What kind of species do we want to be in this vast cosmos?
Modern Humanism explores timeless questions: What does it mean to live well? How do we understand our place in the universe? What kind of future can we co-create?
Blending scientific insight with ethical reflection, this book offers a humanist framework rooted in evolutionary biology, behavioural science, ecology, and the creative arts. It champions compassion, service, and consilience—where understanding and kindness converge to shape a flourishing Earth.
Through vivid case studies—from Everest and the Aral Sea to the Voyager spacecraft and ethical reflections like Keynes’ letter to his grandchildren—it applies humanist principles to economics, education, power, and the future of our planet, addressing inequality, environmental renewal, and historical responsibility.
Immortal Companions
“It is not merely that we read them; we converse with them, we quarrel with them, we are instructed by them, we are moved by them. They are not dead; they are immortal companions.” (Lytton Strachey)
Click to read this select bibliography of my closest immortal humanist companions. These are not exhaustive, many great thinkers are absent, and for those included, only one or two key works are highlighted. Organized by first name, it offers a curated selection of writings and notable reflections related to the ideas in this book.
Discussion Board
I view this book as a dialogue, intended to spark wider and deeper conversations so that we can collectively take meaningful actions towards a better world.
Write to me with your ideas and I will add them to the discussion board that will appear as a Medium article.
Click here to read the discussion board. Go to the contacts page to send me your views and ideas.
Kai Taraporevala
Kai Taraporevala, born and based in Mumbai spans diverse cultures and fields of thought. Having lived in India, the U.K., France, the Middle East, and Singapore, Kai reflects on the deep commonalities of human experience across communities, alongside the biases and ideologies that divide us.
He holds master’s degrees in physics from IIT Delhi and the University of Dundee, and an MBA from INSEAD. After decades in finance, Kai emerged from Plato’s allegorical cave to embrace a life of caregiving and pursue a third master’s in physics with a focus on astrophysics at the Open University, U.K., which he completed in December 2025; the formal degree will be conferred by mid-2026. Now 60, this return was driven by lifelong curiosity, philosophical inquiry, personal reflection, and a deep sense of gratitude for the many kindnesses and privileges he’s been lucky to receive.
Kai finds joy in the outdoors and in conversations with friends and his three grown children, all active in creative fields. He writes to share, to connect, and to spark meaningful dialogue, inviting readers to reflect, question, imagine — and respond with compassion toward a better world.
Related Articles
I have written a number of related articles, including extracts from the book on Medium.
Click here to go to contents page and select articles you might be interested in.
How to Buy the Book
This book is available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats across most online platforms including Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Google Play store.
Get in Touch
Connect with me to submit thoughts for the discussion forum or to dialogue about the book.