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The Road to Wisdom
On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust
Description
From “national treasure” Francis Collins (Philip Yancey), the New York Times bestselling author of The Language of God and former director of the National Institutes of Health, comes a deeply thoughtful guidebook to get us beyond societal divisions and back to the sources of wisdom—”the sort that can save us before it is too late” (Jane Goodall).
As the COVID-19 pandemic revealed, we have become not just a hyper-partisan society but also a deeply cynical one, distrustful of traditional sources of knowledge and wisdom. Skepticism about vaccines led to the needless deaths of at least 230,000 Americans. “Do your own research” is now a rallying cry in many online rabbit holes. Yet experts can make mistakes, and institutions can lose their moral compass. So how can we navigate through all this?In The Road to Wisdom, Francis Collins reminds us of the four core sources of judgement and clear thinking: truth, science, faith, and trust. Drawing on his work from the Human Genome Project and heading the National Institutes of Health, as well as on ethics, philosophy, and Christian theology, Collins makes a robust, thoughtful case for each of these sources—their reliability, and their limits. Ultimately, he shows how they work together, not separately—and certainly not in conflict. It is only when we relink these four foundations of wisdom that we can begin to discern the best path forward in life.
Thoughtful, accessible, winsome, and deeply wise, The Road to Wisdom leads us beyond current animosities to surer footing. Here is the moral, philosophical, and scientific framework with which to address the problems of our time—including distrust of public health, partisanship, racism, response to climate change, and threats to our democracy—but also to guide us in our daily lives. This is a book that will repay many readings, and resolve dilemmas that we all face every day.
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Praise
“Through his leadership of the Human Genome Project, Dr. Francis Collins revealed the simple truth that we are all far more alike than we are different. Now, in his thoughtful book The Road to Wisdom, he urges us to have the courage and humility to bridge our divides, embrace what we have in common, and rebuild a fractured society. When Dr. Collins speaks, I listen—and his message is more important now than ever.”
—President Bill Clinton
—President Bill Clinton
“In The Road to Wisdom, Francis Collins—a distinguished scientist as well as a former atheist who found meaning in the Christian faith—draws on his own deep, diverse experiences as he leads us through a maze of conflicting beliefs and opinions in search of wisdom: the sort that can save us before it is too late. This book should be read by anyone, Christian and non-Christian alike, who is seeking meaning or trying to make sense of our troubled times.”
—Jane Goodall
"Francis Collins offers us a path back to wisdom with this inspirational and unflinching look at his life as a research scientist, a man of faith, and a servant-leader who oversaw the work of our nation’s medical research agency through turbulent times. In the final pages of The Road to Wisdom, he urges us to sign a pledge, committing to seek truth, build trust, and practice generosity. I hope that many, many readers will join me in doing so.”
—Yo-Yo Ma
"Dr. Francis Collins is a national treasure, acclaimed not only for his scientific achievements but for his example as a bridge person in a polarized time. He has served under every U.S. president of this century, in the process winning the respect of some of his fiercest critics. Amid the shrillness of our era, Dr. Collins offers a calming voice of hope, as well as practical suggestions on how to heal the nation’s wounds."
—Philip Yancey, author of What’s So Amazing About Grace
“Working with Francis Collins as he led the National Institutes of Health under three very different presidents, I saw firsthand his ability to find common ground and common goals. As timely as it is compelling, The Road to Wisdom is an encapsulation of those gifts, based on the reinforcing values of truth, science, faith, and trust.”
—Senator Roy Blunt
"Drawing on decades of public service, Francis Collins blends science, faith, and philosophy in The Road to Wisdom. Full of insights to help readers navigate today's complex world and grapple with critical issues including public health, partisanship, and climate change, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking clarity and direction."
—Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Laureate, and co-author of A Crack in Creation
“In this important and timely book, Francis Collins takes on fundamental questions of faith and science and suggests ways to bridge the gaps that divide us by more actively engaging with those with whom we disagree. Listening, understanding, and tolerance are the essential threads that weave their way throughout The Road to Wisdom—a book to learn from.”
—Kay Redfield Jamison, author of Fires in the Dark and An Unquiet Mind
—Kay Redfield Jamison, author of Fires in the Dark and An Unquiet Mind
“Smart… lucid… [The Road to Wisdom] has plenty to offer.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Collins, a physician, evangelical Christian, and former director of the National Institutes of Health, seeks a remedy for the divisiveness and anger that besets our nation… Drawing on examples from his personal and professional experiences, he reveals times when his trust has been honored, and times when it has been broken. As a scientist who finds belief in a Christian God “entirely consistent” with his faith in evidence-based truths and scientific methods, he recounts his journey from atheism to Christianity. Overall, Collins urges each reader to create a renewed sense of community through “reanchoring your worldview”; engaging with family, friends, and community; and carefully distinguishing facts from fakes. Thoughtful guidance in tumultuous times.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An important book…thought-provoking…[Collins] proves to be a reliable, insightful, and agreeable guide to the road to wisdom.”
—Booklist
“The Road to Wisdom is enlightening both in its illumination of Collins’s personal journey to wisdom and for the insights it offers into his views on sources of wisdom.”
—Science Magazine
“One sees why, as a scientist, doctor and Christian, [Collins] felt he had to write his new book, The Road to Wisdom. Collins hopes to help rebuild wisdom, which could be broadly defined as the good judgment that might have kept us out of this mess. Collins urges us to trust those with competence, integrity and an appropriate humility.”
—Washington Post
“Collins’s book is a cri de Coeur that looks to the future. Its argument is, in essence, that truth, science, faith, and trust jointly lead to wisdom. The thrust of Collins’s argument is that we need to do a better job of listening to one another. 'If our nation’s political system has lost much of its commitment to truth, compromise, and civility,' Collins argues, 'it is up to us to turn that around.' It’s a worthy sentiment, even if it remains an elusive goal.”
—Harvard Public Health Magazine