Steve Olson is an author whose works explore the intricate connections between humanity and the natural world, often drawing on scientific insights to illuminate our shared origins and planetary dynamics. His approach transforms complex subjects into compelling narratives, guiding readers through the depths of our biological and geological histories. Olson excels at weaving together seemingly disparate information into a coherent whole, offering a unique perspective on what defines us as a species and how we interact with our environment.
In Population Wars, Greg Graffin points to where the mainstream view of evolutionary theory has led us astray. That misunderstanding has allowed us to justify wars on every level, whether against bacterial colonies or human societies, even when other, less violent solutions may be available.
Greg Olson, author of David Lynch: Beautiful Dark, the essential book on Lynch's life and art, has resided in the Twin Peaks region of the Northwest for decades, and David Lynch spent youthful years in the Northwest; both of their fathers were woodsmen. Lynch believes that the world hums with spirituality, and over a thirty-year span Lynch and Mark Frost created forty-eight hours of Twin Peaks TV and film, hypnotic cinematic music immersed in the depths and divine heights of human nature, an artistic song of the forest, America, the world, the cosmos. David Lynch is an international icon of visionary artistic innovation, humanistic thought and philanthropy, and spiritual exploration, and Twin Peaks: The Return is his magnum opus, a mytho-poetic summation of his deepest beliefs and concerns. Author Olson, in his characteristically intimate and personal way, traces the Twin Peaks currents of Lynch's emotional-visceral storytelling, themes, imagery and sound: the way the artist and viewer share an electrified circuit of mystery and understanding.
A historical memoir by Greg Graffin, lead vocalist and songwriter of the influential punk band Bad Religion, chronicles his life within the punk genre that transformed music and culture. Since its formation in Los Angeles in 1980, Bad Religion has produced a significant body of work, becoming a touring powerhouse and leaving a lasting legacy as one of punk rock's most important bands. Graffin's narrative is framed within a cultural history of punk's evolution, reflecting on his journey from his Midwestern upbringing to his pivotal move to Southern California in the mid-'70s, coinciding with the rise of punk and societal shifts. Immersed in the vibrant and often tumultuous punk scene of '80s Los Angeles, Graffin and his friends established Bad Religion, diligently building a fanbase and becoming a touring institution. Balancing his music career with academia, Graffin pursued advanced degrees, embodying a unique duality as a punk rock icon and university lecturer in evolution. His scientific perspective enriches the memoir, making it a distinctive exploration of punk's paradoxes—its pop influences, aspirations for societal improvement, and unifying power—elements that contribute to punk's enduring nature. This insightful memoir offers a behind-the-scenes look at the punk scene while providing astute commentary on its resilience and evolution.
“Take one man who rejects authority and religion, and leads a punk band. Take another man who wonders whether vertebrates arose in rivers or in the ocean, is fascinated by evolution, creativity, and Ice Age animals. Put them together, what do you get? Greg Graffin, and this uniquely fascinating book.” —Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and SteelAnarchy Evolution is a provocative look at the collision between religion and science, by an author with unique authority: UCLA lecturer in Paleontology, and founding member of Bad Religion, Greg Graffin. Alongside science writer Steve Olson (whose Mapping Human History was a National Book Award finalist), Graffin delivers a powerful discussion sure to strike a chord with readers of Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion or Christopher Hitchens God Is Not Great. In this passionate polemic, Graffin argues that art and science have a deep connection. He describes his own coming-of-age as an artist and the formation of his naturalist worldview over the past three decades. Anarchy Evolution sheds new light on the long-standing debate on religion and the human condition. It is a book for anyone who has ever wondered if God really exists.
A thrilling narrative of scientific triumph, decades of secrecy and the unimaginable destruction wrought by the creation of the atomic bomb