With both a light touch and academic confidence, King posits that extraterrestrials may have seeded life on Earth, supporting Richard Dawkin's argument for a Higher intelligence, parallel to ancient scriptures' description of angels. He further examines the ancestry of early humans (Adamites) interbreeding with hominids—a theory he finds echoed in the Koran—and speculates that interactions between Adamites and Neanderthals could explain myths about trolls and giants, perhaps even inspiring worship due to physical differences—leading to a conclusion that humans possess an innate drive to search for the divine. King’s bold sweep of evidence and argument—among other topics, King contemplates apocalypses, space travel, immortality, self-determinism, the multiverse, the Carl Sagan’s idea that humans are made of “star stuff,” and the possibility humans were fashioned from clay—imbues the book with wonder.
King suggests with some passion a fundamental unity among all religions as they evolve. Readers who welcome the challenge of fresh thinking and tearing down rigid boundaries will enjoy this exploration of the DMZ between science and spirituality.
Takeaway: Ambitious, fascinating reexamination of the conflict between science and spirituality.
Comparable Titles: Francis Collins's The Language of God, Ursula Goodenough's The Sacred Depths of Nature.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-