Book reccomendation based on Michael Chrichton's Travels

April 24, 2007 11:22 AM

I've been reading Michael Chrichton's Travels, and really enjoying his scientific prospective on the metaphysics, mysticism, energy, "New Age" spiritualism, and whatnot -- particularly in stories like "Cactus Teachings." What are some other books/authors you can recommend that approach these topics in Chrichton's skeptical-but-still-interested way?

Bonus points for narrative-driven, personal experience stories in the vein of Chrichton.

posted by nitsuj to Religion & Philosophy (7 answers total)

I remember liking The Spiritual Tourist.
posted by jtron at 11:36 AM on April 24, 2007

Keith Thomas--Religion and the Decline of Magic (though you'll probably have to import it from the UK--link goes to The Book Depository's page for it)
posted by Prospero at 11:37 AM on April 24, 2007

Response by poster: Apologies to Crichton for spelling his name wrong.
posted by nitsuj at 11:39 AM on April 24, 2007

Wade Davis.
posted by bookley at 11:50 AM on April 24, 2007

Carl Sagan's The Demon Haunted World
posted by Martin E. at 12:49 PM on April 24, 2007

The end of Richard Feynman's Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman is somewhat like this; Crichton even quotes from it in the last chapter.

I read Travels when I was 11 or so, and I then reread it so much that the book fell apart. The spiritual exploration part still fascinates me, and I still don't really know how to interpret the events he describes.
posted by gsteff at 1:23 PM on April 24, 2007

I love, love, LOVE this book.

I also enjoyed "Hardcore Zen." Not quite the same thing, but it's an irreverent, amusing look at Zen from the perspective of a punk rocker from Ohio.
posted by desjardins at 8:03 AM on April 25, 2007