In ‘Why Us?’, James Le Fanu explores the major implications of the most recent findings of genetics and neuroscience, challenging the common assumption that they must ultimately explain all there is to know about life and man’s place in the world. On the contrary, he argues, they point to an unbridgeable explanatory gap between the genes strung out along the Double Helix and the near infinite beauty and diversity of the living world to which they give rise, and between the monotonous electro-chemistry of the brain and richness and creativity of the human mind. “There is,” he writes, “a powerful impression that science has been looking in the wrong place, seeking to resolve questions that somehow lie outside its domain. It is as if we – and indeed all living things – are in some way different, profounder and more complex than the physical world to which we belong.” A N Wilson in his review described it as ‘an extraordinary work of science … quite wonderfully refreshing’; for Christopher Booker in The Spectator it was “enthralling”: “one of the glories of Le Fanu’s erudite and beautifully written book is that a sense of wonder is evident on every page, even as he lucidly analyses the limitations of the narrow intellectual prism in which science has languished too long.”
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'An extraordinary work of science...quite wonderfully refreshing.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
James Le Fanu is a medical doctor and regular columnist for the Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph. He graduated from Cambridge University and the Royal London Hospital in 1974. He has published research articles in the ‘British Medical Journal’, ‘Lancet’ and the ‘Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine’.
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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a first class, thought provoking book. The arguments are clearly and intelligently presented, and backed up by detailed facts and illustrations which clearly show both the historical aspects of the subject and the results of recent developments. The author is no respecter of reputations, and it is a pleasure to see the somewhat arrogant opinions and statements of some pillars of the current scientific establishment questioned. In particular, hard line Darwinists are asked some awkward questions.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Outrider
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book provides a brilliant insight into the many scientific problems concerning evolution, Darwinism and The Brain, etc, discussing the underlying problems with scientific philosophy of Reductionism and determinism. The book is stuffed full of the most amazing facts to astound anyone familiar or not with these dilemmas facing modern science. Once you start reading this book you will not find it easy to put down. Le Fanu has a brilliant, razor sharp mind and intellect, which allows nothing to escape his informed insight, rigour and impatience with those who still insist on Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection, debunked at the turn of the 19th century but still kept alive by those whose careers are based on this false assumption. He will take you to many places - 20th century America, where 'Natural Selection', was actually put into practice to prevent poor people breeding - to Nazi Germany and their use of 'Survival of the Fittest', as an excuse to exterminate the Jews and others considered unfit for the master race. There are no punches held, and all through the book one is spellbound by the sheer amount, and depth, of scientific detail, especially when it comes to discussing the Brain, Mind, etc. This book should be in every school library and most certainly in all Universities. Everyone should read this book. It dispels all the nonsense spoken about evolution and puts the debate back on track, demonstrating how some scientists try to persuade the general public that The Theory of Evolution is now fact. The very philosophy of science is put firmly in the dock as not having all the answers, and although I am a fervent admirer of Science, cannot abide those who support bad science and dish out to the general public the most dreadful meaningless hypotheses and theories as truth. This man of science sets the track straight by helping readers understand the problems confronting scientific theory today. An excellent read. Well done Mr Le Fanu and thank you so much.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Reader
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
James Le Fanu asks some important questions, you know, the ones we are not supposed to ask. If you still think science has all the answers already this is worth a read. You may not agree with absolutely every word and you may find you don't track all the arguments, but it still nourishment for the brain.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revelationary
A book everyone should read - and re-read, bought a copy for each of our adult children.Hard to put down once you start. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Minkie
4.0 out of 5 stars
What does "non material reality" mean?
In this book, Dr James Le Fanu tries at first, almost successfully to hide his religious agenda.
He goes on to unfairly accuse the scientific community of being in a... Read more
He goes on to unfairly accuse the scientific community of being in a... Read more
Published on 9 May 2011 by M. G. KETTERIDGE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Testing Darwin - does he survive?
All scientific theories should be challenged and re-examined regularly and when, like Darwinism, they survive the challenge, they grow in stature. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2010 by John Nichols
5.0 out of 5 stars
A triumph
The author's declared aims are to restore a sense of wonder to the scientific enterprise, and man to the pedestal from which he has been so unceremoniously toppled by philosophical... Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2010 by C. Copus
1.0 out of 5 stars
Why not?
Honestly, I didn't enjoy this book as I did with other science books... His arguments and criticisms based only on the Genoma Project and the new techniques to scan the brain are... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2010 by Lewiscat
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not convinced
I really enjoyed 'The rise and fall of modern medicine' but I was very disappointed by 'Why us?'. This book does not feel objective and it seems to have been written with a... Read more
Published on 12 July 2010 by N. Macdougall
5.0 out of 5 stars
D.Evans
Excellent book. One of the best I have read. Not a light read but very interesting.
Published on 13 Jun 2010 by D. W. H. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
Reading this book you wonder - how can so many intelligent people be so blind when the issue of evolution is at stake? Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2009 by N. Bar
1.0 out of 5 stars
MORE BAD SCIENCE
I find that this book consists largely of a regurgitation of naive popular anti-scientific humbug. The author does not seem to understand basic biology and the book is full of 'bad... Read more
Published on 20 July 2009 by B. H. Gaskell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why Us?
This was a gift which was very appreciated. It arrived very quickly, so thank you for your prompt attention.
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by Ms. C. M. Vincent
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