What is time? How is consciousness related to the physical world? Why is the simulation hypothesis so popular? These are just some of the questions LD Deutsch tackles in her first collection of essays, Time, Myth and Matter.
This book consists of five long essays, including revised and expanded versions of Deutsch’s highly esteemed zines published by Sacred Bones Books between 2018-2023, and an exclusive, previously unreleased essay, all of which explore the intersections between techno-scientific thinking and mythological narratives as they relate to life’s attempt at self-definition. Known for her ability to render complicated scientific and esoteric subjects accessible to wider audiences, Deutsch deftly traces the relationships between different theories and events in the history of science and technology, and various aspects of mythology, psychology, philosophy, (meta)physics and mysticism—resulting in a riveting inquiry into the nature of the self and the foundations of reality. By treating both science and mythology as serious subjects worthy of respect and rigor, Time, Myth and Matter opens up new avenues of thought and theory as to how the inner world of man and the outer world of Nature intersect and affect each other.
The essays in this book are:
Time, Myth and Matter covers the theories and ideas of world-renowned philosophers, scientists and psychologists such as Carl Jung, Marie-Louise von Franz, Carlo Rovelli, Brian Greene, Nick Bostrom, Bernardo Kastrup, Ruth Kastner, Jacques Vallée, Jeffrey Kripal, Hans-Peter Dürr, Albert Einstein, and more.
Early praise for Time, Myth and Matter:
"Entire books of metaphysics or mysticism must be searched to find a single insight of the splendor that populates nearly every page of L.D. Deutsch's Time, Myth and Matter. I have personally never read such a provocative, revealing, pristinely clear, and fully rendered amalgam of myth and rationality, symbol and modern science, transcendental truth and historical insight, technology and gnosis. The author’s capacity for explanation of esoteric yet wholly logical (if mysterious) scientific concepts is an achievement by itself: I can only imagine how many people in our culture would dedicate themselves to the study of physics and other hard sciences—not to mention meaning and myth—if this book functioned as a threshold. But that captures only a portion of what the author accomplishes. Her parabolic and archetypal insights are themselves the product of deep psychological and meditative understanding. That all of this is done with grounding and humility only demonstrates the practical effectiveness of Deutsch's theses. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be among the first readers of a great work of insight—here's your opportunity. Time, Myth and Matter is one of the only modern works I know deserving the label metaphysics. I will remember and treasure it always." — Mitch Horowitz, PEN Award-winning historian
"There is a vast modern literature that attempts to build bridges between science and spirituality — quantum mysticism, paranormal theory, and far too many references to Kekulé’s ouroboros dream. Much of this work is profoundly unsatisfying, if not actively crappy, often by suggesting false equivalences. In her wonderful essays, LD Deutsch takes another tack: carefully, with deep research and bright, illuminating language, she traces the points where the narratives of science and myth diverge, echo, and assemble themselves into genuinely new patterns of understanding. Deutsch can discuss physics with clarity, respect, and rigor, but like the first wave of quantum theorists, she allows herself to move deeply into philosophy and myth as well. And when she does wrestle with uncanny things, like gods and oracles and Jung’s ideas of synchronicity, she does not sink to the usual archetypal mysteriosa. In fact, I believe she is incapable of writing a New Age sentence. Every line of this book is instead devoted to the clarity and discrimination and serious joy required to genuinely trace the cracks and zig-zags and strange designs in this conundrum we call reality." — Erik Davis, author of High Weirdness, Techgnosis, Blotter, and other books
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