"You can observe a lot just by watching," remarked Yoga Berra, and he was most likely only referring to what one can see with the naked eye. There's a world of intricate beauty to be found beneath human skin, and in this compact and brilliantly illustrated book, Reagan presents mesmerizing color photographs of DNA samples, crystals of progesterone, leukemia blood cells, X chromosomes, cancer cells, embryos and other wonders of inner space. In the introduction, Wall Street Journal
science editor Sharon Begley discusses different views of God's presence in nature. For the past 150 years, she says, some people have seen evidence in nature of God's mind, while others adhere to the Darwinian tenet that nature as we know it has arisen by chance, random mutation. Begley herself infers a sacredness in nature even apart from any consideration of God. The book—largely images—leaves the reader to decide. In these fantastic photographs, nerve cells in the human cerebral cortex look like a tangle of overgrown vines; sperm clustered over a human embryo are reminiscent of sea urchins and anemones; methionine (an amino acid) resembles a dorm-room psychedelic poster; the influenza virus appears as a Rastafarian's colorful hat; and female sex chromosomes look like dancing yellow snakes. Quotes from the Bible, scientists, novelists, philosophers, spiritual leaders and others give perspective to the images, while captions provide scientific details. Two main forces—birth and decay—are on display here, and the images and text should resonate with readers dealing with either. (Oct.)
