The Genius Within: Discovering the Intelligence of Every Living Thing

Rating:
Summary: The Best Overview of Biology, Evolution and Intelligence
Review: I've already reviewed this wonderful book under the title above. Unfortunately, my name was omitted from the review,despite my request not to be anonymous. I hope this will correct the omission.

Rating:
Summary: An Ode to Creativity (aka "emergent properties")
Review: If you want to know why Darwin might be "needlessy nihilistic" and what is at the core of Vertosick's carefully built case to explain--nothing less than--the possisble meaning of everything, then check this out. I thought the beginning was a little tedious, but the pay-off for hanging in there with his carefully crafted case was well worth it. I've bought several copies to share with friends and have had many lively debates. Thanks Dr. Vertosick for your emergent property--it's marvelous!

Rating:
Summary: Life is more then a Blind Algorithmic Process
Review: Though Vertosick does not focus on the more technical and strictly academic foundations of his major thesis (life=intelligence), he does a beautiful job of using analogies and metaphors to describe how even a cell can exhibit "intelligent" behaviour. This book should be required reading for anyone who is remotely interested in biology, or anything to do with nature. Vertosick is able to successfully synthesize a completely different, yet strongly persuasive argument for the basis of life itself. He admits that his thesis may be flawed, but personally I think that most of his points are well thought out and strongly supported. This is one of the most interesting books on life and intelligence I have ever read.