A spiritual and scientific surf quest <strong>West of Jesus</strong> tracks a contemporarysurfing myth and looks at the neuroscience that connects spirituality ... » 

A spiritual and scientific surf quest West of Jesus tracks a contemporarysurfing myth and looks at the neuroscience that connects spirituality and highrisk sport. After spending two years in bed with Lyme disease Steven Kotlerhad lost everything his health his job his girl and he was beginning tosuspect his mind. Kotler not a religious man suddenly found himself drawn tothe sport of surfing as if it were the cornerstone of a new faith. Why hewondered when there was nothing left to believe in could he begin to believein something as unlikely as surfing. What was belief anyway? How did it work inthe body the brain our culture and human history? Into this mix came astrange story. In 2003 on a surf trip through Mexico Kotler heard of theconductor a mythical surfer who could control the weather. Hed heard thissame tale eight years earlier in Indonesia but this time something clicked.With the help of everyone from rebel surfers to rocket scientists Kotlerundertakes a three year globetrotting quest for the origins of this legend. Theresults are a startling mix of big waves and bigger ideas a surfers journeyinto the biological underpinnings of belief itself. «