37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Encompassing and enlighting, October 20, 2009
This review is from: The Force Is With Us: The Higher Consciousness That Science Refuses to Accept (Paperback)
I'll start with going over the structure of the book, chapter by chapter, and will conclude with my impressions of it.
In the preface Thomas tells that he started this project back in 1995 and worked on the manuscript for seven years. Several years later, in 2008 his son Clint was dying of cancer. Before he passed away Clint had promised his father to "keep in touch". And he kept his promise. According to Walker, numerous anomalous and highly improbably events have happened later that year, described in the preface.
The book has 10 Chapters, each touching different aspect of parapsychology, spirituality or research.
The first chapter, titled "The Force - From Ch'i to Cosmological Constant and Beyond", Walker starts with the Chinese concept of Ch'i (also spelled Qi), which is what chinese call the Life-force. Ch'i is believe to flow in the body, mainly through a system called meridians, which are highly relevant into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He refers to 1960s research of Professor Kim Bong Han in which he identified a series of unknown ducts in the bodies of animals and people that followed the paths of acupuncture meridians. He later discovered 2 more networks of such ducts bring to greater interconnection of cells in the body. Later follows a story about how the knowledge of Qi was brought to the west in the 20th century and how it was tested in medical tests to be helpful. Following with some research that was done on Qi, he finishes with the research of Professor William Tiller of Stanford University in which he develops a new theory build upon Einstein's cosmological constant.
Chapter 2 - New Dimensions: Perceptions beyond the Body - talks about Near Death Experiences (NDE), Out of Body Experiences (OBE), explains what psi and parapsychology is. Explains the main areas of psi research from its early history in late 19th century through the 20th, including detailed history of Stanford Research Institute (SRI) research into remote viewing, backed by CIA.
Chapter 3 - More Dimensions: The Body beyond the Body - tells about the more esoteric subject of human bodies beyond the physical, such as etherial, astral and further, based on Theosophy. Detailed history of Kirlian photography and its research is described.
Chapter 4 - Where Do We Go? Arguments for an Afterlife - delves deeper into the research of NDEs, reincarnation research by late Dr. Ian Stevenson. Wakers covers the subject of mediumship, both in history and in research, such as Gary Schwartz's research. Ending the chapter a detailed story of the great magician Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle.
Chapter 5 - Paranormal Panache: Superstars of Psychokinesis - tells about the rarer macro-psychokinesis events, starting with 19th century Daniel David Home , who even performed for emperor Napoleon III and Tsar Alexander II, researched, and never found cheating. He was most known for his ability to levitate objects and even himself. Following is the story of Nina Kulagina, heavily researched Russian woman with strong psychokinetic abilities. Later follows the story of most controversial Uri Geller. The chapters ends with an overview of micro-PK research by PEAR, Dr. Dean Radin and others.
Chapter 6 - Magnetically Magnificent: Exploring the Human Energy Field - starts with Mesmer and his research into fluidum (the force) and animal magnetism. The story continues with Baron Karl von Reichenbach, a promising chemist, discoverer of paraffin who changed his career path to research magnetism in humans, which brought him conclusion similar to that of Mesmer that it's not regular magnetism but other force, which he called the odic force. Next is the story of English physician Walter Kilner, who on the turn of 20th century, found that he could see energy field around living organisms with special equipment. The chapter ends with more recent research by William Tiller and Chinese Dr. Zheng.
Chapter 7 - Orgasmic Outcast: Was Wilhelm Reich Right? - tells the famous story of Austria-born Wilhelm Reich, physician, whose writings were burned thrice - by German Nazis, by Soviets and by US government. Follower and of Freud and even the director of his clinic in Vienna, Reich linked many health issues with the flow of psychic energy, which he called Orgone energy. He decided to research orgone theory. Thomas Walter tells in detail about the history of his research and his life, which ended in US Prison in 1957.
Chapter 8 - Healing the Rift: Alternative Medicine Arrives - gets into the details of many studies done in the 20th century, following the introduction of Chinese medicine and other alternative medicine practices in the west. Numerous studies showed the intent of healers, such a prayer or applications of the force, whatever it's called, can greatly and positively affect organisms, including humans. Special attention is paid to Therapeutic Touch and to Chiropractic.
Chapter 9 - Schlock Science: Who Makes the Call? - tells about the difficulties that scientists who challenge the status-quo encounter on their way. Starting with Thomas Edison and his electric bulb invention, following the discovery of cold fusion by Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons. Then Walter talks about non-psi subject of Mars exploration and the Cydonia region research by Richard Hoagland and the lies of NASA regarding issues related to Mars research. The second half of the chapter leaves the "science" and goes on to describe the history of CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of Paranormal), established in 1976 and now called Committee of Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), started by Ray Hyman, James Randi, Marcello Truzzi and others. CSI is claiming to be an investigating organization but it appears to be a dogmatic Skeptical organization which denies any possibility of psi, without a deep look into things.
Chapter 10 - A Path with Heart: The Way Back Home - argues that the heart plays a more central role in the humans than just pumping the blood. Thomas describes various studies that suggest that not everything is controlled by the brain and that some neurological functions are scattered through the body.
