S. Jay Olshansky, New Scientist --http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428592.500-our-desire-to-thwart-death-drives-progress.html
'An epic inquiry into the human desire to defy death and how to overcome it' - Julian Baggini, Financial Times --http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b1c3570a-7765-11e1-93cb-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qs7RSf19
'A must-read exploration of what spurs human ingenuity' - S. Jay Olshansky, New Scientist --http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428592.500-our-desire-to-thwart-death-drives-progress.html
About the Author
Stephen Cave is a writer, philosopher and diplomat. He regularly writes essays and book reviews for the Financial Times.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Bergfexi
Format:Hardcover
Stephen Cave takes apart what we refer to as civilization. Almost everywhere he uncovers as a driving force our deep desire to avoid death. He then makes out four ways which have been tried since the beginning of time by hopefuls of all creeds and races to achieve immortality. Along the journey he uncovers interesting historical facts and anecdotes but also uses cutting-edge research from the biological sciences. The best thing for me though was the ending where Cave moves on from dissecting our culture in order to build a truly eye-opening philosophy that tries to look death in the eye rather than run away from it. Rarely have I encountered as much food for thought in a book. I know look at civilization and its rituals in a very different way. Very convincing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Stephen Cave argues that civilization has been driven by our attempts to resolve the Mortality Paradox -- the paradox being that we can objectively work out that we will die, yet we cannot subjectively imagine not existing. He groups the approaches to attaining immortality into four "immortality narratives", namely, Staying Alive, Resurrection, Soul, and Legacy. He surveys the history of the ideas behind each approach and illustrates them with stories of people who took these approaches -- from Gilgamesh through Dante and others to Linus Pauling -- displaying an impressive knowledge of history along the way. At the end, he advises on how to live with the knowledge of the conclusion.
If you are looking for information on the development of specific aspects of civilization, carry on looking. Here, the drive to civilization is described only in general terms -- more like a route marked on a road map with a highlighter pen than a street view. But if you are looking for a well-argued and intellectually stimulating analysis of immortality, look here. Cave argues his case well (as a good philosopher should, argument being the philosopher's only tool). Disregarding the Bee Gees earworm I experienced while reading the Staying Alive part, I enjoyed this book. I found it fascinating to learn what others believe and how they came to hold their beliefs.
Yet it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, and I probably won't want to re-read it. (I'm writing this review a couple of months after reading the book, and I had to look at it again to remind myself why I was impressed at the time.) Furthermore, I'm not sure who else will read this book because it's not clear who it's aimed at.... Read more ›
If you are looking for information on the development of specific aspects of civilization, carry on looking. Here, the drive to civilization is described only in general terms -- more like a route marked on a road map with a highlighter pen than a street view. But if you are looking for a well-argued and intellectually stimulating analysis of immortality, look here. Cave argues his case well (as a good philosopher should, argument being the philosopher's only tool). Disregarding the Bee Gees earworm I experienced while reading the Staying Alive part, I enjoyed this book. I found it fascinating to learn what others believe and how they came to hold their beliefs.
Yet it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, and I probably won't want to re-read it. (I'm writing this review a couple of months after reading the book, and I had to look at it again to remind myself why I was impressed at the time.) Furthermore, I'm not sure who else will read this book because it's not clear who it's aimed at.... Read more ›
By happyfamily
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book keep my husband engrossed for days and it gave him plenty of new idea to talk about when we had friends round.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By SCM
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read this book, without any real thoughts or understanding of Immortality
To my surprise I not only gained an understanding of what immortality actually meant but I really enjoyed reading the book.
Cave has written a very clear book, without it being too heavy.
A must read.
To my surprise I not only gained an understanding of what immortality actually meant but I really enjoyed reading the book.
Cave has written a very clear book, without it being too heavy.
A must read.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Penfold
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A must read for everyone who has ever contemplated death, and that is everyone. A beautifully written tour de force which wears its considerable learning lightly.
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