The Mystery and Wisdom of Consciousness in the Scientific Age...21st-century people live and understand the world around them in ways that are vastly different from generations past. We have information about every aspect of life that is knowable to science, and how it fits with everything else. The physical universe is fully modeled, and we have an overview of history and of time. We use our understanding to create immensely powerful technology in an instantly interconnected world. But despite all of this, individual human lives unfold as unpredictably as they always have. We rarely control...

In 1968, a college junior hates school, thinks he wants to be an artist, and is resigned to being drafted for the Vietnam War once he graduates. That summer, Wayne bicycles alone over 2000 kilometers in France, staying in hostels and campgrounds on a shoestring budget. He views ancient countryside, visits cities and towns for several days each and observes in amazement the depth of history, beauty of art, and ways of life. He converses frequently with other European "jeunesse," all filled with questions and hopes of social reform in that revolutionary year. He worries about his own life, what...

Boston, 1978. Wayne and Joan are poor but happy in a fifth floor walk-up on the backside of Beacon Hill. Daycare teaching doesn't pay well, but all the immense riches of urban life are available as long as they pay rent. Wayne paints pictures, but fails to sell anything. Joan tries to find a public school position with no success. Suddenly, they turn thirty and everything looks different. They decide it is time to start a family. They will need better careers with more income, so Wayne explores the exploding field of computers. Family support will be welcome so they agree to move back to...