The Field Updated Ed: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe [Paperback]

The Field investigates developments at the frontiers of science. Schroedinger, Heisenberg, Bohr and Pauli were the pioneers of quantum physics, but numerous scientists in various disciplines have been conducting experiments that reveal profound new possibilities in our perception of the universe. The author investigates the work of those scientists who are at the cutting edge of exploration, all with reference to the life force, universal energy field or Zero Point Field, an ocean of microscopic vibrations. It would appear that evidence is mounting that the universe is one vast quantum field.

Part One: The Resonating Universe, looks at the work of pioneers like Rupert Sheldrake, Fritz Albert Popp, Robert O Becker, Jacques Benveniste and Karl Pribram. The theory of the universe as a collection of resonating frequencies is here examined. Part Two: The Extended Mind, explores the work of inter alia Helmut Schmidt, Jahn & Dunne and Puthoff & Targ. The topics include nonlocality, remote influence and viewing, dreams, clairvoyance, ESP, precognition, the nature of time and how the observer influences the observed.

Part Three: Tapping into the Field, describes the experiments of amongst others Elisabeth Targ and her positive findings of remote healing in AIDS cases, and the work of William Braud, Dean Radin and Roger Nelson. The concept of collective consciousness is elaborated upon and quite interesting. The speculations include the possibility that negative consciousness is like a germ that infects large numbers of people and could produce evil like the Inquisition, Hitler and the Salem Witch Trial.

On the other hand, positive consciousness might give rise to great periods in history, like the Renaissance and many benign popular trends. The question of the existence of emotional and intellectual synchronicity is addressed here. McTaggart also considers developments in artificial intelligence and speculates how these discoveries might influence the future. They are hinting at an immense human potential, validating alternative medicine and confirming some mythical and religious beliefs. The author believes that this scientific revolution has forever ended the concept of dualism.

Notes are arranged by chapter, and a huge bibliography and an index conclude the book. Lynne McTaggart has performed a great service by making the research of a large number of scientists known to a wide popular audience. Sometimes the overly detailed descriptions of various experiments and their preparation become tedious. Also, the physical descriptions of the scientists under discussion are often somewhat irritating and superfluous, although it might have been done to keep the narrative conversational and accessible amidst all the science.

I was surprised and impressed with her chapters on the development of the scientific study of zero point energy. I enjoyed them thoroughly and found the topic interesting. However, in general her work was "new age" - that is, she leaps to completely speculative conclusions and connections about what this little understood phenomenon can mean to us in everyday life. It's like someone claimnig that we can travel on sunbeams when we discovered the particle nature of electromagnetic energy (that's exactly my point - it doesn't make any sense!).
In addition, disappointingly, she uses references to publications and interviews to create, or attempt to create, the impression that the scientists that worked in these areas were the source of much of the speculation. Here is a link that provides a example summary of what the science really speculates about with respect to zero point energy. This is all McTaggart could really say with any certainty, in my opinion (http://www.calphysics.org/zpe.html)
Although the writing was sometimes good, it isn't worth more than the lowest rating here because it completely misrepresents itself. If it had been more honest about its wildly speculative nature, I might have given it three stars.

Lynne claims to write this in simple terms, and although the concepts are based upon physics which is confusing to most of us, the analogies and metaphors could have been clearer. I can't imagine learning what she needed to in order to write this book. I find quantum mechanics and physics the stuff of miracles. Thanks for this book...now maybe I can write one in real layman's english some day.