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3rd out of 123 books
—
20 voters
The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
A witty attack on the illusion that the self is a separate ego that confronts a universe of alien physical objects.
Paperback, 163 pages
Published
August 28th 1989
by Vintage
(first published 1966)
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May 09, 2012
Erik Graff
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone?
Recommended to Erik by:
Anne-Lise Graff
Shelves:
philosophy
Having read this and several other works by Watts while still in high school, I am unsure of a proper rating. At the time he was very influential, but then I knew so little and was so very unhappy.
Mother introduced me to Watts and, thus, Eastern philosophies. Actually, they were covered a bit in Freshman Civilization class taught by Kelly Fox and that was intriguing, but Watts was the first actual believer I may have read. Later, not much later, Mike Miley was to introduce me to the real stuff,...more
Mother introduced me to Watts and, thus, Eastern philosophies. Actually, they were covered a bit in Freshman Civilization class taught by Kelly Fox and that was intriguing, but Watts was the first actual believer I may have read. Later, not much later, Mike Miley was to introduce me to the real stuff,...more
I came to Watts by reference from a more practical guide of meditation practice. As such, I was really more interested in an exploration of a personal experience of "not-self", or "anatta" as Buddhists refer to it. This may sound somewhat grand and perhaps quixotic, but I sincerely believe that grasping anatta on a more immediate, visceral level of awareness - beyond the conceptual - is really quite possible and achievable for most everyone. In an effort to move beyond the purely conceptual, the...more
What a powerful little book. Watts has a gift for explaining Eastern thought and metaphysics to a western audience. Some of the statements in this book will change the way you look at the world in an instant. The day I finished reading this I spent two hours wandering around Seattle staring at trees and buildings and everything else under the sun. Things felt new and interesting for a little while. This book also has lots of interesting (and sometimes very humorous) commentary on western society...more
This is one of those books that goes deep into the essence of the PERSONAL EGO. The way we look at the world and why we look at it with squinting eyes. This book literally opened up my mind to some new thoughts and at solidified some of my own ideas that I had been dwelling on for years.
Its funny at times. But, Read it with no distractions around. Its only enjoyable if you can literally digest what the man is saying.
Youll never look at the world the same once youve read this book, and I mean th...more
Its funny at times. But, Read it with no distractions around. Its only enjoyable if you can literally digest what the man is saying.
Youll never look at the world the same once youve read this book, and I mean th...more
I read this book while on a kayaking trip with my older brother on Kachemak Bay, Alaska and I have never, literally, been exactly the same. It pulls the veil back, as it were. You can read it over and over, but I think the best one is the first time through. It made my mind race with the possibilities that it opened up, created some serious dialogue with my brother, and it made the perfect Christmas present, that year, to my parents who absolutely NEED to read it (though I know they never have,...more
What a fantastic little book. Watts uses very little jargon and doesn't really aim to cover any single thought school or religion in this book, but talks directly to the reader about his personal views. For anyone who has never heard the term nonduality or advaita, this will be an eye-opening read. For anyone already familiar with nonduality, they will still enjoy the elegance with which Watts expresses his ideas along those lines. The only complaint I have about the book is how short it is, as...more
Mar 18, 2013
Gareth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2013,
philosophy-reviews
Alan Watts (1915-73) was a British-born writer and philosopher who is now most remembered as a popularizer of Eastern philosophy and religion. However, as a survey of his career and prodigious writings reveal, he was much more than that. His early interest in Buddhism led him to become a secretary of the London Buddhist Lodge at the precocious age of 16, and, at 21, to publish his first book, The Spirit of Zen. However, he shortly after moved to America, where his interests developed in numerous...more
Alan Watts does a fine job of breaking through the narcissistic wall that many of us build around ourselves, as if we have a superior, godlike ability to access a vantage point that sees a world around us, apart from us, rather than us of it, fully immersed within the Whole Everything of All Things.
Sure, it is totally the book you love as a freshman college student, trying to disavow your WASPy upbringing by incorporating Easternized Western Thought rather than good ol' fashioned Westernized Wes...more
Sure, it is totally the book you love as a freshman college student, trying to disavow your WASPy upbringing by incorporating Easternized Western Thought rather than good ol' fashioned Westernized Wes...more
If anyone were to start a Alan Watts collection or start reading Alan Watts I would highly recommend "The Book".
