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Re: Chapter 4 - Mycelial Minds

Magda
 

 I suppose it may be true that fungi may just be challenging and enhancing our perception of reality, even though I've never had any real epiphanies after drinking red wine, which is my fungi mediated drug of choice;) 
Our reality may just be a string of well trodden perceptions, ideas and relationships. It probably works in a similar way to our vision- we see only part of the picture in front of our eyes at any given moment.  The rest is handily provided by our very clever brain.  All of it is based on the fact that reality as we know it is most of the time comfortably predictable, and something our brain has been handling all our lives.  It's difficult to break through that.
It is possible that psychedelics get away or create havoc with all these well trodden pathways.  People talk about becoming one with global consciousness, but I found Michael Pollan’s ‘dissolution of ego’ to be the most appealing description.  People become consciousness with no ‘I’ attached, ready to explore, become something or someone else, or just be. Sheldrake ‘became’ the plant he studied, did he not? Maybe even ‘zombie’ ants with intact brains are happily not ants anymore?  I would like that, but who knows:)  I am sure the possibilities are endless.
It's all very interesting, I agree.
Magda 

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:52 PM Herbert Lewis <herbertlewis@...> wrote:
On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 04:08 AM, Magda wrote:
I find consciousness and reality as is fascinating enough, so I don’t do drugs at all.

Magda, Sheldrake speculated about the possibility that the use of hallucinatory effects of "magic mushrooms" might actually enhance your perception of reality.

 He quotes the philosopher David Abram as explaining:  "It takes less cognitive effort to make sense of the world using preconceived images updated with a small amount of new sensory information than to constantly form entirely new perceptions from scratch."  In fact Sheldrake cites authors who claim that our perceptions are formed by our expectations and are only occasionally interrupted by unexpected events.  Most of what we perceive as reality is formed by our preconceptions and presuppositions (most significantly, our Weltanschauung).  

Sheldrake wrote "Fungi, too, trick us out of our preconceptions."  When he wrote that he was referring to the study of fungi behavior and characteristics.  He describes how the more he's "studied fungi, the more my expectations have loosened and the more familiar concepts started to appear unfamiliar."  In describing his participation in an experiment involving ingesting LSD he also related experimenters using the drug to induce imaginative solutions to their scientific problems by loosening the knots of their preconceptions and presuppositions or reality.  The author himself participated by taking a controlled LSD dosage and spending his "high" time considering "the lives of the blue flowers, Voyria" and how they managed to live without photosynthesis.

This possibility holds no attraction for me because of the widely reported potential for adverse unintended side effects.    I have never tried recreational drugs with the exception of alcohol.  I have a beer or two for dinner most evenings and occasionally a shot or two of JD.  But I've never imbibed alcohol with the intent of enhancing my perception of reality.  Nonetheless, I suppose even my liquor consumption would qualify as relevant to Bekah's question.  Beer is brewed and whiskey is distilled with the aid of yeast and yeast is a form of fungi.

 
 
 
Re: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca

Herbert Lewis <herbertlewis@...>
 

I agree.  The Dawn of Everything has been next on my Amazon.com wish list but I will now defer purchasing and reading the book until the selection decision is made here.
Re: EL = Q 5 = the reader

Jeanne
 

+1 on the coal/lignin part.



On November 19, 2021, at 10:05 AM, Magda <fotka.kalinowska@...> wrote:


Yes, I found lignin and coal particularly interesting too!  :)
I am definitely a perfect reader for this book.  Listening to it again, and yes, there are bits and pieces that are really mind boggling interesting and some just interesting, but all of them worth spending time on. 
Magda

On Nov 18, 2021, at 3:39 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:


The bits on lignin and coal is interesting!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:26 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

I meant I WOULD have thought!
On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:17 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
I wouldn’t  have thought I might have been a perfect reader of this book, but in the later chapters I am kind of feeling TMI.  Too wordy.  I did love the first few chapters but got bored with all the psilocybin stuff.  I think I’ve got two chapters to go. I do like the drawings.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 1:41 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
5.    Who is the ideal reader for Entangled Lives and what would his background be?  Is the style and organization appropriate to this reader?  Is there anyone you’d recommend the book to or actually give it to as a gift? 

Becky






Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert

Becky Lindroos
 

And I changed my first nomination also. It was something else but now it’s:

Under a White Sky The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert

This was published back in February and has garnered quite a lot of notice - Kolbert also wrote The Sixth Extinction which won a Pulitzer.

Becky
Re: EL = Q 5 = the reader

Becky Lindroos
 

And Sheldrake is so clear and understandable in his writing that even I can be a perfect reader. LOL!

