The last 40,000 years of the human story including discoveries about the big bang; the origin of information; time; autism; psychosis; cave art; stone circles; ancient Egypt; Gnosticism; universal consciousness; science and mysticism; the nature of relationships; Sufism; how and why the universe manifests, and why consciousness can survive death.

This book sets out to draw together psychology, science and mysticism into the same river of human experience. In doing so it throws new light on questions that mankind has pondered for centuries. The authors take us on an exciting investigative voyage that produces clear reasons for why those who think human life is essentially meaningless are wrong. En route, through the lens of evolution, cultural history, poetry, psychology and a plethora of new scientific insights, they not only throw fresh light on ancient mysteries, the origin of creativity, hypnosis, spirituality, religion and indoctrination but also meet head-on the central questions at the heart of science today. Science and mysticism are essential aspects of human functioning, they say, and both are linked with why we are so uniquely prone to mental illness and understanding this is a part of effective self-development. These are some of the key questions they explore (and answer). Why is it that we are capable of creating societies that foster the highest pinnacles of extraordinary individual and collective creative achievement, yet so often let our cultures degenerate to the nadir of inhumanity and bestiality? Where is the 'nothing' that existed before 'something' first appeared? Where did the quantum information come from that made our vast universe and all forms of life possible? What is consciousness? How could consciousness arise from inanimate matter? Can the claims about the nature of reality made by mystics throughout the ages be reconciled with our best scientific insights? What is mysticism for? What does 'enlightenment' mean exactly? Can our individual consciousness survive death? Are 'God' and 'Godhead' useful terms? Is there a future for our species? What is 'destiny'? And how should one prepare oneself to meet it?