On Being book cover

On Being by Peter Atkins Summary

On Being
Peter Atkins
3.48 (205 Reviews)
Science
Philosophy
Society
Aperçu
Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of On Being

In "On Being," renowned chemist Peter Atkins dismantles life's biggest questions through scientific inquiry, not mysticism. While religion stagnated for millennia, science reveals why we resemble parents, have nipples, and ultimately die - challenging readers to embrace evidence over comforting myths.

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Points clés

1

What We Really Are: Stardust and Chaos

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Consider the atoms in your hand right now. Every single one was forged in the nuclear furnace of a dying star billions of years ago, scattered across space in a violent supernova explosion, and eventually coalesced into the planet beneath your feet and the body you call yourself. This isn't poetry-it's physics. And it raises a question that has haunted humanity since we first looked up at the night sky: Where did all this come from, and what does it mean? Modern cosmology tells us the universe began 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang, though we can only peer back to about 10^-34 seconds after that moment before our physics breaks down completely. But here's where things get truly strange: our universe might actually be nothing at all. The total electrical charge is precisely zero. The total angular momentum is zero. When we account for gravitational energy-which is negative-alongside the energy of mass and motion, the universe's total energy might sum to exactly zero. Creation wasn't manufacturing something from nothing, but separating Nothing into balanced opposites that give the appearance of something. We're living inside a cosmic accounting trick where opposing values create the illusion of substance.

2

The Beautiful Accident: How Life Stumbled Forward

3

The Lottery of You: Reproduction's Near-Miracle

4

The Final Silence: What Death Really Means

5

Beyond Wishful Thinking: The Afterlife Question

6

The Universe's Final Chapter

7

The Joy of True Comprehension

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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comments
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
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star
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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star
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