Becky

On Nov 19, 2021, at 11:05 AM, Magda <fotka.kalinowska@...> wrote:

Yes, I found lignin and coal particularly interesting too! :)
I am definitely a perfect reader for this book. Listening to it again, and yes, there are bits and pieces that are really mind boggling interesting and some just interesting, but all of them worth spending time on.
Magda

On Nov 18, 2021, at 3:39 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:


The bits on lignin and coal is interesting!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:26 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson@...> wrote:

I meant I WOULD have thought!
On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:17 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson@...> wrote:
I wouldn’t have thought I might have been a perfect reader of this book, but in the later chapters I am kind of feeling TMI. Too wordy. I did love the first few chapters but got bored with all the psilocybin stuff. I think I’ve got two chapters to go. I do like the drawings.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 1:41 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
5. Who is the ideal reader for Entangled Lives and what would his background be? Is the style and organization appropriate to this reader? Is there anyone you’d recommend the book to or actually give it to as a gift?

Becky









Re: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca

Becky Lindroos
 

Ahhh! Good choice! I’ve seen it mentioned several places.

Becky

On Nov 19, 2021, at 10:10 AM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca
I changed one of my nominations to this.

https://www.amazon.ca/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/077104982X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7TFT2GZX89T2&keywords=the+dawn+of+everything+a+new+history+of+humanity&qid=1637338194&sprefix=The+dawn+of+everythin%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1
Re: EL = Q 5 = the reader

Magda
 

Yes, I found lignin and coal particularly interesting too!  :)
I am definitely a perfect reader for this book.  Listening to it again, and yes, there are bits and pieces that are really mind boggling interesting and some just interesting, but all of them worth spending time on. 
Magda

On Nov 18, 2021, at 3:39 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:


The bits on lignin and coal is interesting!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:26 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

I meant I WOULD have thought!
On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:17 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
I wouldn’t  have thought I might have been a perfect reader of this book, but in the later chapters I am kind of feeling TMI.  Too wordy.  I did love the first few chapters but got bored with all the psilocybin stuff.  I think I’ve got two chapters to go. I do like the drawings.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 1:41 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
5.    Who is the ideal reader for Entangled Lives and what would his background be?  Is the style and organization appropriate to this reader?  Is there anyone you’d recommend the book to or actually give it to as a gift? 

Becky






Re: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca

Magda
 

I will have no nominations, so I can ‘absorb’ this one if you feel strongly about the others:)
It looks very good!

Magda

On Nov 19, 2021, at 11:10 AM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:


The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca
I changed one of my nominations to this.

https://www.amazon.ca/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/077104982X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7TFT2GZX89T2&keywords=the+dawn+of+everything+a+new+history+of+humanity&qid=1637338194&sprefix=The+dawn+of+everythin%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1
The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca

Merilee Olson
 

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity: Graeber, David, Wengrow, David: 9780771049828: Books - Amazon.ca
I changed one of my nominations to this.

https://www.amazon.ca/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/077104982X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7TFT2GZX89T2&keywords=the+dawn+of+everything+a+new+history+of+humanity&qid=1637338194&sprefix=The+dawn+of+everythin%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1
Re: Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies

Merilee Olson
 

And it’s  supposed to mellow them out🤓

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 5:19 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
Vitamin D! 

Becky

> On Nov 18, 2021, at 4:03 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:
>
> Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies
>
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Muttrooms-Baked-Mushroom-Dog-Treats/dp/B00JRESC9G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
>






Re: Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies

Becky Lindroos
 

Vitamin D!

Becky

On Nov 18, 2021, at 4:03 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:

Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies


https://www.amazon.com/Muttrooms-Baked-Mushroom-Dog-Treats/dp/B00JRESC9G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Re: EL: Q 5 (?) - the cover

Becky Lindroos
 

Merilee: I was impressed at how they might be useful in tackling our environmental problems. Like using fungi in building materials or eating plastic?

https://leaps.org/plastic-eating-mushrooms-let-you-have-your-trash-and-eat-it-too/

Or oil?
https://artsandscience.usask.ca/news/articles/1501/Oil_eating_fungus_could_clean_polluted_landscapes

Or smog?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/08/01/india-pollution/

And yes, dirty diapers -
https://www.seeker.com/tasty-mushrooms-from-dirty-diapers-1765277392.html

Becky

On Nov 18, 2021, at 3:59 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:

Very cool how fungi can digest dirty diapers and cigarette butts!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 4:34 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
Q5 (?) What did you think of the cover? Did it make you want to read this book or did it detract?

Becky







Re: EL: Q 5 (?) - the cover

Becky Lindroos
 

I had to ask this because I used to LOVE cover art on books. Years ago there was even a prize for them and I think it’s still given but there isn’t as much hype about it;

What do you think of the cover of Entangled Life? Would it entice you to open it if you saw it in a bookstore? Did it entice you online?

https://www.aiga.org/professional-development/competitions-campaigns/50-books-50-covers

I was in a bookstore back in 1999 or so and came across a book on the “New Release” shelf which just struck me as being amazing. It was Underworld by Don DeLillo. I opened it up and started reading right there in the aisle and read the whole Prologue - Kafko at the Wall which was later a kind of short story on its own. I bought the book for $28 (which would be about $45 now) which was kind of pricy but it turned out to be one of the best books I’ve ever read - and I read it 3 times.

