Timothy Leary 101: A fascinating bio of one of the most influential minds of the 20th century
590222
Harvard psychologist, LSD guru, and transhumanist pioneer Timothy Leary was found of saying, "There are 24 Timothy Leary's" and "You get the Timothy Leary you deserve." John Higg's insightful biography "I Have America Surrounded" reads like a mystery novel focusing on Timothy Leary, the fugitive. Higg's explores in depth the events of Leary's escape from prison and adventures on the run beginning in 1970 after announcing that he would face Ronald Reagan in the race for Governor of California.

Unlike Robert Greenfield's recent bio-tabloid or Leary's auto-biography "Flashbacks," "I Have America Surrounded" is a much more complete story of a fascinating, flawed, and yet undeniably brilliant mind. Higgs explores the motivations, misteps, and impact of Leary's works and life with insight from many of the people who were closest to Leary at the time including Brian Barritt, Michael Horowitz, and Joanna Harcourt-Smith.

If you are looking for Timothy Leary 101, this is it. I can't recommend this book highly enough and look forward to hearing reviews from other readers.
1643130
This book is about the person that some consider the smartest man of our time, Albert Einstein. It starts out introducing the reader to some of his accomplishments and contributions to science.

There is also biographical information and the tidbits on the fact that he was thought to have a form of autism, and why.

There are details about Einstein and the Nazis, as well as lessons we can learn from Einstein, and even some thoughtful quotes.

I would recommend this book to anyone that liked Albert Einstein or is interested in science and the people behind some of the most popular ideas in science.
1779684
As someone who has had an interest in the works of Yogi Ramacharaka (William Walker Atkinson) I highly recommend this book for the lengthy biographical introduction. Mr. Deslippe has evidently done much research into this elusive pioneer of the early New Thought movement. It is my understanding that he is currently at work on a full biography. I encourage anyone with an interest to purchase this book to support his continued work. The book also has an unpublished book included as well. Well worth the cost if any of the three parts were sold separately: Biographical Introduction, The Kybalion or The Seven Cosmic Laws. Thank you Philip this is a very much appreciated work.
10981
Michael Beckwith has accomplished so much with the Agape Spiritual Center, so this book is a wonderful insight into his personal beliefs and consciousness.  He gives the reader much to contemplate regarding the philosophy he represents. This book is, quite simply, fascinating and a wonderful presentation of the principles and philosophy that has gained Michael Beckwith such a tremendous following.
2345516
There are a number of biographies available that provide insight into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer.  It was a pleasure to see the scholarly depth and breadth brought to the topic by Bird in American Prometheus.  The exhaustive research no doubt undertaken in the creation of this work is revealed page after page with insightfully chosen quotes from letters and other works of Oppenheimer's colleagues and critics.  A truly marvelous window into the life of a 20th century icon.
2175584
For a nominal fee:  It Will Shock!  It Will Amaze!  Step right this way...

This is my favorite Timothy Leary book, and that's saying a lot when compared to the likes of The Politics Of Ecstasy, Neuropolitics, Exo-Psychology, The Intelligence Agents, Confessions Of A Hope Fiend, Flashbacks, etc.  This is the one that ties it all together.  Presented in sensational tabloid fashion, tongue-in-cheek, he masterfully combines and correlates the Periodic Table, chemistry, evolutionary theory, microbiology, psychology, Tarot, astrology, mysticism, religion, history, terrestrial politics, science-fiction, and so forth.  An amazing bit of propaganda for progress and higher intelligence (sorely needed on this backward and primitive orb).  He should have won the governorship of California and gone on to be President of these United States---not Reagan.  This land would have turned out very very different (all kidding aside, man), and we might now be colonizing space (with H.O.M.E.s---that's High Orbital Mini Earths), the moon and Mars instead of talking about it.  His laissez faire and mercantilist outlook would certainly have been better for the economy, to say the least, especially nowadays (argh!).  More than a nod is given to such divergent luminaries, psychotics and "futants" as Aleister Crowley (whose scholarship, among others, was an inspiration for this book), Werner von Braun, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Edward Teller, Adolf Hitler, etc.

Each consecutive page is presented as a whole, that is (for one thing), they don't end with sentences that need to be completed on the next page.  They are complete texts (along with whatever provocative titles and graphics that are attendant).  This, as well as the fact that the book is roughly 8 1/2 X 11 inches, makes it ideal for those copy shop guerilla Intelligence Agents who like to make illicit postings in public places.  I suppose that was the idea...  (heh heh)

The book is not only immensely informative and inspiring---it is fun!  Also, since he deals with his subject matter with patient good humour and high (sorry) spirits, it is absolutely hilarious.  And though Leary treats terrestrial politics with the biting satire it so richly deserves, it is easy to see that he was quite serious about humankind's future and evolution, as symbolized in his oft referenced acronym S.M.I.L.E (Space Migration, Intelligence <squared> Increase, and Life Extension).  The self-described "cheerleader for change" promoted his passion for space migration and evolution with the zeal of an evangelist and the skill of a mass media marketing wizard.

