134: Frank White on Space Exploration and Human Evolution, 4th Edition of the Overview Effect
Frank White returns to Casual Space: Author, space philosopher and consultant joins Beth to share a lot of news!\xa0 A new edition of the Overview Effect is out- and Frank announces a new project coming to you in November!\xa0 We discuss non-professional space explorers (astronauts?), the need to migrate off Earth, and examine the many interpretations of the Overview Effect.\xa0
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What is the Overview Effect?\xa0\xa0
From Frank\u2019s book, The Overview Effect, page 2, edition 3 (I\u2019ve ordered my NEW addition, and so should you):\xa0
The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit, in transit between the Earth and the moon, or from the lunar surface. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that Earth is in space, a tine, fragile ball of life, \u201changing in the void,\u201d shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere.\xa0 The experience often transforms astronaut\u2019s perspective on the planet and humanity\u2019s place in the universe.\xa0 Some common aspects of it are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility of taking care of the environment.\xa0
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About Frank White\xa0
Frank has authored or coauthored numerous books on topics ranging from space exploration to climate change to artificial intelligence. His best-known work,\xa0The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space exploration. A film called "Overview," based largely on his work, has had nearly 8 million plays on Vimeo.
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Since the first edition of his book on the subject was published in 1987, "the Overview Effect" has become a standard term for describing the spaceflight experience. The fourth edition of\xa0The Overview Effect, including original interviews with 31 astronauts, is scheduled for publication in 2019.
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White considers himself to be a "space philosopher," and has long advocated developing a new philosophy of space exploration. His book on this topic, The\xa0Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the Overview Effect, has just been published. In it, he asks the fundamental question, "What is the purpose of human space exploration? Why has the evolutionary process brought humanity to the brink of becoming a spacefaring species?"
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In the book, he shares the idea of "the Human Space Program" as a "central project" that will engage all of us in the process of becoming "Citizens of the Universe."
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To Learn More about Frank and his work:\xa0
frankwhiteauthor.com
ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE Overview Effect HERE: https://frankwhiteauthor.com/books
And check out the Overview Effect Film Festival\u2026 premiering in November 2021~ https://filmfreeway.com/OverviewEffectFilmFestival