It covers many of Alan Watt's views on social "myths " that have been created about the creation of the universe and the individual (self) and how they are supported by religion and certain teachings of science. As stated in the title we believe in a myth that there is a "self" and that we were born into the universe when in actuality we are merely a part of the process of the growt...more
It covers many of Alan Watt's views on social "myths " that have been created about the creation of the universe and the individual (self) and how they are supported by religion and certain teachings of science. As stated in the title we believe in a myth that there is a "self" and that we were born into the universe when in actuality we are merely a part of the process of the growt...more
This is the sort of book that shows the value of browsing in bookshops. It was not a book I was looking for, but I came across it, was intrigued, bought it and read it. And it was well worth the effort.
Watts was obviously very knowledgeable about a wealth of (Western Analytical) philosophy and religious thinking (many types but particularly Eastern). He deftly merges and plays with concepts from the two, to make a pleasurable, thought provoking read. At times quite profound, but always engaging....more
Watts was obviously very knowledgeable about a wealth of (Western Analytical) philosophy and religious thinking (many types but particularly Eastern). He deftly merges and plays with concepts from the two, to make a pleasurable, thought provoking read. At times quite profound, but always engaging....more
I sometimes forget just how powerful this book is in my life. I went off on an Alan Watts tangent so to speak a year ago, for it was his voice this time on ITunes U recordings that brought all my favorite mind freeing quotes back to life. Sure he was another rough skinned man that drank too much, but today I'm surrounded by tons of those that don't nearly know selfless nature and all that is nature enough. Am I saying he's not your average rambling alcoholic about spirituality and the like? Mayb...more
The core of his argument is that Western society is plagued with an overabundance of ego. Which is not to say that we are overly full of ourselves (OK, that is kind of what it says), but that our confusion, frustration with life, and overall isolation from one another stems from this cultural meme that the individual exists wholly separate from everything else.
Watts finds the Hindu/Buddhist notion of a "ground of being" in place of God to be helpful in dispelling this notion of ego. If we accept...more
Watts finds the Hindu/Buddhist notion of a "ground of being" in place of God to be helpful in dispelling this notion of ego. If we accept...more
A solid lesson in empathy. Watts is clearly well-versed in scientific thought as well as both Western and Eastern philosophical tradition. Despite these academic qualities, he writes as if he was your dad philosophizing to you after a couple glasses of vino. His idea that the notion of a separate self undermines the connection we feel to the world and others is spot on. In addition, his thoughts on death are comforting despite the fact that they are glossed over rather quickly. Watts also drives...more
Alan Watts explains how you are part of the whole of the universe, and that it cannot possibly exist without you. And in so being a part, the rest of the world is actually an extension of you, and not separate, as it may appear in the grand illusion that is life as we see it. All of this produces an excellent reason for why we should take care of the environment: in doing so, we are actually taking care of ourselves. The author presents his treatise in deceptively simple language and clever anal...more
I fount this book to both VERY 1966 and rather timeless.
On the one hand, the tone and some of the authors' chosen metaphors and illustrative examples are right out of a Sixties Teach-In somewhere on the Berkeley campus -- by an older visiting prof who, despite his acquired hipness, still drinks scotch on the rocks and refers to women as "girls".
On the other hand, yes, vedanta, advaita, cosmic consciousness and Logos. And conveyed as simply as possible to readers who may not have spent decades w...more
I find reprehensible the affection of Goodreads reviewers for animated GIFs, but this book begs for an exception. So here goes:
The central idea in this book is expressed in the title. Alan Watts argues that the Self is an illusion, and does so in an eloquent, playful manner. Most of the book focuses on helping the reader intuit this concept, rather than trying to convince them in a formal, logical manner. It's a nice change of pace from Spinoza's itemized logical constructs, for instance, and al...more
The central idea in this book is expressed in the title. Alan Watts argues that the Self is an illusion, and does so in an eloquent, playful manner. Most of the book focuses on helping the reader intuit this concept, rather than trying to convince them in a formal, logical manner. It's a nice change of pace from Spinoza's itemized logical constructs, for instance, and al...more
Feb 16, 2009
Jesse D.
