From Wikipedia: “The akashic records (akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning "sky", "space" or "aether") is a term used in theosophy to describe a compendium of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. These records are described to contain all knowledge of human experience and the history of the cosmos. They are metaphorically described as a library and other analogues commonly found in discourse on the subject include a 'universal computer' and the 'Mind of God'. Descriptions of the records assert that they are constantly updated and that they can be accessed through astral projection. The concept originated in the theosophical movements of the 19th century, and remains prevalent in New Age discourse.”

Subtitled, “An Integral Theory of Everything”, Ervin Laszlo’s book Science and the Akashic Field attempts to relate the concept of the Akashic records or field to modern quantum physics. In so doing he makes some very good points about the interrelatedness of people, consciousness, and things through the use of quantum physics phenomena such as non-locality and the Uncertainty Principal.

Extending non-locality to a systems approach of organism evolution is particularly interesting. By interpreting experimental nervous systems response times (which have shown that reactions to stimuli happen faster than signals can be transmitted by the nervous system) he develops a reasonable theory of how evolution not only occurs, but also explains so called gaps in the evolutionary record. Briefly, he theorizes that organisms are to complex to evolve simply through natural selection of specific genes, but evolve as a whole system which can only be explained through connections of non-locality throughout the whole organism.

While some readers may attempt to assign the Akashic Field to Divine or Supernatural existence of a creator, Laszlo does a good job of using scientific experimental evidence to show that the world we perceive is not quite what it seems.

Some readers may be put off by the title reference to the Akashic Field and its occult or new age connotations, this book is a very good read for those attempting to reconcile metaphysics with contemporary science.