By Bruce H Lipton, PhD, with Patricia King

TIME TO CHANGE

Review by Gunnel Minett

The social Darwinist concept of ‘survival of the fittest’, or life as endless competition, has become the foundation for our modern understanding of human life. In this book biologist Bruce Lipton, challenges this understanding of Darwin’s theory. Instead Lipton argues that epigenetics, quantum physics, and fractal geometry have driven human evolution, which has been based mainly on cooperation rather than competition.

Despite the fact that Lipton titles his book Beyond Darwin, it can be argued that the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’, is a misunderstanding of Darwin’s work. Besides the fact that Darwin himself never used this expression, the phrase actually misrepresents Darwin’s core mechanism of natural selection. ‘Survival of the fittest’ implies physical dominance, constant brutal competition. This, in turn, implies that survival is the most important. From this perspective, the book would have better entitled ‘Beyond Social Darwinism’, since it argues against this competition-based philosophy rather than Darwin himself.

Apart from its questionable title, the book presents some important arguments about both the current world order and the evolutionary process itself. Based on the assumption that the notion of endless competition in all aspects of life is bad for us, Lipton places today’s turmoil in an evolutionary context. Fortunately the book has a positive ending and Lipton presents a wide range of fact and advice as to how we can change things for the better.

In particular he explains how environmental signals control genes (epigenetics) rather than genes controlling you. In other words, it is vital to make sure we can grow up and develop in a positive environment. To have the right genes is just the starting point.

Part of this creation of a good environment is to recognise that partnership is nature’s true survival strategy, moving from cells to civilisation. In addition Lipton draws on quantum theory to illustrate that energy fields and human consciousness help shape physical reality. One of the cornerstones in biology and evolution is fractal geometry and the book also deals with today’s societal chaos as a necessary breakdown before a breakthrough based on this concept. 

Together the book gives a unified theory of Conscious Evolution. Although it has a very positive tone it is not just wishful thinking. It is based on what is regarded as ‘hard science’ with evidence-based predictions. With the right understanding, evolutionary patterns will prove that transformation is not just possible but also predictable. This book is a contribution towards this end.

Ben Bella Books, Inc.,  2026, ISBN-13  : 978-1637749364