I very much miss the sight of my current-read book covers lying around the house. :-(

Becky

On Nov 18, 2021, at 3:34 PM, Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:

Q5 (?) What did you think of the cover? Did it make you want to read this book or did it detract?

Becky






Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies

Merilee Olson
 

Amazon.com : Fungi Perfecti Muttrooms - Baked Mushroom Dog Treats : Pet Supplies


https://www.amazon.com/Muttrooms-Baked-Mushroom-Dog-Treats/dp/B00JRESC9G/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Re: EL: Q 5 (?) - the cover

Merilee Olson
 

Very cool how fungi can digest dirty diapers and cigarette butts!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 4:34 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
Q5 (?) What did you think of the cover?  Did it make you want to read this book or did it detract? 

Becky







Re: EL: Q 5 (?) - the cover

Merilee Olson
 

I really like the cover, though don’t look at it as often on kindle as I might have in a paper book.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 4:34 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
Q5 (?) What did you think of the cover?  Did it make you want to read this book or did it detract? 

Becky







EL: Q 5 (?) - the cover

Becky Lindroos
 

Q5 (?) What did you think of the cover? Did it make you want to read this book or did it detract?

Becky
Re: EL = Q 5 = the reader

Becky Lindroos
 

Oh Merilee! Same here. I had such a weird (for me) reaction to this book as well as the Humboldt book. I would have thought no - not for me. (I read history, don’cha know?- lol) And then I got completely engrossed and enjoyed the heck out of both of them, reading them each twice!

The psilocybin chapter was kind of off for me. But the chapters before and after that were wonderful.


Becky

On Nov 18, 2021, at 2:17 PM, Merilee Olson <merilee.olson@...> wrote:

I wouldn’t have thought I might have been a perfect reader of this book, but in the later chapters I am kind of feeling TMI. Too wordy. I did love the first few chapters but got bored with all the psilocybin stuff. I think I’ve got two chapters to go. I do like the drawings.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 1:41 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
5. Who is the ideal reader for Entangled Lives and what would his background be? Is the style and organization appropriate to this reader? Is there anyone you’d recommend the book to or actually give it to as a gift?

Becky






Re: Chapter 4 - Mycelial Minds

Herbert Lewis <herbertlewis@...>
 

On Tue, Nov 16, 2021 at 04:08 AM, Magda wrote:
I find consciousness and reality as is fascinating enough, so I don’t do drugs at all.

Magda, Sheldrake speculated about the possibility that the use of hallucinatory effects of "magic mushrooms" might actually enhance your perception of reality.

 He quotes the philosopher David Abram as explaining:  "It takes less cognitive effort to make sense of the world using preconceived images updated with a small amount of new sensory information than to constantly form entirely new perceptions from scratch."  In fact Sheldrake cites authors who claim that our perceptions are formed by our expectations and are only occasionally interrupted by unexpected events.  Most of what we perceive as reality is formed by our preconceptions and presuppositions (most significantly, our Weltanschauung).  

Sheldrake wrote "Fungi, too, trick us out of our preconceptions."  When he wrote that he was referring to the study of fungi behavior and characteristics.  He describes how the more he's "studied fungi, the more my expectations have loosened and the more familiar concepts started to appear unfamiliar."  In describing his participation in an experiment involving ingesting LSD he also related experimenters using the drug to induce imaginative solutions to their scientific problems by loosening the knots of their preconceptions and presuppositions or reality.  The author himself participated by taking a controlled LSD dosage and spending his "high" time considering "the lives of the blue flowers, Voyria" and how they managed to live without photosynthesis.

This possibility holds no attraction for me because of the widely reported potential for adverse unintended side effects.    I have never tried recreational drugs with the exception of alcohol.  I have a beer or two for dinner most evenings and occasionally a shot or two of JD.  But I've never imbibed alcohol with the intent of enhancing my perception of reality.  Nonetheless, I suppose even my liquor consumption would qualify as relevant to Bekah's question.  Beer is brewed and whiskey is distilled with the aid of yeast and yeast is a form of fungi.

 
 
 
Re: EL = Q 5 = the reader

Merilee Olson
 

The bits on lignin and coal is interesting!

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:26 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

I meant I WOULD have thought!
On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 3:17 PM Merilee Olson via groups.io <merilee.olson=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
I wouldn’t  have thought I might have been a perfect reader of this book, but in the later chapters I am kind of feeling TMI.  Too wordy.  I did love the first few chapters but got bored with all the psilocybin stuff.  I think I’ve got two chapters to go. I do like the drawings.

On Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 1:41 PM Becky Lindroos <bekah0176@...> wrote:
5.    Who is the ideal reader for Entangled Lives and what would his background be?  Is the style and organization appropriate to this reader?  Is there anyone you’d recommend the book to or actually give it to as a gift? 

Becky






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