Science Set Free

10 Paths to New Discovery

By: Rupert Sheldrake

Narrated by: Rupert Sheldrake, Jane Collingwood, David Timson

The best-selling author of Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home offers an intriguing new assessment of modern-day science that will radically change the way we view what is possible.

In Science Set Free, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake, one of the world's most innovative scientists, shows the ways in which science is being constricted by assumptions that have, over the years, hardened into dogmas. Such dogmas are not only limiting, but dangerous for the future of humanity.

According to these principles, all of reality is material or physical; the world is a machine, made up of inanimate matter; nature is purposeless; consciousness is nothing but the physical activity of the brain; free will is an illusion; God exists only as an idea in human minds, imprisoned within our skulls.

But should science be a belief-system, or a method of enquiry? Sheldrake shows that the materialist ideology is moribund; under its sway, increasingly expensive research is reaping diminishing returns while societies around the world are paying the price.

In the skeptical spirit of true science, Sheldrake turns the 10 fundamental dogmas of materialism into exciting questions, and shows how all of them open up startling new possibilities for discovery.

Science Set Free will radically change your view of what is real and what is possible.

©2012 Rupert Sheldrake (P)2012 Random House Audio

Stunning and compelling

Beautiful and highly practical. One shortcoming : the other male reader. Sheldrake himself is edifying to listen to.

A must read for the scientist and lay person alike

My initial interest is to understand more about Shelldrake’s research about “morphic resonance” but this specific book is not yet available on Audible. This book was fun to listen to, very well researched and grounded. I highly recommend this book to all persons who are proud, open-minded scientists and to the lay person alike that intuitively knows that there is more to science than cold, hard material data.

A light in a very dark room

The truth is out there, possibly beyond us humans and certainly that of our current modes of limited scientific thinking. Rupert beautifully boxes the religion of science, exposing its weak, dogmatic foundations and poking holes through the protective cloaks of the priesthood. For non-scientists, this book is quite effective - most of us don't have "skin in the game" that drives us to protect "our precious" science, thus, the concepts are quickly absorbed and understood. But for scientists, they are the ones who deeply need this information and are the least likely to engage with it. Why? Friends, we are in a very dark room...

Dear Science: Put up or shut up.

Sheldrake lays out the strongest and most logical confrontation of assumed science dogma to date. He doesn't claim to have ALL answers, but he clearly identifies many huge holes in the hyper-materialist perspectives, then proposes alternate possibilities, which are unified by an overarching theory. This book is complex, rich in detail, and historically expansive and instructive. Throughout, the histories and the threads of current scientific thought are laid out, giving the reader/listener an exceptionally lucid understanding of current debates and perspectives.

One caveat: If you have made up your mind (as one reviewer clearly has), this book will infuriate you. Fair warning: This book is for strong, open minds only.

Excellent

I love that the author narrated this. His voice is perfect.

This book will hopefully begin a discussion amongst academics about the bad habits that the scientific community have developed, especially regarding those dogmas that are considered unquestionable. Sheldrake makes a convincing case not that there is a supernatural, but that the principles and dogmas of materialism haven't been adequately established scientifically, and have failed to explain certain phenomena.

There's so much good stuff in this book, on so many different topics, including animals, cosmology, spirituality, education, the medical industry, and much more. And it inadvertently confirms my suspicions that Richard Dawkins, rather than being an open minded pursuer of truth, is instead a sort of high priest in the church of Scientism.

I recommend this book to everyone, although some prior knowledge of cosmology, philosophy and biology would go a long way.

Superbly Enlightening

Sheldrake shows his brilliance with this book as one of the most reputable "scientists" of the modern world. The ideas and subjects discussed in this book deserve much attention and should be incorporated into all forms of formal education.

Skeptical of skepticism...

Sheldrake's presentation of "morphic resonance" takes a back seat to his methodical, logical dismantling of the assumptions rife in modern culture. Well worth it.

Great Book.

Great book. Good info. Performed with excellence. Although I utterly agree with the topic I still run into cognitive dissonance regarding AI. If matter is imbued with consciousness can a man made and not initially self organizing machine somehow tap into the universal consciousness, become self organizing and sentient? Can it then reproduce and evolve? My personal bias says no, but I do not know if my personal bias could be proved more valid than that of a strict materialist.

Thought provoking treatise on Scientific dogma

Certainly I think Rupert does a good job on posing questions worth asking.

I have heard that Dr. Sheldrake is as close to a hippie as modern science can go, and this book does not disappoint :-)

His arguments however are very provocative and worthy of consideration and exploration. I recommend this book to those individuals seeking to understandmore about how everything in our experience and nature it together.

The book that proves what you've already suspected

The scientific status quo is the new Catholic church and needs to be questioned via its own processes. This book will explain why and how it can be done.