Guy Murchie
Guy Murchie (Jr.) (25 January 1907 – 8 July 1997) was an American writer about science and philosophy: aviation, astronomy, biology, and the meaning of life.
He was, successively, a world traveler; a war correspondent; a photographer, staff artist, and reporter for the Chicago Tribune; a pilot and flight instructor; a teacher; a lecturer; an aerial navigator; a building contractor; and founder and director of a summer camp for children.
Murchie, who as an adult stood 6'6" tall and weighed 225 lbs.,[4][8] was raised as an Episcopalian,[9] attended Kent School—which at the time was just "for boys"—and graduated from Harvard in 1929.
From the experience, he gained a deep-seated appreciation for the basic commonality of humanity across any divide of culture,[9] and in 1932 he published his first book (with his own illustrations)—Men on the Horizon—in Boston[11] and London,[12] dedicating it to his mother.
When Murchie graduated from Harvard in 1929, he set out on an overseas journey, not even bothering to attend commencement, packing notepads in anticipation of publishing a travelogue.
Unable to buy a ticket, he stowed away back to San Francisco, ultimately having to pay for the ride, and from there joined ship's crews to Hawaii and then to Japan.
He traveled frugally and sometimes suffered from the extreme cold of Manchuria and Siberia, as well as from the long waits in Soviet lines for food, train tickets, etc.
[23] Murchie got the material for his breakthrough work Song of the Sky from his experience and investigations as an aviator and flight instructor.
Though the subject of the book is largely science (with some references to spiritual matters), the content is delivered in Murchie's characteristically poetic way.
[34] Of it Isaac Asimov is reported to have said "One can only stand amazed at the breadth of Mr. Murchie's understanding and his ability to put the facts and speculations of science into colorful and nontechnical language.
[43] Furthermore, Murchie maintains that many of the boundaries in normal science are arbitrary; between planet and moon, between plant and animal and between life and non-life.
Verifiable sources and references are frequently mentioned, making this (arguably) an effort of journalistic objectivity, despite its overtly philosophical, religious and poetic content and style.
While deeply concerned with religious philosophy, The Seven Mysteries of Life was a finalist for the 1982 National Book Award for science (paperback).
[44] In hindsight, many of the "fringe" or discontinued areas of research that the book covers have recently been verified (or rediscovered) by modern experiments.
Examples include the highly refined communication method seen in the waggle dance of honey bees,[45] the regeneration and immortality properties of the tiny Hydra (genus), and the existence of Quasi-crystals (supramolecular).
[55] He had been impressed with the unique qualities of the temple being a blend of east and west styles, and extended his interest when his insights of the biological unity of humanity was raised to a spiritual affirmation.
[4] Murchie began coverage of World War II with five stories printed in 1939,[49] actually went overseas with fourteen in 1940, (the year he was also injured in an air raid,)[56] three in 1941, five in 1942.
[1][4] His mother Ethel died in Florida in 1943[3] and he inherited the "Fairways Manor house" in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada.
[60] In 1947 the book Saint Croix, the Sentinel River was published[61] and it is likely that this was written during time spent in St. Andrews at the house,[3] while Cooney and Murchie divorced in 1947.
[59] Afterwards Murchie set up Apple Hill Camp, an international summer place for children in New Hampshire, operating it for 11 years[1] during which he married Katie Rautenstrauch and both also worked as teachers.
[72] In it he noted the impressive history of the Báb, Tahirih, the encounter of Edward G. Browne with Baháʼu'lláh, the position and example of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and appointed Guardian, and the religion's presence in the life of historically notable people like Marie of Romania and was close to President Wilson.
