Overview

Interweaving science and storytelling, spirituality and art, a neuroscientist and an artist guide us toward a deeper understanding of how radically interconnected all of life is. Starting from science, while reaching for spiritual truth, The Forgotten Teachers charts the evolution of life on Earth under the mentorship of six teachers: Ocean, Air, Theia (through collision with this planet, Earth was set on its tilt), Sun, Plants, and Symbionts. Ideas from the field of evolutionary biology, accompanied by watercolor illustrations, guide this factual yet mytho-poetic exploration of life. Motivated by their shared concern over the severance of science from the sacred, and humans from their place within nature, Isett and Biçen set out to write a scientific wonder story for our times—to enchant readers with the strangeness and beauty of evolutionary biology, while reintegrating us into the natural world. As Rachel Carson did in her time and as Wendell Berry has done as a poet and essayist across the years, Isett writes with precision and urgency to remind us that we participate in a story that is far larger than ourselves, and that to see ourselves more truly would be to see the many ways in which we belong to the molecules and mysteries of the living world.

Full Product Details

9781592704118

Table of Contents

Reviews

“The Forgotten Teachers is a book that rekindles our sense of the marvelous. The child and the adult in me want to read it together snuggling side by side, each of us encouraging the other's sense of wonder.” * Sophie Howarth, Cofounder of the School of Life * “The Forgotten Teachers is a magnificent story of life and its emergence. Eloquently written and beautifully illustrated, this book will enchant people of all ages. It will indeed evoke awe and wonder for our planetary home that is so needed in our time.” * John Grim & Mary Evelyn Tucker, Coproducers of Journey of the Universe and Codirectors of the Yale F * “As an ocean lover and leader in ocean conservation, I found The Forgotten Teachers to be a truly inspirational and powerful book. The Forgotten Teachers uses a unique storytelling methodology to illustrate the wonders and evolutionary concepts that shaped our magnificent Blue Planet. I hope that many people can read it.” * Titouan Bernicot, Founder and CEO of Coral Gardeners and National Geographic Explorer * “Brian Isett’s evocative prose and Claudia Biçen’s stunningly beautiful images fuse into a mythic, wonder-filled story, of the unfolding universe and biosphere.” * Bron Taylor, Author of Dark Green Religion and Professor of Religion, Nature, and Environmental Ethi * “The Forgotten Teachers is a magically illustrated book that weaves poetry, our ancestral history of deep connectivity, and modern scientific information into a beautifully woven quilt of words and drawings. It is a lasting and holistic story to be revisited time and time again.” * David Gruber, Distinguished Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at CUNY and Founder of P * “Claudia and Brian see science and spirituality, and beauty and biology as being complementary to one another. This is an immensely profound vision. Their holistic approach is needed to heal the wounds, division and separation and I highly and wholly recommend their work.” * Satish Kumar, Editor Emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine and Founder of Schumacher College * “Uniquely creative, fascinating, awesome, inspiring, and vital are words that immediately come to mind when learning about this book. I cannot recommend it more highly.” * Leslie E. Sponsel, Author of Spiritual Ecology: A Quiet Revolution * “The Forgotten Teachers is a beautiful book about the mystery of life. Combining art and science, it reimagines the creation story in a way that leaves readers filled with awe and wonder.” * Emily Esfahani Smith, Author of The Power of Meaning * “A stunningly beautiful book, where science, spirituality, art and the natural world all come together to present magical and often surprising patterns found in the world we inhabit. I urge everyone to immerse themselves in this deeply meaningful and poetic body of work.” * Rithika Merchant, Artist *

Author Information

Brian Isett is a poet and scientist based in Pittsburgh. His first book of poetry, Grid Poems (Vol. I), reached an international audience over Ello and quickly sold out through the New Museum and Printed Matter in New York, and Motto Books in Berlin. In the field of neuroscience, Isett has authored high profile research articles in areas ranging from tactile perception to Parkinson’s disease. His awards include the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the National Institute of Health NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, the George Harmon Coxe Award for Fiction, and the Arthur Lynn Andrews Fiction Prize. Isett holds a BS in Biology from Cornell University and a PhD in Neuroscience from UC Berkeley. He is currently a data scientist at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Claudia Biçen is a British American artist who uses illustration and storytelling to explore ideas about what it means to be mortal beings in a vast and mysterious universe. Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.), the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (London), and the National Arts Club (New York). Biçen holds a BA in philosophy and psychology from the University of Oxford and a MSc in social anthropology from University College London.

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