The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism Paperback – September 14, 2010

Some books merely entertain us, some simply inform us, a few will even inspire us. But the best books will transform us. This book has completely changed my views on the meaning of life. It not only helped to open my eyes to the physics that underlie all existence, but also the metaphysics of the Cosmos.

This is an amazing book to read if you want to see how some of the most important ideas in eastern mysticism and modern physics are converging. Actually, the "converging" is only taking place in our understanding: the concepts and worldviews of the two schools of thought are startlingly similar and have been for some time, and the author does a great job for the most part of drawing the parallels while not getting too technical with the modern physics stuff. I say "for the most part" because towards the end of the book (about the last two chapters) he basically says "screw the layman" and delves deeply into S matrix theory in a very technical, confusing, boring, and brain-overloading way. This is where he lost me; I wasn't able to finish the book. But most of the book is a great read--one of the best on the subject in my opinion.

Not necessarily a light read, but absolutely fascinating.Anyone following an Eastern philosophy should find this exploration interesting.

If you already read the current research in quantum physics, and have studied Asian philosophies, then this book is a complement. This is perhaps the only book I have found that articulates, as a good teacher can, particles vs. probability waves, and such. I would give it a chance, read it slowly, and you might find some things that clear up what other's haven't articulated as well. Worst case, you will be familiar with the subject if you are a scientist. Best case, you will say to yourself as I did "I wish others had phrased it that way."

This has bee around for awhile, but always was interested in reading it, when I had time. So now, 45 years after I graduated in physics, I enjoyed reading it.

I am more of a physics person and knew very little about Eastern Mysticism but I kept an open mind and was really captivated by the comparisons made. Although there were a few times I found some comparisons a bit odd, overall, it gave me a new appreciation for Eastern thought.

This is not for novices. There are several books of knowledge crammed into this one book which will change your outlook on the world if you understand it. It's not light reading. It takes study, concentration, and reflection. But it'll give you a deep insight into the nature of eastern religions which have an ancient connection to a previous civilization we're only beginning to learn about.

I found this to be an amazing, insightful, book when I first read it many decades ago - and I still find it one of the deepest books written about the connection between Eastern spirituality and Western science (particularly physics).The role of consciousness is the central mediating fulcrum in both Eastern meditative practices and increasingly in modern physics.I believe that this is a wonderful and deep book about these matters. I feel that anybody interested in the confluence of spirituality and physics would benefit by reading this book and drawing their own conclusions.Although Fritjof Capra has written a lot of books since the "Tao of Physics" it remains, in my view, his crowning achievement.