Rating: 
Summary: Thought-provoking and dynamic
Review: This book has changed my life. I recommended it to many people. It is not about religion, it is about the spirituality that we all posess in whatever form we choose to express it. A person can take many things from this book if he or she is willing to open his or her mind to the richness of the message presented here. The most important lesson I learned from this book is that it helped me deal with my father's death, something that I was having trouble doing before I read this book. I am at peace now because by reading Mr. Zukav's book, I understand what it means to have a universal soul, and that my father is not really dead but is part of the universal life force that exists in all of us. It has also helped me to recognize and deal with my food addiction, which I realize now is due to my desire to obtain external power. If you want to find out what external power is, and how the desire for it fuels our addictions then please read this book! The Seat of the Soul is like an owners manual for life.
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Summary: My Gracious. What a writing challenge.
Review: I worked my way through the Seat of the Soul and was happy to have done so. Did I agree with everything? No. However I do not throw discredit on Zukav's effort. It was good food for thought. My tastes lean toward a more centered (common man or practical) search for meaning. By a quirk I found it in LIFE WITH NOAH -- a beautifully crafted book. I have loaned my copy to friends who claim they "don't care to read much" or "Have no time," only to find they purchased a copy for themselves! From the perspective of an ordinary man, a Lake Placid camp caretaker and woodsman, the author takes readers on a mind trip back in time with Richard Smith and Noah John Rondeau, an Adirondack mountain hermit. A telling story. A narrative of outdoor men's everyday living in the wilds. Nonfiction that explores life's meaning in a tongue that made it very hard for me to put the book down. Yes. Engrossing. As much a nature exploration of the soul as an expression for treasured friendship. This book should be made into a movie.
Rating: 
Summary: What are you saying?
Review: Gary Zuzak demonstrates a general misunderstanding of evolution, a premise on which much of his books rests. While the book will occasionally present an interesting idea, it lacks substance and coherence. Zuzak makes claims without supporting them and then uses choppy language to distract attention from it. He seems to make bold statements which lack meaning, and at times it seems that even he does not know what he is trying to say. In short, this book moves with the grace of an injured turtle.
Rating:
Summary: What a let-down!
Review: What a bunch of "hooey"! Mr. Zukav must have a mighty high opinion of himself.
Rating:
Summary: Don't misunderstand the point
Review: What Zukav is talking about is spiritual evolution, not biological evolution. You cannot apply science to spirituality (unless you are a researcher at MIT). Certainly the word "evolution" has evolved beyond Darwin's interpretation. Surely no scientist believes that the "rules" of evolution are engraved in stone.John M (12-20-99) complains that Christians are always trying to exert their influence, but science does this as well. Don't get me wrong. I advocate science, but science is insignificant in the face of "the mystery." For example, science would like us to believe that it can explain everything about the world, never mind that funny event called the Big Bang where the world appeared out of nothing! Likewise, science would like us to believe that our consciousness is a product of biological evolution. But suppose that biological evolution is not a product of random events. Suppose what we call "evolution" is being driver by something (call it The Tao, God, "awareness," an organizing principal, whatever) that pushes for higher levels of complexity and thus higher levels of consciousness. In this sense, a monkey is more evolved than a horse and people are more evolved than algae (paraphrasing Piske, 12-5-99). Of course, I'm using consciousness in people are conscious"). But suppose that every seed is a potential stream of God-consciousness pushing for higher awareness. A beautiful orchid is God being conscious-- as a beautiful orchid--nothing more. That is good enough. As for us, somewhere along the way, we started thinking that our ego and not out spirit was the primary essence of our life. What Zukav is talking about is reclaiming our spiritual nature. The ego has done its job. It has helped us dominate our environment. But it should no longer be the central theme of our existence. Zukav's theme of authentic power and multisensory humans is the best I have heard to explain what the next stage in our evolution should be. Zukav's evolution is different from scientific evolution. It won't take millions of years of physical changes. We already have what we need. This is easy to understand once you get past thinking that we are here to "eat" the world. We only need to realize that we are evolving spiritual beings. This has nothing to do with religion and religious organizations. It works at the individual level when you realize that you are part of the "awareness" of the universe and fully participating in its creation now. The findings of the new physics tend to lead us to that. The world is indeed mysterious and fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Zukav should be nominated for an award.
Review: I would like to personally thank Mr. Zukav for writing this masterpiece. I found this book to be a very insightful and fabulously detailed explanation of the universe and what role humans play it is evolution. My life has been enriched by the experience of reading this book and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in learning about the substructure of human consciousness. If you are a spiritual person, a Doctor, Therapist, Chiropractor, Preacher, Priest or just a person that wishes to find a deeper meaning for your existence, you must read this book. If you are having trouble in your life, illness, dissatisfaction or other maladies that need healing, this book provides direction. It is no wonder that this book has been a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Do not wait, you will not be sorry, this book will improve your life.
Rating:
Summary: The seat of my balls
Review: This book should have been called "The seat of my Balls", seeing as how it really made my nuts ache.
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Summary: All other topics aside, Zukav knows NOTHING about evolution
Review: I admit it, I didn't read very much of this book. That is because the first two pages turned my stomach inside out. Specific examples of Zukav's clear out-and-out ignorance and lack of education on the subject of evolution have been laid out by a previous reviewer (date of review was Dec. 5). After that remarkable two-page display of Zukav's inadequacy and unqualification to be teaching other people about this stuff I thumbed through the index picking out various tid-bits here and there. One of the more grating statements was that all conflict arises from people's desire to have power over each other. Ironically, I believe he is right about half the time. Lots of people crave an immense amount of power over other people. Christians are always trying to exert influence over stranger's lives. My conflict is different however. I have no desire to control anyone. My conflicts are a directly defensive reaction to all those people who want power over me. You tell me I have to read your ten commandments hanging on my school or office walls, that's power you want over me and my conflict is in defense against the aggressive move by you. Zukav, you need to learn a lot before you attempt your next book. On a raw level you should read some Dawkins or Gould to get a grasp on the fundamentals of evolution. To address the philosophy behind it all (which you are obviously fascinated with), you should read something by Daniel Dennett. In your present form you are unqualified to be teaching anyone much of anything.
Rating:
Summary: An irresponsible interpretation
Review: Zuvak is the king of demystifying science only so he can mythologize it with a bunch of conjecture. If you're interested in this topic, go learn quantum physics first, then come around to his book - otherwise you may fall for his charming but twisted take on turning physics into spirituality. Spirituality doesn't come from changing your thinking (Zuvak), but from transcending your thinking and self (mysticism). Try Ken Wilber's Brief History of Everthing.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Perfection
Review: If you though that you where spiritually correct before reading this book. Guess what? You have miles to go. Gary Zukav actually makes you think and feel your spiritual being. He creates a spritual opportunity for you with the insightful observances he makes. The great thing about this book is it's left up to you what path to pursue. He doesn't cloud the issue with psycho babbble that gets you lost after the first paragraph. If you want to be a better person in the year two thousand this is the book for you. It will actually help you obtain your own spiritual perfection.
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