by Ernest Scott
with an introduction by Colin Wilson
Octagon Press, London, 1983

Are biological evolution and human history directed by a hierarchy of Intelligences, the lowest level of which makes physical contact with mankind? Do invisible guardians of this planet 'seed' ideas into the earth's cultures to prepare human beings for huge steps in their development? The author suggests not only that it may be so, but that it may also be possible to recognize these 'People of the Secret.'

http://ishkbooks.com/database/PESE2.html

First bursts of human genius: http://media.uow.edu.au/news/UOW051639.html

Dr Zenobia Jacobs and Professor Richard ‘Bert’ Roberts from the University of Wollongong (UOW) are lead authors of an international study published today (31 October) in the respected journal Science* that offers new insights on two bursts of innovative technology and behaviour in the Middle Stone Age of southern Africa. ...

Dr Jacobs said that both of these industries occurred in the Middle Stone Age, which witnessed the emergence of Homo sapiens about 200,000 years ago, the evolution of fully ‘modern’ human behaviour, and the exodus of people out of Africa perhaps 60,000 years ago. ...

“A key finding of our study is that both industries were short-lived and flourished in two separate but closely spaced bursts between 80,000 and 60,000 years ago – intriguingly, about the same time as human populations rapidly expanded in Africa, and people had begun to disperse across southern Asia to Australia,” Professor Roberts said. ...

“But this burst of innovation ended about 60,000 years ago, returning to a further 30,000 years of relatively crude stone-age technology,” Dr Jacobs said. ...

The reasons for the waxing and waning of these industries remain elusive. But Dr Jacobs and colleagues rule out environmental factors as being the main driving force for the emergence of these two periods of innovation.

“We see no consistent pattern between the timing of these industries and major climatic changes although local conditions probably influenced where people preferred to live,” Dr Jacobs said. ...

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* Emergence of Modern Human Behavior

For more than 150 years, the Atlantic has told the stories of people who commit acts of moral and intellectual bravery by espousing unpopular or controversial positions. In a special issue of the magazine, the editors have chosen 27 leaders - from business and politics to science and media - who embody this great tradition today. These are people who are risking careers, reputations, and fortunes to advance ideas that upend an established order.

http://bravethinkers.theatlantic.com/

50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World

http://www.utne.com/Politics/50-Visionaries-Changing-Your-World-Hope-2009.aspx