I read this in two sittings and was utterly blown away. It's by far the best book about the UFO/encounter experience I have read in a very long time (...moreI read this in two sittings and was utterly blown away. It's by far the best book about the UFO/encounter experience I have read in a very long time (possibly since the original Communion). Strieber has clearly done a lot of deep thinking about his experiences over the years, and the book is grounded in an agnosticism that I find refreshing and candid. There are more questions than answers here, but it cuts closer to the root of the mystery than dozens of other books on the subject.
The introduction by Jeffrey Kripal, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, sets the perfect tone, correctly placing contemporary contact/encounter experiences like Strieber's among other historical mystical and transpersonal phenomena.
Fascinating and provocative and highly recommended.
A mixed bag, to be sure. I love books about esoteric history and the Western mystery traditions, but the book could have used footnotes, a better edit...moreA mixed bag, to be sure. I love books about esoteric history and the Western mystery traditions, but the book could have used footnotes, a better editor (there are multiple inexcusable typos), and a tighter focus. That said, it was an enjoyable, if occasionally frustrating, read, particularly if you view it as an exercise in "what if?" rather than "this is how it is." (less)
Incredible book. Giordano Bruno wrote that the sun was the center of the solar system, and that stars were other suns with planets and other beings......moreIncredible book. Giordano Bruno wrote that the sun was the center of the solar system, and that stars were other suns with planets and other beings... and was summarily burned at the stake. In an era where it was heresy to suggest that the Earth orbited the sun, or that the stars were anything other than lamps of God hanging in the heavens, it took great courage to speak otherwise. The Hermetica—a collection of ancient Egyptian metaphysical texts attributed to Hermes Trismegistus—informed many of the pioneers of science, including Kepler and Galileo, but the influence of those texts is scrubbed from most histories. Why? Good question—and this book answers it.
But the second half is where it becomes exceedingly provocative, challenging the currently fashionable atheist/materialist scientism (epitomized by Dawkins, Gould, and the like) and positing that the universe has a built-in direction towards the evolution of consciousness and we aren't simply the lucky results of blind chance. Far from a Creationist manifesto, Picknett and Prince the findings of leading physicists, biologists, and cosmologists to show the evidence for something other than randomness in the creation of the known universe—a propensity for life to follow a path towards self-realization. And while metaphors used to explain quantum physics and other mind-boggling developments in science are frequently drawn from Eastern spiritual traditions, the authors point out that Western esoteric traditions also have much to offer in helping understand cosmic mysteries and the evolution of consciousness. Highly recommended. (less)
A comprehensive history, a little on the dry side without much discussion of the importance of primary mystical experiences, but a worthy addition to ...moreA comprehensive history, a little on the dry side without much discussion of the importance of primary mystical experiences, but a worthy addition to the fascinating story of psilocybes and their chemical components. Also discusses Amanita muscaria and is sharply critical of Wasson's Soma theory and other "alternative" historical analyses (Allegro, Ruck, Heinrich, etc.).(less)
Incredible, moving book that expands the story of WWII to include those who tried to prevent the war. Should be required reading for any course on WWI...moreIncredible, moving book that expands the story of WWII to include those who tried to prevent the war. Should be required reading for any course on WWII.(less)
The definitive work on a much maligned and ridiculed subject. Closes the case—whatever UFOs are, there's no denying they are real. The pilots, general...moreThe definitive work on a much maligned and ridiculed subject. Closes the case—whatever UFOs are, there's no denying they are real. The pilots, generals, and military officials provide firsthand, unimpeachable evidence that no debunker can refute. An instant classic. (less)
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