The Man from Autumn

"Rarely has a book so compelled me that upon closing the final page, I opened again to page 1 to start re-reading it immediately. The Man from Autumn is such a book. Crafted by wordsmith and biocognitive psychologist, Mario Martinez, Psy.D., it has the rich allure of a novel with excellent characterization and plot, mystery, imbedded clues, and cultural dimensionality.
Dr. Martinez, the developer of the field of biocognitive psychology, asserts that the scientific basis of psychoneuroimmunology cannot be isolated from our beliefs and our cultural norms. Using a technique he refers to as incidental learning, he gently, subtly, yet powerfully introduces the fundamentals of biocognitive psychology to the reader. While framed as a work of fiction, an immense amount of information and perspective from medical anthropology, neuroscience, and spirituality find their way into the story line in a seamless, unobtrusive way.
The author has served as a consultant to the Catholic Church, the BBC and National Geographic on cases of stigmata, the appearance of non-healing, bleeding wounds of Christ on the hands and feet of certain faithful. He uses this background as one of several methods and scenarios in the book to introduce the ability of mind and culture to affect our bodies in profound ways. This is done in narrative style that introduces many religious and political questions when a cardinal from Cuba develops this mysterious condition. He also poses these questions in the context of modern science.
The most valuable theme of the book to me, however, was that we can transform personal and cultural norms that demand suffering and pain as requisites to growth and to aging into joy. The Man from Autumn confronts directly the expectation that in our autumn years, we automatically must endure programmed obsolescence. Instead, using the tools of biocognitive psychology, he demonstrates how we can shirk off societal and cultural programs about senescence and disability. Instead, we can choose at any age to continue to grow, to experience love, prosperity, stimulating relationships, intellectual vigor, to savor excellent food and wine, and all things wonderful in life.
With a wide range of topics from the stigmata to voodoo, immunology to anthropology, dreamwork and helpful Muses, this book is lovingly and masterfully written. It is a joy to read. You will find yourself transformed in your own personal psychological constructs from pain into joy, from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection, and from being a victim of cultural beliefs to being a joyful co-creator of your future. "

This review is published in "Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing".

Victor S. Sierpina, M.D.
Nicholson Professor of Integrative Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston

“Mario Martinez has written a rare and compelling historic novel that guides the reader into the depths of a mystic's soul. This is a great read.”

– Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Sacred Contracts

“In The Man from Autumn, Dr Mario E. Martinez cleverly interweaves his Biocognitive Theory into a novel work of fiction. Through the relationship between the main character, writer Enrique Lugo and Breogán, the protagonist in the book he is writing, Martinez guides the reader in a tangible, digestible way, through this theory he developed over years of research about how mind, body and historical culture are inseparable elements that co-emerge to create an individual’s reality and thus modulating their health or lack thereof.
Martinez fast-paced narrative takes the reader on an enjoyable journey of discovery and questioning.”

– Niamh Hooper, Contributor to The Irish Times

“Mario Martinez has given us a novel that not only probes the inner recesses of the Vatican and the process of choosing a new Pope, but also the inner recesses of the mind, body, and human relationships. In an intricate interplay of story, science, and theology, Martinez takes us on a journey that leads to hope. This novel will intrigue the mind and comfort the heart.”

– Harry Lee Poe, Ph.D., Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture,
Union University, and President of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, Richmond