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The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism Paperback – Illustrated, September 14, 2010

by Fritjof Capra (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 736 ratings
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A special edition of the “brilliant” best-selling classic on the paradoxes of modern physics and their relationship to concepts of Eastern mysticism (New York Magazine)
 
The Tao of Physics brought the mystical implications of subatomic physics to popular consciousness for the very first time. Many books have been written in the ensuing years about the connections between quantum theory and the ideas of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, but Fritjof Capra’s text serves as the foundation on which the others have been built—and its wisdom has stood the test of time. Its publication in more than twenty-three languages stands as testimony to its universal applicability and its enduring significance.
 
This special edition celebrates the thirty-fifth anniversary of this early Shambhala best seller that has gone on to become a true classic. It includes a fresh cover design and a new preface by the author reflecting on further discoveries and developments in the years since the book’s original publication.

“Physicists do not need mysticism,” Dr. Capra says, “and mystics do not need physics, but humanity needs both.” It is a message of timeless importance.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shambhala
  4. Publication date
    September 14, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1590308352
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1590308356
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A brilliant best seller. . . . Lucidly analyzes the tenets of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism to show their striking parallels with the latest discovery in cyclotrons.”—New York magazine

“A pioneering book of real value and wide appeal.”—Washington Post


“I have been reading the book with amazement and the greatest interest, recommending it to everyone I meet and, as often as possible, in my lectures. I think you have done a magnificent and extremely important job.”—Joseph Campbell

About the Author

Fritjof Capra has done research in theoretical high-energy physics at the University of Paris; the University of California; Stanford University; and Imperial College, London. He holds a PhD from the University of Vienna. Dr. Capra is the author of five international best sellers: The Tao of Physics (1975), The Turning Point (1982), Uncommon Wisdom (1988), The Web of Life (1996), and The Hidden Connections (2002).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala; Updated edition (September 14, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1590308352
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590308356
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 736 ratings

About the author

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Fritjof Capra

Fritjof Capra

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Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., physicist and systems theorist, is a founding director of the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley. Capra is the author of several international bestsellers, including The Tao of Physics (1975), The Web of Life (1996), The Hidden Connections (2002), The Science of Leonardo (2007), and Learning from Leonardo (2013). He is coauthor, with Pier Luigi Luisi, of the multidisciplinary textbook, The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision (Cambridge University Press, 2014).

www.fritjofcapra.net

author photo: Basso Cannarsa

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
736 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ajit Singh Solanki
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023
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Western science and Eastern mysticism compared very well. This book gives unique perspective.
One person found this helpful
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Typhoonrog
5.0 out of 5 stars Great way to renew your old physics training
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024
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This has bee around for awhile, but always was interested in reading it, when I had time. So now, 45 years after I graduated in physics, I enjoyed reading it.
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Dave Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars Transformational
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2023
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Some books merely entertain us, some simply inform us, a few will even inspire us. But the best books will transform us. This book has completely changed my views on the meaning of life. It not only helped to open my eyes to the physics that underlie all existence, but also the metaphysics of the Cosmos.
4 people found this helpful
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J.T. in Wilmington, NC
4.0 out of 5 stars Energy is all there is.
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2014
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Everything that is boils down to energy. Two belief systems that show that most clearly are quantum physics and eastern spiritual concepts. This book makes that clear. It's brilliant.
3 people found this helpful
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John P.
5.0 out of 5 stars A deep book well worth the study
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2021
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This is not for novices. There are several books of knowledge crammed into this one book which will change your outlook on the world if you understand it. It's not light reading. It takes study, concentration, and reflection. But it'll give you a deep insight into the nature of eastern religions which have an ancient connection to a previous civilization we're only beginning to learn about.
10 people found this helpful
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Zaid Al-Shayeb
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
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Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book--except for the last two chapters
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2018
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This is an amazing book to read if you want to see how some of the most important ideas in eastern mysticism and modern physics are converging. Actually, the "converging" is only taking place in our understanding: the concepts and worldviews of the two schools of thought are startlingly similar and have been for some time, and the author does a great job for the most part of drawing the parallels while not getting too technical with the modern physics stuff. I say "for the most part" because towards the end of the book (about the last two chapters) he basically says "screw the layman" and delves deeply into S matrix theory in a very technical, confusing, boring, and brain-overloading way. This is where he lost me; I wasn't able to finish the book. But most of the book is a great read--one of the best on the subject in my opinion.
59 people found this helpful
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Manjunath Sharma
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, very dated, some mis-interpetations of hindu philosophy (sanatana dharma)
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2015
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This review is for informational purpose only. I was listening to Chidambara rahasya (essence of Lord Shiva as Nataraj in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu India), when the discourse master mentioned this author and book (discourse master was Sri Samavedha Sanmukha Sarma). It is commendable that Western (and European) scientists are interested in Eastern Philosophy.

