Intelligence in nature : an inquiry into knowledge

Continuing the journey begun in his acclaimed book The Cosmic Serpent , the noted anthropologist ventures firsthand into both traditional cultures and the most up-todate discoveries of contemporary science to determine nature's secret ways of knowing. Anthropologist Jeremy Narby has altered how we understand the Shamanic cultures and traditions that have undergone a worldwide revival in recent years. Now, in one of his most extraordinary journeys, Narby travels the globe-from the Amazon Basin to the Far East-to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers understand about the intelligence present in all forms of life. Intelligence in Nature presents overwhelming illustrative evidence that independent intelligence is not unique to humanity alone. Indeed, bacteria, plants, animals, and other forms of nonhuman life display an uncanny penchant for self-deterministic decisions, patterns, and actions. Narby presents the first in-depth anthropological study of this concept in the West. He not only uncovers a mysterious thread of intelligent behavior within the natural world but also probes the question of what humanity can learn from nature's economy and knowingness in its own search for a saner and more sustainable way of life. INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE CONTENTS Introduction SEARCHING FOR INTELLIGENCE IN NATURE Chapter 1 BRAINY BIRDS Chapter 2 AGNOSTIC VISIONS Chapter 3 TRANSFORMERS Chapter 4 CABIN FEVER Chapter 5 INSECT MINDS Chapter 6 PREDATORS Chapter 7 PLANTS AS BRAINS Chapter 8 SMART SLIME Chapter 9 JAPANESE BUTTERFLY MACHINES Chapter 10 MYSTERY JELLY Chapter 11 CHI-SEI AND KNOWING NATURE NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INDEX BIBLIOGRAPHIC INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR "Anthropologist Jeremy Narby travels throughout the globe - from the Amazon basin to the Far East - to probe what traditional healers and pioneering researchers understand about the intelligence present in all forms of life."