Thomas’ book is an excellent introduction and comprehensive overview of how the modern (man-made) environment affects us all.

The title is taken from the disturbing fact that: “If a frog jumps into a pan of warm water, it will immediately jump out again. However, if a frog is placed in a pan of cold water that is then gradually heated, the frog continues to adjust its body temperature awareness to the increasing water temperature until, ultimately, it is boiled alive.”

Thomas sets out to show that humans are doing just this by living in levels of increasing subtle background pollution. Our air, water, food and electromagnetic environments are increasingly polluted with novel ‘substances’. Many of the gross, acute chemicals have now been either banned or highly regulated, but many new substances are entering our food chain. EMFs are still in the gross and largely uncontrolled stage and we have to act individually to try to minimise our exposure to them.

The book assumes no pre-knowledge of the subject, but has been clearly written for the literate reader, including further education students and professional people.

It briefly covers topics such as contaminated land and then examines various aspects of sick-building syndrome. The middle (about a third) of the book is devoted to EMFs – what they are, what they do, and ways to minimise your exposure. There is a lot of good information here; my only slight regret is that the many references are mainly to newspaper articles (and similar) even where these are reporting on peer-reviewed scientific papers – it would have been helpful to have more scientific literature references in this book.

The second half of the book is subtitled “Perennial Wisdom” and is a stimulating debate about integrating science, knowledge, wisdom, soul and spirit in a holistic lifestyle, drawing on lessons and traditions from the past and looking forward to a better future. Areas it touches on include ancient wisdom and mystery schools, geomancy, sacred architecture, the music of the spheres, allopathic and holistic medicine and alternative technology.

David Lorimer, Director of the Scientific and Medical Network, described this book as: “A tour de force…both visionary and immensely practical”. I think my one-liner would be: “A great pot-pourri of thoughtful and useful information about our health and the built environment”.

Well worth a read.



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