1. Book is dated (1975), except for preface (5th edition)

2. In the preface author makes this statement: Sanskrit atman and Latin anima ... they all mean "breath" of life. That is not correct according to Hindu philosophy and Vedanta literature. Prana / Breath (prana shakti) is 5 types - Prana, Apana, vyana, Udana and Samana (see any yoga book). But "atman" or atma is "chaitanya" is the divine spark in us (this is not a fire or electric spark) -think about it as consciousness that is omnipresent in all living beings.
3. I particularly read the section of cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Ok, nothing great. Trivial explanation. Modern authors : hindu Veda/Vedanta authors speakers give an excellent idea of Cosmic Dance of Shiva, and not this author.

4. Buddhism or its philosophy does not consider dimension of space (shoonya vadi). Adi shankaracharya debated these Buddhists during those times and proved to them the existence of a cause/effect that is termed as truth or brahman. That is called "self", atma, brahman. The entire Hindu philosophy hinges on only one truth / finding - that there is only one thing/self/atma/braham in this universe. This has become many.
5. Watch Professor Brian Cox video Wonders of Universe, or Cosmos (Netflix) - you'll understand the complex physics that this author is explaining. The modern authors explain physics and cosmology and universe (Mr. Capra's book is not updated with respect to big-bang theory dating ).

6. Amazes me how on earth that Hindu sages found out that there is only one thing (advaitha -no two things) in this universe that can manifest in many shape and forms. Long before any culture had any ideas about this concept that matter and energy are same (science tells this from 1915+, Einstein relativity theory), Hindus knew this 5000 yrs or before. These sage heard that sound / vision in deep meditation or turiya avastha (Vedas).

Other information on Hindu philosophy for interested folks.

Watch Professor Brian Cox's Wonders of universe. You'll realize that one needs a special equipment to see the origin of universe (light waves and radio waves, special telescope and special equipment to record radio waves at different end of spectrum). He is explaining science. Read Shankara's advaitha tatwa. They closely match - at the highest level, all matter and energy in universe is one and same, but due to density ripples, same thing is seen differently (as stars, planets, life etc). This universe's primordial sound is captured using special equipment by scientists.

So in a similar manner, if we are to experience that "self" in us, then we need special equipment (call it samadhi phase). So Shankara always talks metaphysics and adwaitha (another indirect word -there are no two things, why not say, there is only one thing?)

Finally note: The more science advances , advaitha siddhanta of Vedas (and clarified by Adi shankaracharya in his works) will be proven again and again. (statement by Swami Vivekananda). Think about this profound statement - No other religion or country can make this statement except Hindu philosophy (sanatana dharma). That is because the entire brahmanda (universe) starting from any (atom) is made of same material. This is what science tells us (2004, 2001 Big Bang theory, proof that all matter in us, animals, trees, banana, rocks, space and stars has same origin)

Anubhuti: Is feeling the actual "aparoksha" , getting that experience. Reading a book is understanding its "artha" formation of sentences, meaning, etc. But "feeling" is different and that is what Sri shankara is referring to.

Dristantha versus Siddhanta (seeing and forming opinion versus logic, experience based realization) -Most world religions (except hindu philosophy) is based on a story -Drishtanta (there is hell or heaven, you do this, you get hell or heaven, do not do this, convert non-believers to its own religion, other people are useless, no karma, if you do bad, you can go to some person and confess, and somehow things go away - all this based on human logic).

Whereas - Hindu philosophy is based on Siddhanta and experience (darshana - people / rishis , Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharishi recently). Logically Shankara shows that there is something out there beyond your senses that can be experienced. That something out there is the "truth" and to experience that you need special equipment.
45 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

sadhana
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it
Reviewed in India on December 9, 2023
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n1lesson
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting exploration of the parallels between these two worlds
Reviewed in Sweden on August 12, 2023
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Yet not going into too much details of neither of them. Could be quite heavy on the physics parts for those without engineering background.
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alex404
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarity and concision
Reviewed in Germany on November 5, 2018
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This is a book well worth reading from cover to cover.
And I especially liked the two prefaces and two afterwords, and the epilogue.
There are no less than 60 mentions of scientists, mystics and scientific theories for those interested in further research.
A book for every school library, one that may replace many many other more sectarian ones.
2 people found this helpful
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William Sherman
5.0 out of 5 stars As great as when I first read it 30 odd years ...
Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2016
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As great as when I first read it 30 odd years ago. More the much so now I know how right the author is. Very insightful and very well written. I recommend this to any body who wants to expand their mind.
One person found this helpful
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Colin Dailley
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2016
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Amazing work. Everyone should own a copy . . . . and read it !!
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