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Any person, but especially the young adult (18-26).
This book has many quotes and analogies that I continue to use today when explaining my view of the universe and my relation to "God." I've given out at least 8 copies of this book to my friends, with never a bad review. I can't say enough good things about this book.
As an aside. Alan Watts is one of the greatest spiritual teachers in my life. The lectures he left prior to his passing affirmed many of the beliefs I held, and extended these beliefs to levels I previously hadn't been able to see....more
As an aside. Alan Watts is one of the greatest spiritual teachers in my life. The lectures he left prior to his passing affirmed many of the beliefs I held, and extended these beliefs to levels I previously hadn't been able to see....more
I think there is something to be said on the nature of 'dated philosophy'.
While Watts makes some valid points in terms of the ego, the id and the ever present "I", I still think his philosophy is somewhat flawed. Not only that, but this book (perhaps the edition I have as it was an old library copy" suffers from somewhat antiquated analogies in publications and books that no one reads anymore.. or in fact even knows.
I did appreciate that the book was an attempt to get the average person out of t...more
While Watts makes some valid points in terms of the ego, the id and the ever present "I", I still think his philosophy is somewhat flawed. Not only that, but this book (perhaps the edition I have as it was an old library copy" suffers from somewhat antiquated analogies in publications and books that no one reads anymore.. or in fact even knows.
I did appreciate that the book was an attempt to get the average person out of t...more
This was a re-read of a book I read for the first time as a college freshman. It left quite an impression on me then. At my current advanced age the impact is less intense but it is still there.
I've read many of Alan Watts' works, and this one has been by far the most significant to me. It gives a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of Advaita. Watts' conversational writing style and willingness to explain difficult concepts from multiple points of view, helps substantially.
If I were to r...more
I've read many of Alan Watts' works, and this one has been by far the most significant to me. It gives a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of Advaita. Watts' conversational writing style and willingness to explain difficult concepts from multiple points of view, helps substantially.
If I were to r...more
Ohh such a tasty little book packed with nuggets of wisdom and questions about questions -- a great translation of Zen to Western thought. If you're into Taoism and Buddhism this is a must read.
Piles and piles of quotes -- one that I thought was particularly noteworthy was
“other people teach us who we are. Their attitudes to us are the mirror in which we learn to see ourselves, but the mirror is distorted.” – often our most private thoughts and emotions are not our own – because we use language...more
Piles and piles of quotes -- one that I thought was particularly noteworthy was
“other people teach us who we are. Their attitudes to us are the mirror in which we learn to see ourselves, but the mirror is distorted.” – often our most private thoughts and emotions are not our own – because we use language...more
Wow, what do I say about this book.
I read this based on the numerous, quite intelligent, quotes that can be found on the Internet attributed to Mr. Watts. Reading this book was a very different experience though.
To be sure, there are some grains of wisdom, but they are to be found among tons of chaff. With the flowing and unfocused nature of this book I could only picture a stoned hippy unloading a stream of consciousness while reading it. In the end Watts takes a full book to state the obvio...more
I read this based on the numerous, quite intelligent, quotes that can be found on the Internet attributed to Mr. Watts. Reading this book was a very different experience though.
To be sure, there are some grains of wisdom, but they are to be found among tons of chaff. With the flowing and unfocused nature of this book I could only picture a stoned hippy unloading a stream of consciousness while reading it. In the end Watts takes a full book to state the obvio...more
I've been listening to Watts' audio recordings for the last couple years and he has clarified some of my own leanings towards "Eastern" practices. This is the first book of his I've read and I like his writing style for the most part; he writes like he speaks, kind of tongue in cheek. He makes a number of interesting points regarding this idea of "self", especially in the second half of the book. I found the first half harder to get through. Sometimes I feel he is a bit more acidic than he needs...more
Have you ever wondered, what "it" is all about? Who you are? How does this, "thing", work, you know... everything (including the "you")!?! I have spent a great deal of my life in search of meaning, in search of an answer to a question that Is not easily defined.
