In The Surfer and The Sea Lion, author James N. Weiss attempts a bold feat: to ponder life’s grandest imponderables, collect theories and discoveries throughout history, and distill them into a Socratic dialogue between an everyday man who sustains a minor head injury while surfing and the wise sea lion he meets¬—all in the space of one book.

The sea lion introduces himself as Socrates, causing the surfer to think the he’s an incarnation of the esteemed philosopher. This prompts the surfer to quiz the sea lion on the enormity of life and the universe. Armed with the collective wisdom of such philosophers as Socrates himself, Nietzsche, and Thomas Aquinas, as well as the scientific minds of Einstein, Galileo, Archimedes, and myriad other luminaries, Weiss presents a dialogue-driven narrative that attempts to answer the grandest scientific questions in relation to humanity’s evolution.

The author explains that his goal is to present complex material in an enjoyable, non-threatening format. One of his folksy methods is to namedrop celebrated scientists and philosophers such as “Stephen” (Hawking) and “Immanuel” (Kant), et al., as if they were pals. However, such attempts are vastly undermined by the millennia of heady information packed into one volume as facts and figures fly by in a blur.

As the author recounts the history of humankind, he eventually attempts to trace the effects of scientific evolution on economics, egalitarianism, and societal goals. Readers might ultimately infer the author’s opinion on the possible effects of all-too-rapid scientific discovery (including the ubiquitous explosion of artificial intelligence) on evolution, as he presents two possible projections regarding the world’s future and how humans can best contribute to the betterment of that world.

Those who are open to an erudite encounter might find this a satisfying read. However, while the author displays a tremendous array of historical, scientific, and philosophical knowledge, this book is accessible to only the most sophisticated and determined readers.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.