The Surfer and the Sea Lion

About the Book

James N. Weiss, who has spent his career as a physician and scientist, considers big scientific questions in a fanciful format in The Surfer and the Sea Lion. The story is told through a Socratic dialogue between a sea lion named Socrates, representing the spirit of nature, and a surfer named Moses, representing the spirit of humanity. The two consider what science can and can’t tell us about nature, life, and humanity. They consider questions such as: • What is science capable of telling us about the reality of the world we live in? • Does science merely create empirical models of reality that are useful, or does it reveal deeper truths about the nature of reality? • Does science necessarily conflict with religion, or can they be synergistically reconciled to teach us how to live better lives? • What do evolutionary biology and early human history tell us about the prospects for humanity achieving harmony on a global scale and avoiding irreversible damage to the biosphere? If you want to tackle big questions in a fun, interactive format, then let the journey begin!

About the Author

James N. Weiss, M.D., is an author, physician-scientist, surfer, and musician. He has been a practicing cardiologist, cardiovascular scientist, and educator at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA since 1981. He is currently Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Physiology. He lives in San Luis Obispo, California. Visit www.TheSurferAndTheSeaLion.com for more details.