The Game Of Life is absolutely essential to any post-larval wondering what happened to the electric kool-aid 60s party.

And remember:  INTELLIGENCE IS THE ULTIMATE APHRODISIAC.

 2006 RAPWreckerds
4329349
If you have ever wondered what underpins the work of Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Levitt then this is the book to read. It takes the worlds of psychology, sociology, the unconscious and the conscious, rational and irrational and explains why the rationalist tendencies of the 20th and 21st Century's that are driven by successive Governments and Corporations the world over are doomed to failure in the long run. On the flip side it offers a rare glimpse into the future that is possible for those who are brave enough to consider their unconscious selves as equally important as their conscious. This is not a new age spiritualist tome (of which I read and enjoy many) but a carefully considered insight into how and what makes people develop the personalities they do.

This takes the view that we are all responsible for our own world and our destiny.  The consistent removal of responsibility by Government and Corporation has dis-empowered individuals, communities and nations resulting in a situation where people no longer have the core beliefs, values and strengths they once had which acted as brakes upon their behaviour.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Tipping-Point-How-Little-Things-Can-Make-a-Big-Difference/dp/0316346624/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Freakonomics-Revised-and-Expanded-A-Rogue-Economist-Explores-the-Hidden-Side-of-Everything/dp/0061234001/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything</a>
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Linkedin-Made-Easy-Business-Social-Networking-Simplified/dp/0955690625/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Linkedin Made Easy: Business Social Networking Simplified</a>
1086279
As other reviewers have noted, this is a well written and entertaining book on history of DMT use and its influence on culture.  St John looks at pioneering psychonauts such as William Burroughs, Dennis and Terrence McKenna and Timothy Leary - to name just a few - and their contrasting reactions and interpretations to the DMT experience.  For William Burroughs DMT caused him "unendurable pain" while the likes of Terrence McKenna felt that DMT was a way to self enlightenment or gnosis.  The work of scientist Rick Strassman, who carried out research on the potential psychotherapeutic benefits of DMT use is closely explored along with his theory that DMT is most likely naturally occurring in the pineal gland of the human brain: human-kind is therefore already wired "to take a trip" on DMT.  St Johns notes the irony of having a prohibited substance which may be naturally produced in our heads and, of course, naturally occurring in many native plants around the world.  I found the whole book quite entertaining but my favourite chapter is the pentultimate chapter that looks at the interpretation of DMT experiences and the ontological status of the "entities" one may experience when under the influence of DMT.  For some psychonauts, DMT entities are real beings - real demons, angels or "machine elves" while for other explorers of inner space they are the projections of the unconscious psyche one meets along the way before breaking through to "true enlightenment." St John notes an interesting analogy: the first DMT "trip" was taken by a Hungarian scientists in the late 1950s just as the "space race" between America and the Soviet Union was beginning.  Hence, the psychonaut traversing inner space and the astronaut traversing outer space have evolved in the human psyche together. What an interesting synchronicity.
4471463
I thought the bio on Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance was quite well done. Those wanting a clear background on possibly the greatest entrepreneur of the century will find it here. I believe the author did an excellent job of painting a fair portrait of who the man is and what he represents.
2263877
This book is not in my typical wheelhouse, but the information looked interesting and it was a special deal so why not?

Terrific read.  The book is about the Timothy Leary gang at and then from Harvard, along with Andrew Weil, that really helped to fuel the counterculture in ways both obvious and more subtle.  It is a well-written account of the drug culture and culture change that enveloped the sixties and beyond in ways that many readers won't realize until they read this well-written book.

I enjoyed the material, though I am much too young to have experienced these events first-hand, and this was a good education.  Well worth the easy read.  Well done
732696
Very interesting and well written.  If you don't know of Milgram's work, this is a great introduction.  If you do, this will fill in many insights to his research and, especially, his often controversial life!  A good read for almost anyone.  He certainly was one of the most important social pyschologists of the 20th century, whether you agree with his methods or not.  Personally, I find his obedlience results absolutely essential (and disturbing).  Plus he did a lot of other experiments that are worth knowing about.
4574082
Best book I've read on the psychedelic subject since Linga Sharira's 1973 how-to classic,  "The Psychedelic Guide to the Preparation of the Eucharist in a Few of its Many Guises" and, of course, Leary's own Flashbacks. Warts and all, these guys are revealed in a very readable and fairly accurate account.  (I did spot a couple of historic errors, but nothing of great concern.)

