From Bacteria to Bach and Back
From Bacteria to Bach and Back
Daniel C. Dennett
Esther Dyson
How consciousness arises, and how much it depends on a sense of past, present, and future (plus a lot of other interesting insights). - Esther Dyson
Vinod Khosla
Long but worth every page. - Vinod Khosla
Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
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From Bacteria to Bach and Back

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds

Daniel C. Dennett
By
Daniel C. Dennett
3.8
418
ratings on Goodreads

In the ambitious journey "From Bacteria to Bach and Back," Daniel C. Dennett embarks on an exploration of consciousness that bridges the gap between hard science and profound philosophical inquiry. With a narrative that is as engaging as it is enlightening, Dennett weaves together the threads of evolution, biology, and computer science to propose a groundbreaking theory on how the human mind emerged from the primordial soup of mindless matter. Through the lens of natural selection, Dennett illustrates the incremental steps that led from the simplicity of bacteria to the complexity of Bach's fugues, revealing the marvel of the mind's evolution. Dennett challenges the reader to consider the role of memes—not just genes—in human development. These units of cultural transmission, he argues, are the architects of our intellectual faculties, allowing us to surpass the limitations of biological evolution. As these memes competed and collaborated, they crafted the tools of reason, imagination, and creativity that characterize the human experience. "From Bacteria to Bach and Back" is not merely a recounting of the history of the mind; it is a visionary leap into the possibilities of what the mind can become, making it an essential read for anyone fascinated by the mysteries of consciousness and the wonders of human ingenuity.

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Released
2017
7 Feb
Length
477
Pages

3

recommendations

recommendation

How consciousness arises, and how much it depends on a sense of past, present, and future (plus a lot of other interesting insights). - Esther Dyson
Long but worth every page. - Vinod Khosla
Ray Dalio mentioned this book on "The Tim Ferriss Show" podcast.
That's a rhetorical question, and trying to answer rhetorical questions instead of being cowed by them is a good habit to cultivate.
— Daniel C. Dennett, From Bacteria to Bach and Back

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