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Conspiracy by Means of Natural Selection
Conspiracy by Means of Natural, Selection by Sherman P. Bastarache, explores the intricate relationship between faith, reason, human nature, and societal constructs. The author decodes the psychological and evolutionary origins of belief systems, language, and cultural narratives. Using a mix of historical, anthropological, and scientific perspectives, the book delves into humanity’s journey from primal instincts to complex ideologies, ultimately examining how belief and reasoning have shaped human progress and conflict.
One aspect I found intriguing was the book’s deep dive into language as a tool of human cognition and social structure. Bastarache’s claim that language is deeply rooted in primal senses and shaped by evolutionary necessities was fascinating. For instance, the exploration of the etymology of “V” and its symbolic ties to creation myths was unexpected and cleverly analyzed. At times, the explanations felt a bit elaborate which occasionally made it challenging to follow the central ideas as clearly as I would have liked.
The book shines when discussing the perpetual tug-of-war between faith and reason. Bastarache argues that these two forces are not inherently opposing but are evolutionary adaptations meant to coexist. The use of religious and mythological anecdotes, such as the reinterpretation of the Genesis story, brings a fresh and creative perspective. At times, though, I think the arguments felt more exploratory than conclusive.
I appreciated Bastarache’s exploration of “belief-reasoning” as a natural evolutionary mechanism. The idea that humans evolved to rely on “held-as-true” concepts for survival resonates, especially when tied to modern phenomena like conspiracy theories. Some sections, like the extended focus on primal consciousness and nervous system entanglements, felt lengthy and occasionally wandered from the main narrative, but I appreciate the depth they added.
Conspiracy by Means of Natural Selection is an intellectual yet accessible read for those fascinated by human evolution, cognitive science, and philosophy. Its unique lens on faith, reason, and their intersection with societal myths makes it particularly suited for readers who enjoy critical thinking and interdisciplinary analysis. Its blend of speculation and scholarly insight makes it a stimulating addition to conversations about human nature and belief systems.
Pages: 334 | ISBN : 978-0992159436
Evoking An Incident Emotion
An Erotic Phenotype answers some interesting questions about Romantic Love and human reproduction. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write this informative book?
I am an avid reader, more notably in all the sciences. I was reading Darwin’s Black Box because it claimed that it found flaws in Darwin’s theory of natural selection. That was on the molecular level, false as they were. I noticed that everywhere there were claims that some traits could not possibly be selected for without a creator or intelligent design: language, “the soul” or “spirit” was a big one, emotions… I was also quick to notice that some of these arguments contained answers to their own questions. Ignorance! I began looking at life and science in complete ignorance to see how far natural processes could carry an incident of biology. I.e. how an incident of sight can become an incident of beauty, evoking an incident emotion. That sparked the idea! The need to write this book was created by another book I wrote: Moral Indignation, which due to available topic space, I was forced to omit the natural course of events leading to love.
What research did you do for this novel to get it right?
I read everything I could get my hands on, in every science, every mythology, including scientific papers, books, and articles. I must point out that my father was a woman hater to the core! Mentally dealing with his absurdities helped me recognize how really amazing women truly are! It is not possible to know enough, or even learn enough, to cover every topic in complete detail. I tried to learn as much as possible. I read a few books on female same-sex erotica in an attempt to gain some mental/emotional concept of the same-sex female brain, thinking it might be close to a cisgender male brain. Also, I find that the best teacher is life. I watched people interacting with other people.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
The book is a new release and as far as I know only a few family members and friends have read it. That said, I am questioned about the topic a lot. The word “Erotic” makes people think about erotica, which it is not. The joking stops when they understand it is about “eros”. Honestly, I have not asked anyone I know that did read it what they thought. Maybe I should.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
That is a beautiful question. There are so many topics that are not fully understood. There are still so many claims of intelligent design which need to be addressed. I am currently working on two books, both untitled. With all the current conspiracy theories and false news claims, I think it is important to explore how humans were selected for having the ability to analyze our world. We need to see how our two innate instincts, “belief” and “reason”, in that order, play havoc with one another. I am hopeful that I can publish by 2024.
Author Links: Amazon | Twitter | Website
Being in love requires you to be physical. It requires you to be emotional. It requires you to be mindful. To exist as an erotic phenotype.
Eros, commonly called Romantic Love, is more than just emotion. We have an entangled ménage à trois of sensations happening in our bodies and brains. It is the total of our entangled sensations that drive us to this insanity—that thing we call love.
LITERARY TITAN 