My impressions
Overall, I liked the book very much for several reasons. First, it is easy and fun to read. I simply enjoyed reading it, the text flowed smoothly. Secondly, I learned a lot of new stuff. Even though I thought I knew a lot about psi research, after reading such books as the Entangled Minds by Dr. Dean Radin, I found a lot of subjects that I didn't know about.
The book starts with the subject of Ch'i. Being a Qigong (Chi Kung) student myself for almost 3 years now, I tend to believe that there is something to it. I can relate to the fact that martial artists and Qigong masters can feel and "utilize" it.
The book goes over lots of subjects but has points where it goes deeper, telling about a specific person for several pages. So, even if I read about someone in short previously, I still found lots of new information.
Some might argue that the book is not scientific or that it doesn't present the opposite point of view, i.e. criticisms of the studies. But having a chapter devoted to showing how science refuses to accept views that drastically differ from the status-quo and about the organized pseudo-skeptics, he clearly chose a side. I think it's OK to write a book which shows what the author believes to be true. After all, there's enough totally baseless criticism as well. And I also believe that the media and other establishments will much easier accept and transmit any skeptical argument, however vague, over a study proposing any psi effect.
In conclusion, I highly recommend the book to anyone who's interesting in these areas of the paranormal or parapsychology which are presented in it. If you are a highly scientific person you'll have 2 choices. Either skip the book or better yet, follow the studies present in the book (there is bibliography and notes) and try to read them yourself before deciding what's right or wrong.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Readable, April 12, 2011
This review is from: The Force Is With Us: The Higher Consciousness That Science Refuses to Accept (Paperback)
Spurred on by his own sense of a fundamental truth as well as decades of self-study in science, spiritual concepts, and the martial arts, the author began a search for the "vital force." He describes the vital force as "the intrinsic energy of ancient lore that fills and creates the cosmos, giving movement and life to everything."
In this highly readable book, Walker gives a succinct review of many well-known and other lesser-known innovators and scientific studies of the last century that have more than adequately demonstrated the existence of energies beyond the five sensory perceptions: some seem to point clearly to our vital force.
NDE's, remote viewing, mediumship, psychokinesis, Russel Targ, Uri Geller, Wilhelm Reich, Raymond Rife, David Palmer, orgone, magnetism, psychic healing, aura measurement, clairvoyance, William Tiller, ESP...the author takes us on a lively journey revealing how the paranormal has not only been studied, but "substantiated" with scientific evidence. This book was written not to perpetuate a blind belief in science, but to urge science to re-vision its map of reality: one that embraces the spirit realm and moves human awareness toward a higher consciousness where we can have a greater appreciation for, and connection to, our vital force.
This is clearly a well-researched book, and even if you are familiar with the studies or people Walker discusses, you may be surprised by some of the details he has uncovered, thanks to his diligence. The spirit realm is a higher plane of reality and has to be experienced directly, the author says, and we humans can only discover this state through the inner space of human consciousness. Walker explores a lot of paranormal ground with an easy narrative, and yet manages to remain on track. Well worth reading.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Tribute to scientist who dared to face new truths, March 11, 2011
This review is from: The Force Is With Us: The Higher Consciousness That Science Refuses to Accept (Paperback)
Throughout time researchers who risked their careers to go against the ideas of materialism have been rejected and their life's work ridiculed. "The Force is with us " by Thomas Walker, is detailed survey at glimpses of these moments throughout history of the findings and end results of such research and science. With a focus on the ideas of higher consciousness, Walker spent years researching experiments done in the past and modern day and psychic experiences that show proof of the existence of the higher consciousness or what could be called in simpler terms the human soul. ESP (Extra Sensory Projection), the inverted human senses that catch glimpses of the future, read thoughts of others, causes out of body experiences, are looked at not spiritually but scientifically.
" The Force is With us " is not book about finding your faith or expanding your psychic abilities , it thoroughly looks at near death experiences, existence of live beyond death and government funded research . Like the CIA -prompted by the Soviet Union- funding physics expert Harold Puthoff `s research at The Stanford Research Institute ( SRI ) with artist Ingo Swann in remote viewing ( the psychic process on providing an individual with descriptive and verifiable targets to view the activities of personal , place or thing ).
Of course, a book on consciousness is not complete without a look into energy or some of its many terms around the world and through time - prana, chi, Ki or orgone. Orgone, perhaps less popular in the world is the descriptive term Wilhelm Reich used for the energy he discovered that existed in humanity and all round us. " The Force is With us " covers Reich's work in manipulating it for various uses , like curing patients, effecting the weather, and the opinions and experiences of Einstein and Freud on the topic as well.
"The Force is with us" supports the idea and of consciousness and Walker provides more than enough proof to support his theories and theories of the numerous scientists work. He argues with the mainstream and skeptical views on the topic and all of these studies come back to reoccurring theme of mainstream science refusing to accept the studies and break throughs, no matter how mind blowing they may be .
All though Walker is pro- higher consciousness, he does give the reasons on why energy and psychic findings were refused to be acknowledged. A lot of the scientists mentioned were respected individuals and worked and lived during the same times of historically known people . Some readers will be familiar with, like Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, and Thomas Edison, as their theories and findings are examined as well.
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