"The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" Is exactly as the title claims, it is one man's attempt to convey the illusive truth behind many of the questions that leave us feeling, isolated, and separate from this world we inhabi...more
"The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" Is exactly as the title claims, it is one man's attempt to convey the illusive truth behind many of the questions that leave us feeling, isolated, and separate from this world we inhabi...more
Oct 27, 2011
Steve Woods
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
georgejastudillo@gmail.com
Shelves:
spirituality
This book is the work of a great man, a great scholar, a great thinker and he died of chronic alcoholism. I first became aware of Alan Watts when I was studying Chinese literature, for his discussions of the Tao te Ching. Pity I didn't pursue his wider work though I am not sure it would have had the same impact on me in my 20's so full of myself and on the slide into the same chronic alcoholism that killed him.
In this little book he isolates the great hoax, the sense of separate, self determinin...more
In this little book he isolates the great hoax, the sense of separate, self determinin...more
What if there were One Book, which gave the low-down on all the Big Questions. Who am I? Why am I here? Where did I come from? What is the Universe? How was it created? No, I'm not talking about the Bible. That doesn't really answer those questions in a way that is palatable to the modern, scientific, skeptical thinker.
Alan Watts wondered what such a book would be like, and in so doing, he ends up writing it. At least I think he did. The first time I read it, it put an abrupt end to all of my ph...more
Alan Watts wondered what such a book would be like, and in so doing, he ends up writing it. At least I think he did. The first time I read it, it put an abrupt end to all of my ph...more
The final irony of a book that bears a title that will reveal to anyone who they are is recognizing that it's a joke. But I think that was the author's intent, the seriousness of the fervent seekers-of-self-truth is to finally learn to laugh at themselves.
This book does accomplish that end, at least for me. I found myself amazed at the number of commonly shared sentiments between myself and the author. Alan Watts has a very succinct yet somewhat muddled way of trying to explain that which can't...more
This book does accomplish that end, at least for me. I found myself amazed at the number of commonly shared sentiments between myself and the author. Alan Watts has a very succinct yet somewhat muddled way of trying to explain that which can't...more
I have listened to a great deal of Alan Watt's assorted lectures and recordings, but I have not had the pleasure of reading many of his works. I am pleased to report that his writing style is as accessible and uplifting as his speaking, although some of the slang and vernacular shows the age of the book.
For those unfamiliar with Watts, he was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the 1940s and held an advanced theological degree. He eventually left his church for several personal reasons and went t...more
For those unfamiliar with Watts, he was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the 1940s and held an advanced theological degree. He eventually left his church for several personal reasons and went t...more
I discovered Alan Watts several years ago and became a fan of his entertaining talks on eastern philosophy. Since that time, I've listened to countless hours of his recordings. Until now I have not read any of his many books. If you are someone interested in grasping the philosophical concepts of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, or even Christianity, I highly recommend subscribing to the Alan Watts podcast via iTunes as a starting point. After reading this book, I can say he was a much better ora...more
A wonderful walk-through of the theory that everything is interrelated. Watts spends a good deal of time on the importance of dualities and how the gradient between opposites actually connects them. One of my favorite parts is when Watts talks about how essential environment is in understanding life. Bastardizing how he said it, describing a person depends entirely on their environment; a human in a furnace is completely different than a person in a lake or on land.
Good mental candy.
Good mental candy.
Alan Watts was my guiding light during my high school years when I was slowly losing my faith in Orthodox Catholicism. He was an Englishmen who could speak on Eastern philosophy in a way that was easily accessible to the Westerner. He also showed me that Catholicism, the tradition i grew up in, was far more rich and deep a mythology than I was led to believe previously. I have 20 of his books and 3 days worth of his audio lectures on my computer and I never grow tired of his voice.
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| The Book | 2 | 49 | Apr 14, 2009 06:47am |
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, speaker, who held both a master's degree in theology and a doctorate of divinity. Famous for his research on comparative religion, he was best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Asian philosophies for a Western audience.
He wrote more than 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, hi...more
More about Alan Wilson Watts...
He wrote more than 25 books and numerous articles on subjects such as personal identity, the true nature of reality, hi...more
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“Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.”
—
49 people liked it
“How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself anything less than a god.”
—
47 people liked it
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Feb 15, 2012 05:39pm
Feb 15, 2012 05:45pm