The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution Of Human Nature [Paperback]

Michael Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1993

The author of Golf in the Kingdom writes a magnus opus that Darwin would have written if he had looked to the future instead of the past. By synthesizing more than 30 years of research from more than 3,000 sources, including ancient and modern records of sports, medicine, the arts, and religious practices, Murphy identifies the techniques that all transformative disciplines use and forms them into a coherent program for personal transformation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Esalen cofounder Murphy has produced a massive tome that could become a bible of the New Age movement. His main thesis is that each of us harbors latent metanormal capacities rooted in biological evolution: ESP, clairvoyance, extraordinary movement abilities, uncanny somatic awareness and self-regulation, superabundant vitality and universal love, among others. Our genetic inheritance, he argues, predisposes us toward developing these powers, which can be mediated by Christian grace, the Tao or the workings of Buddha Mind, and also can be developed through specific practices. These include psychotherapy, fitness training, martial arts, meditation, biofeedback and prayer. Murphy's claims for extraordinary human potential are annotated with references to 3000 sources, ranging from physiological studies of meditators to reports of near-death experiences. In closing he scans the impulse toward wholeness in ancient and modern cultures and warns of the mental imbalance that misuse of transformation discipline can cause. An exciting synthesis. Author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Murphy, a cofounder of the Esalen Institute, believes that all human beings possess the capacity for extraordinary development, and that at least part of this capacity can be intentionally developed through what he calls transformative practices. He uses much of the text to provide examples of metanormal functioning in literature, religion, science, and psychology from many cultures and historical eras. The sheer magnitude of examples lends weight to his theory of the possibility of mind-body unity as a universally available phenomenon. In a brief final section, he suggests ways that individuals may begin searching for their own wholeness. This book will definitely appeal to a wide audience. Notes, appendixes, and a bibliography not seen, so the book's scholarly value cannot be assessed. Recommended for most libraries.
- Lucy Patrick, Florida State Univ. Lib., Tallahassee
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 785 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (April 21, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874777305
• ISBN-13: 978-0874777307
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An encyclopedia for the New Age., September 5, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution Of Human Nature (Paperback)

Michael Murphy is the co-founder of Esalen Institute, a gorgeous little retreat in Northern California, part spa, part think tank, that was a key incubator of the "New Age" movement. He's also author of some compelling books including the amazing "Golf in the Kingdom." He has spent a great deal of time over the years studying the possibilities of human transformation - of our becoming more alive and conscious and happy and tuned in to the true vibes of universe. In this book he tells us pretty much everything he's learned. It turns out to be quite a lot.

It's a 785-page tome. The bibliography lists something like 2000 books and articles. He provides a rich and detailed history about human efforts toward transformation and transcendence over the centuries, and includes capsule summaries of many technologies used today in pursuit of that elusive goal, including bodywork (Alexander work, Feldenkrais, etc.) and new philosophical/psychological/spiritual approaches such as psychosynthesis. He examines spiritual healing. He delves into mesmerism, hypnosis, the martial arts and the contemplative practices of modern-day monks. He talks about erotic love, sports and stigmata. He's nothing if not wide-ranging. Murphy's basic belief is that we humans have vast "uncharted powers" in our bodies, psyches and spirits beyond what we think we have, and that these can be cultivated to our benefit. He is a true believer in the possibilies of the New Age; he thinks that we may be on the verge of a significant leap in evolution, and that if we diligently pursue some of the disciplines described here, we will hasten the process. He writes, "I remain convinced that as a species - and as individuals - we either grow or die. If we deny the actuality of these uncharted powers, they either stagnate within us or erupt painfully and perversely." The book is impressive and inspiring if you're into this sort of thing and may be an eye-opener for you if you're not. My only criticism is, the prose style is too often dry and pedestrian, so you actually may NEED to be into this sort of thing to wade through it all.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful resource for knowing all of who you can be., July 6, 2000

By 

seeker "tink-im" (cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution Of Human Nature (Paperback)

The Future of the Body, has been on my book shelf for years, I picked it up often for a practical explanation of all things unexplainable. Everything from Astral Projection to the Zone. This huge book keeps on giving in a practical easy to comprehend manor. A must for folks working in the spiritual arts, metaphysics, or healing arts. I felt the author to have researched and recorded some of the best information on subjects hard to research, such as Kundalini, channeling, levitation, etc. A wonderful book. Thanks.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern classic missing pertinent content, yet, a must read!, January 27, 2006

By 

Sean M. Saiter "attractorbasin" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Future of the Body: Explorations Into the Further Evolution Of Human Nature (Paperback)

The Future of the Body is what I would consider a "modern classic."
It is one of the truly comprehensive texts published on modern consciousness and transformative studies. I can't recommend it enough as mandatory reading for any student in the field of consciousness, transpersonal, and transformative psychology (or any field directly related to human potentials). However, my only reservation is that there is virtually no mention of psychoactives, those taboos of human culture, within the text as a whole. This fact alone keeps it from being truly comprehensive in terms of transformative capacities and forms of transcendence as defined by leaders in the field such as Susanne Cook-Greuter and even Ken Wilber (though I recognize his lack of attendance to this issue). Despite this omission, this text is, in my opinion, required reading for all students of consciousness-related studies.

-Ph.D student at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology