All Is One: The Science and Spirituality of Consciousness

Koi (Addiction Prevention), a philosopher and host of the Life in Recovery podcast, fuses scientific and philosophical notions of consciousness in this eyebrow-raising treatise. The author promotes “panpsychism,” or the notion that “everything material, however small, has an element of individual consciousness,” and, as such, advocates for collapsing the distinction between mind and body and considering them inseparable elements of a whole that includes all matter. Drawing from an eclectic mix of sources, including Buddhism, neuroscience, and psychedelics, Koi charts a three-step path to higher consciousness: become wise, master emotions through meditation, and act according to wisdom and self-mastery. He concludes with the optimistic assertions that achieving enlightenment, though hard work, is possible, and that a universe-wide consciousness means that humans should treat all living beings with respect. His argument is easy to follow if not always convincing, as it relies on vague and oversimplified applications of scientific concepts—for instance, that “consciousness has its own properties, as quantum mechanics is beginning to suggest.” Readers also may find dubious Koi’s condemnation of synthetic hallucinogens such as MDMA alongside his endorsement of plant-based psychedelics as appropriate spiritual tools. While the skeptical will remain unconvinced, the spiritual and very open-minded will enjoy this. (Apr.)