Why do we exist? For centuries, this question has been the exclusive domain of religion and philosophy. According to the dominant scientific paradigm, the universe tends to randomness, functions according to purposeless laws, and the appearance of life is a meaningless accident. But this bleak interpretation of nature is now being challenged by cutting-edge findings at the intersection of physics, biology, neuroscience and information theory, generally referred to as 'complexity science'. Thanks to a new understanding of evolution and recent advances in understanding the phenomenon known as emergence, a new cosmic narrative is taking shape: The simplest 'parts' of nature are coming together to form ever larger 'wholes' in a process that has no end in sight. In 'The Romance of Reality,' cognitive neuroscientist Bobby Azarian explains the science behind this new view of reality and explores what it means for all of us.