Patterns of Connection: Essential Essays from Five Decades

by Fritjof Capra

Winner of the Silver Medal for Environment/Ecology in the 2022 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards

Fritjof Capra, scientist, educator, activist, and accomplished author, presents the evolution of his thought over five decades in Patterns of Connection . First introduced in the late 1950s to the work of Werner Heisenberg, a founder of quantum mechanics, Capra quickly intuited the connections between the discoveries of quantum physics and the traditions of Eastern philosophy--resulting in his first book, the bestselling The Tao of Physics . This synthesis, representative of the change from the mechanistic worldview of Descartes and Newton to a systemic, ecological one, went on to inform Capra's thinking about the life sciences, ecology, and environmental policy.

Today Fritjof Capra remains a major figure at the crossroads of physics, spirituality, environmentalism, and systems theory. Organized thematically and chronologically, the essays in Patterns of Connection document the revolutionary and far-reaching intellectual journey of one of the major public thinkers of the last half-century.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Nonfiction

344 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

Fritjof Capra (born February 1, 1939) is an Austrian-born American physicist. He is a founding director of the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California, and is on the faculty of Schumacher College. Capra is the author of several books, including The Tao of Physics (1975), The Turning Point (1982), Uncommon Wisdom (1988), The Web of Life (1996) and The Hidden Connections (2002).

Reviews

[Marc Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an informative read and thoroughly enjoyed. Over 5 Decades of Essays from Professor Dr. Fritjof Capra Essays as a Scientist and as an Environmentalist. His interactions with other great thought leaders and Scientists of our times. Making sense of different views and theories in science.
Like the newtonian mechanical view of the World.
Personal Account of his intellectual Journey. Providing Historical and Philosophical Context
Fascination through Physics to Life Science Environmental Educator Activist
Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science by Werner Heisenberg 
London Imperial College Consistent View of the World in Harmony with Ancient Eastern Wisdom
11 Chapters of the forefront of Fritjof Activities and decades
How much has happened and been realized over his life
Economic to a Systemic way of Thinking
Feminist Movement
Green Movement
Apartheid
Information Technology
Global Civil Society
As an Alumni of The Systems View of Life Capra Course, I am biased with knowing Dr. Capra's Journey and Amazing work. His contribution towards Ecoliteracy and activism is immeasurable and has been around in other works since Paul Hawken. Dr. Capra is how I came to know Lynn Margulis and her amazing contributions to our world. This is such nice work and refers you to many areas to continue deep dives in further learnings. He was on my podcast Inside Ideas Episode 139 released October 19th, 2021: https://youtu.be/kF8EK-cfBQY

Or visit any of the links below:
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/fritjof...
https://medium.com/inside-ideas/fritj...

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, Fritjof perfectly described my experience of being part of the consciousness raising 60s in California. He only left out reading Rimbeau and the Catcher in the Rye, smoking banana peels, and listening to Eric Satie. I love the mixture of his personal life, the books he wrote in each epoch/chapter, and reviewing his deep thinking in physics and ecology.

[Paul Keogh · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must read for visionary thinkers (young and old)

This is a wonderful read for anyone interested in acquainting themselves with the “systems view of life”. No one-again New Age idealism but a very succinct and practical overview of systems or network thinking by one of the most respected (living) exponents of this transformative new worldview.
My personal appreciation to Fritjof for helping me appreciate that Life is not the interaction of things but the network of relationships by which “all things” are constituted.

[Federico Botero J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una mirada al pensamiento de Fritjof Capra a través de ensayos cortos, poderosos, fundamentales para integrar una mirada sistémica de la vida

[Carlos Mario Cortés H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impresionante. Una visión de mundo muy necesaria.