Richard, PLEASE forgive Weil.  Man, it has been decades.  Andy says he sorry and he probably really is.  Let it go before you let go!
1468310
The present volume, the result of dedicated and assiduous research, is an international extension of Simon Carmel's earlier (2008) compilation of biographies of fellow deaf magicians in the United States, and is an important addition to the literature of magic history and biography.

As deaf conjurers do not usually display any sign of their disability during performance, their `invisibility' to audiences (and even members of the magic fraternity) is virtually complete, and it compounds still further the astonishment of the uninitiated that there have been so many deaf practising magicians world wide from the 19th to the 21st century.  For this reason alone the book is to be welcomed as an invaluable reference source quite apart from the pleasure of reading the fascinating life stories of 111 deaf magicians from around the globe.

Dr. Carmel, himself profoundly deaf from birth, is a striking example of lifetime achievement in his various chosen fields, as will be learned from his Introduction to the book, and his empathy with and work for deaf people is to be greatly admired.

 Reviewed by Dr. Edwin A. Dawes, British Magic Historian, Writer and Collector of Magic Books and Artifacts
2991033
Excellent bio - very detailed (sometimes maybe too much), but gives a deep look and appreciation for one of the most intriguing, polarizing, and important individuals that defined technology at the turn of the 21st century. Excellent use of anecdotes and very personalized information from Jobs and those around him as well as what seems to be a very balanced view of Jobs's personality and decision-making ways. Highly recommended read to anyone fascinated by and interested in learning about Jobs and/or Apple!
4529381
Interesting and highly recommended read of one person's search for answers to a few of life's big questions.

The book goes into three main areas of discussion, but the part that I found the most interesting is the section dealing with research into the brain and the soul/consciousness - from medical research to psychology to philosophy. This entire section (and the bulk of the book) explores the topic of `dualism', or the difficulty in finding the connection between the physical world and the mental world. It does this by exploring the current research on this topic as well as the philosophical thought, past and present. And from this, he comes up with a fascinating and very plausible explanation for this age old dilemma.

Unless you completely reject scientific study or simply have no interest in human consciousness and the study of the brain, I can't imagine anyone not finding this book extremely engaging and provocative.
2874587
I started to read Michael Krause's book with the intention of finding out more about Nikola Tesla. However I came away with so much more than that. This book is a great read, providing you with a first row seat to Tesla's fascinating life as a pop star scientist with all its multiple twists and turns. It is comprehensive in that it gives you a detailed overview of his accomplishments, spiced up with an account of society life of that time, while we also get an insight into his character and his flaws, explaining why today he doesn't have the status he deserves. But apart from this amazing account, to me, the most important thing about this book, and why I think everyone should read it, is that it is a journey through the emergence of the electrical age. Through the person of Tesla, a vivid picture is being drawn of a time that in its excitement and modernity is so similar to the birth of the digital age we are experiencing now. It puts our day and age in a much needed perspective. Even more so, because our current developments were not only envisioned by Tesla, but can be traced back directly to him. The book is like a play in which the main character continuously struggles between visionary brilliance and bad business sense, in the meantime veering between being utterly adored and deeply ridiculed, all the while being responsible for the foundations of modern society, yet not being recognized as such. A true tragedy indeed and an enlightening read!
952090
I found Waking Up to be a vastly informative book across a wide spectrum of fronts beginning with the fundamental distinctions between the Abrahamic religions and Buddhism and the history of Western engagement with Eastern spirituality to the mysteries of consciousness including the split brain phenomenon, along with a cogent discussion of proper meditative techniques.

One of Harris's central premises -- that it's the mind, rather than circumstances themselves, that determines quality of life, and that "positive habits of mind are best viewed as skills that most of us learn imperfectly"  is at once powerful and inspiring.

His examination of the nature of consciousness, in particular, the role of psychedelics in altering consciousness and "in throwing open the gates" to the vast fluidity of the mind that eludes our waking consciousness is both fascinating and  refreshingly progressive. The usefulness of such plant-based psychedelics in treating clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol addiction and easing the pain and anxiety suffered by terminal cancer patients is compelling indeed, adding weight to his concept that a great moral failure of our time is "we pointlessly ruin the lives of nonviolent drug users by incarcerating them, at enormous expense."

There are so many valuable aspects to the book that render it an important read. It was especially gratifying for me to hear Harris debunk the many notable purveyors of snake oil throughout history; in short, con men in the pursuit of either power, lust, and/or the almighty dollar from Joseph Smith to, most recently, Eden Alexander, including a host of libidinous gurus in between.

But perhaps the book's most important message was that in plumbing the vast reserves of the mind through meditation, a great calmness, in hand with a loss of one's sense of self-importance in the scheme of things, is achieved -- a ubiquitous and harmful trait of our kind.

If Sam Harris's message that "every present moment of consciousness is profound," were to be widely embraced, the world surely would be a kinder, better place.