The Miraculous from the Material - by Alan Lightman (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Nature is capable of extraordinary phenomena. Standing in awe of those phenomena, we experience a feeling of connection to others, to wildlife, or to the cosmos. For ... Alan Lightman, just as remarkable is that all of what we see around us--from soap bubbles and scarlet ibses to shooting stars--are made out of the same material stuff, and obey the same rules and laws. This is what Lightman calls 'spiritual materialism, ' the belief that we can embrace spiritual experiences without letting go of our scientific worldview. Pairing 36 ... full-color photos evoking some of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena with accessible, lyrical essays, [this book] explores the ... science underlying the natural world"--

Book Synopsis

A gorgeously illustrated exploration of the science behind the universe's most stunning natural phenomena--from atoms and parameciums to rainbows, snowflakes, spider webs, the rings of Saturn, galaxies, and more

Nature is capable of extraordinary phenomena. Standing in awe of those phenomena, we experience a feeling of connection to the cosmos. For acclaimed physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, just as remarkable is that all of what we see around us--soap bubbles, scarlet ibises, shooting stars--are made out of the same material stuff and obey the same rules and laws. This is what Lightman calls "spiritual materialism," the belief that we can embrace spiritual experiences without letting go of our scientific worldview.

Pairing 36 beautiful, full-color photos evoking some of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena with accessible and lyrical personal essays, The Miraculous from the Material explores the fascinating science underlying the natural world. Why do rainbows make an arc? Why does a particular waterfall at Yosemite National Park sometimes glow like it's on fire? How does a hummingbird fly? The world has so many things to marvel at--and the science is just as fascinating.

Lightman's imagination travels from the world of atoms and molecules to the animal kingdom, from places like Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and the Grand Canyon out to the solar system and beyond, illuminating the majesty of the cosmos and the remarkable science behind it. The Miraculous from the Material is a stunning, soaring ode to the beauty and wonder around us, and the perfect holiday gift for photography aficionados, life-long learners, and admirers of the natural world.

Review Quotes

A Best Book of the Fall from Parade, The Chicago Review of Books, and The Gaze

A Most Anticipated Book from TIME Magazine

"Spectacular. . . . [Lightman's] imaginative essays . . . make sense of all the beauty that surrounds us."
--TIME Magazine

"Lightman shares his boundless delight in the marvels of the universe in this beautifully designed book bursting with photographs and illustrations."
--Parade

"Utterly compell[ing]. . . . Lightman explores some of the most stunning materials in our universe, including atoms, rainbows, snowflakes, spider webs, the rings of Saturn, and much more. . . . The Miraculous from the Material astounds at every turn because it is science at its purest, most curious form, and is sure to bring out the child in every reader."
--The Chicago Review of Books

"In this reverent survey, Lightman . . . delves into the science behind awe-inducing phenomena. . . . Readers will marvel at the eye-opening science."
--Publishers Weekly

"Lightman points out many extraordinary things we take for granted, compellingly drawing our attention to their 'miraculous' elegance and intricacy."
--Booklist

About the Author

ALAN LIGHTMAN earned his PhD in physics from the California Institute of Technology and is the author of seven novels, including the international best seller Einstein's Dreams and The Diagnosis, a finalist for the National Book Award. His nonfiction includes The Transcendental Brain, The Accidental Universe, Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine, and Probable Impossibilities. He has taught at Harvard and at MIT, where he was the first person to receive a dual faculty appointment in science and the humanities. He is currently a professor of the practice of the humanities at MIT. He is the host of the public television series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science.