Zukav explains that human evolution is generally taught as a progression from simple, unicellular beings to those of greater complexity, with the perception that more complex species are therefore more evolved. However, people also tend to recognize personal or spiritual development as important. For instance, people who are generous and self-sacrificing are recognized as more “evolved” than others.

Personally, Zukav has grown to value love more than the “physical world.” He claims that the world is leaving one phase of its evolution behind and entering a new one. This is marked by a change in how people experience the world. Historically, humans have always interacted with reality through their five senses. According to Zukav, living through one’s senses promotes fear and competition as people vie for physical dominance. This current of fear runs through individual relationships, families, and whole cultures and results in a fear of vulnerability. Zukav perceives power struggles as something that “splinter[] the psyche” and must change for the betterment of everyone (9). He believes that people are shifting from pursuing external power to “authentic power,” which is based not on fear but on joy. It’s aligned with the best parts of people’s selves and doesn’t use violence to further its power. Humanity has experienced the consequences of violence and malice, as well as the effects of kindness and cooperation, and Zukav argues that people must now pursue a more loving path.

Zukav argues that people who live from their authentic power are “multisensory”—more aware of their feelings, intuitions, and intentions—and that they are creating a realm of higher awareness of people as individuals and as a species. He cites Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ as examples. Zukav believes that while people’s personalities and bodies are mortal, their souls are immortal. By becoming “multisensory,” people will align the actions and intentions of their personality with their soul, which Zukav considers the “reason for our being” (16).

Zukav presents his beliefs as facts, as when he writes, “We are leaving behind exploration of the physical world as our sole means of evolution” (11). He does not acknowledge that his beliefs are not empirically provable, nor does he try to include a more specific context for his claims. For instance, he points to Jesus as an example of a multisensory person but claims that this great evolutionary shift in thinking is happening currently. It’s unclear if “currently” is referring the last couple thousand years or the present day. By sidestepping these more specific aspects of his theory, the author focuses on communicating his main spiritual messages with a sense of confidence and persuasion.

Zukav’s critique of violence and power struggles reveals the cultural moment that the work emerged from. He writes, 

The same energy that sent warships to the Persian Gulf sent soldiers to Vietnam and Crusaders to Palestine. The energy that separated the family of Romeo from the family of Juliet is the same energy that separates the racial family of the black husband from the racial family of the white wife (6). 

Zukav’s criticism of the Vietnam War and racial segregation recalls the protest movements and counterculture of the mid-20th century, which would eventually become intertwined with the New Age movement. 

Chapter Lessons

• Recognize the difference between fear-based and love-based choices.
• Cultivate healthy personal or “authentic” power instead of vying for dominance.
• Consider the deeper meaning of life beyond the physical.

Reflection Questions

• Do you agree with Zukav that international warfare, racism, religious disputes, and even marital power struggles all stem from the same “energy”? Why or why not?
• How does Zukav distinguish between the personality and the soul? How are they connected?
• What is your interpretation of Zukav’s theory on “five-sensory” people and “multisensory” people? Do you find this argument compelling? Why or why not?