author is a small minded bigot

the way this guy talks about overweight people is evidence of the fact that he cannot possibly be a deep thinker. thoughtless and insulting. I wouldnt read a book by a blatant racist and I won't read this BS either.

4 people found this helpful

Comprehensive, worth reading

Lots Of anthropological tidbits, as well as good mind bio hacks. Some stuff debatable but overall good perspective

2 people found this helpful

I found this book refreshingly witty

The book is giving a new perspective on the impact of evolution on the modern days' life. Worth listening!

2 people found this helpful

Amazing and life altering

I really enjoyed this as a biology student. This book keeps up with a prevailing motif, that the natural way is often the "best" way.

1 person found this helpful

loved it, one of the best of it's type.

I've listened to a lot of books about evolutionary psychology and this is one of the best!

1 person found this helpful

Worth Your Time

I enjoy Jevan’s book and I appreciate all the questions it raises for me about how I live and what aspects of life I am not fully introspective investigated.

1 person found this helpful

Our future lies in a return to natural life

Our future happiness is wrapped in returning to natural modern practices that will help us live meaningful lives. Jevan Pradas has brought together science and ancient practices to create a guide for the living in harmony with our essential nature. An incredible book that has changed my life. Thank you Jevan

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful book

This book is a gift that one will be happy they found. If you were thinking about starting audiobooks this is a good starting book for the wit . Paul was perfect for this narration. I’m sure the regular book is awesome too it’s just this didn’t feel like I was being educated but more entertained and then enlightened.
Thank you gentlemen.

Buddhism Without Karma Leads to Disaster

At first I really loved this book. Jevan's main idea was that modern humans can incorporate aspects of the hunter/gatherer lifestyle and Buddhist meditation practices to find the optimal way of happy living. I thought that it was an interesting idea and liked the part of the books which informs the reader about hunter/gatherer societies since, for such a big part of our evolution, this is how our ancestors lived. Jevan was devoted to science, treating it as the pinnicle of wisdom. After much reflection on this, I've come to believe that science is not in itself adequate for promoting a virtuous life. Science unfortunately has some big shortcomings. In Jevan's case, these shortcomings became apparent very quickly.

In this book, he emphasizes meditation and Buddhist teachings, so at first I was all for his message. Then his words hit me like a scientist splitting the atom. He wrote that he has no need for "dubious" ideas like karma and reincarnation. Upon hearing this, I couldn't take anything he said about Buddhism seriously.

Alright, time to get up on my soapbox.

For those who are unaware, karma is fundamental to the Buddha's teachings. It literally means "action", and represents all that you do, which of course is important if you are on the noble eightfold path. Actions have consequences, plain and simple. I know that science can't prove the existence of karma in a metaphysical sense, but it certainly can in a physical one. That's pretty much what physics is all about, isn't it? This is where science is of no help to someone on a spiritual path. It may even lead you far astray, if you let it. Just because you can't prove that living a virtuous life will result in the creation of good karma doesn't mean you should think that actions don't have consequences, even metaphysical ones. There are some things that science will never fully understand, but does that mean you will let it have the final say in all areas of your life?

For me, the idea of removing karma from the Buddha's teachings is so absurd, I can't believe that someone could actually attempt to do so. I mean just think about the four noble truths for a moment. Karma is implied within them, for how could you forge a path out of suffering without some kind of positive action? My thoughts are that you can't just get rid of the ideas that you don't like and still call it Buddhism. Or, maybe I should say you can, but the resulting wrong views will quickly lead to disaster.

Also, not once in the book did he mention the obvious contradiction between the basic precept of not killing and being a hunter. It would seem to me that this would, at the very least, create a lot of cognitive dissonance in your life, wouldn't it? He spends a lot of time talking about metta (loving-kindness) meditation, but what good is this practice if shortly after your meditation session, you kill one of the sentient beings you just gave your merit to? Now imagine this being a regular contradiction you encounter. My thoughts are that whatever you are doing in these metta meditation sessions, it would not be generating true loving kindness. Again, action needs to correspond with intent here.

Also, I didn't like how his motivation for meditation was to create bliss. I know that meditation can bring these things, but if you go into it solely for the desire or "blissing out", it seems to me that the motivation is wrong. It's just more sense pleasure. He used to take ecstasy (MDMA), and he said that he loved the way it made him feel, but he didn't like the hangover, and that meditation is free of this hangover. By saying that, it seems like he's suggesting that mediation can be a substitute for this bliss bringing drug. This all just seemed to be wrong motivation. I am skeptical that anyone going into meditation with this kind of motivation will achieve the bliss they're looking for anyway.

Would I recommend this book? If you are the type of person who can treat it only as food for thought, disregarding the numerous wrong views he espouses, and disregarding most of what he says about Buddhism, then yes. His discussions about anthropology and hunter/gatherer societies are fascinating, to be sure. I think for modern humans, this insight could be beneficial. If you're reading this book to learn more about the teachings of the Buddha, then I would urge you to look elsewhere.

subpar

I am a deep thinker and I studied and read as many as 250 books about evolution because it help me to have a better understanding of my environment and also interpret more effectively bout human behavior. the first hour of this book began to explain the mechanic of evolution which was on point and tremendous but after that, the subject become drab and monotonous for hours. there are a few great and relevant points in another chapter but overall I expected more relevant information and input. have I said all, this book has one of the most logical and practical conclusions that gravitate me to enlightenment.