Book excerpt: The Whole Universe Book takes patterns observable in nature and explains how the universe works, even venturing ambitiously into such concepts as how to achieve eternal life and the spiritual evolution of our civilization. Included are detailed methods on how to apply these ideas to make our lives better, exploring free will, health, positive thinking, meditation and balancing science with spirituality. Appropo to the title, this book achieves a sweeping wholistic view of the universe from both the scientific and spiritual viewpoints. Using the metaphor of the human being as a vehicle, the book discusses who and what we are, where we are going and how to get there. Along the way, many fascinating subjects are linked to observable natural patterns, from spiritual and extra-terrestrial intelligences, Eastern and Western religious thought, to a new perspective of God. Then we are propelled into transcendent insights of the importance of personal growth and evolution, the latest discoveries in neuro-science, and the Gaia theory which posits that the Earth is a living organism. The book is filled with graphics, original photos and verse in order to provide a framework that does not limit itself to being a scientific or spiritual work but rather an artistic one. *Note: This b&W 2nd Edition (2nd) includes 30 pages of new insights with black and white photos and charts, some new.