Info-Psychology: : A Manual for the Use of the Human Nervous System According to the Instructions of the Manufacturers, and a Navigational Guide for Piloting the Evolution of the Human Individual

by Timothy Leary

Dr. Leary explores the real issues of our time--Space Migration, Intelligence Increase and Life Extension--in this "Manual on the Use of the Human Nervous System according to the Instructions of the Manufacturers."

"The Info-Worlds our species will discover, create, explore and inhabit in the immediate future will not be reached from launch pads alone, but also through our personal computer screens."

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Brain, Drugs, Science

253 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Timothy Francis Leary was an American writer, psychologist, futurist, modern pioneer and advocate of psychedelic drug research and use, and one of the first people whose remains have been sent into space. An icon of 1960s counterculture, Leary is most famous as a proponent of the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of LSD. He coined and popularized the catch phrase "Turn on, tune in, drop out."

Reviews

[Zulu Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shamelessly breathtaking prediction for the evolution of life. Leary was characteristically over-optimistic at the timescale for humanity's evolution past our present stage, but it's interesting matching his ideas to the current technological world rather than our neurological activities.

What makes the book so enjoyable though is not merely the scale of Leary's vision for our development or his surprisingly convincing arguments, but rather his absolutely unbridled enthusiasm for the subject matter. I can't remember the last time I read something where the author was so unashamedly excited about our future and possibilities. For that reason alone, I'd recommend this book, even to those who'll end up dismissing it.

[Brian Dean]

Many years ago my friend and housemate, Dan, had borrowed this book. I peaked into it dabbled through and it blew my fucking mind. Mostly about Leary's 8-circuit model/map of consciousness. Even if he's off the mark this book is breathtaking in the imagination department alone

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I apply critical thinking to some of the statements in this book I find them difficult to confirm as true. For example, "Exopsychology views human destiny in terms of an evolving nervous system, designed by DNA intelligence which uses planets as temporary nesting sites in an interstellar migratory process, destined to extend lifespan/life-scope to become symbiotic transceivers of quantum physical conditions." How would someone know this? How would someone come to these conclusions? How would anyone be able to confirm this? The book is written like a textbook designed to educate a student but it's filled with more opinion and subjective observation rather than, what I would consider to be, useful information.

[Justin]

In a similar vein as Leary's other books

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice idea, if only

Enthusiastic visionary or crank and huckster? It’s hard to tell. But in any case always interesting. A flurry of ideas, and verbiage. We all like to think there are higher levels/circuits of mind/being. But if wishes were horses we’d all be kings. So keep your wits about you when reading. He doesn’t help his case by talking about quantum theory ... and consciousness. Sigh. These days All that old stuff is pretty well understood for what it always was - baloney. I do love his acronym. SMILE. With the I squared. Space migration, intelligence increase, and life extension. Sounds good. Not going to get it his way. And when we do anyway the author imagines a new blissful era of communication and communion with higher galactic beings. Yeah right. More likely immediate attack by super predator species who aren’t stupid enough to broadcast their location - blasting it out on all available frequencies. Tread carefully little monkey or you’ll end up on the menu.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leary's S.P.A.C.E. program is fascinating. His fans make him seem less well-considered than his writing.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think about it..... If you know anything more about this guy, other then that he was a Psychologist, who advocated for Acid, and Hippie Counterculture...

Not gonna explore all the details here... But this man, who wrote this Pseudo-scientific-Linguistically-poetic masterpiece, he was a truly adventorous, lunatic, peaceful, yet radical revolutionary...

I smile every time, i read a few pages....!... <3

[Aria]

(ISBN 1561841056
The above ISBN pulls up a different version of the book on goodreads. Unfortunately, I can not undo the already present information associated with the ISBN as it is currently entered into goodreads.)

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is generally considered his masterpiece - and due to the innovations in it - I agree. However, Leary frequently finds himself doing the salesman game even to himself and his lack of understanding of the physical sciences undermines himself. Still worth reading though.

[Naomi]

9/9/09: One of the books I inherited when moving in with my partner. He's been telling me to read it for 2 1/2 years now, so here I go.

[Count-daniel Fogarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book which allowed to completely re-wire my consciousness and interact with the world in novel ways.

[Patrick F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa.

[Charles Kaltwasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

important book = should be read
by every politician in the United States of America.