18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rehashed Ken Wilber and a Huge Reading List, May 6, 2002
When I saw Michael Murphy's name on the book, I knew that I had to pick it up (he's a giant in the Transpersonal field). I wilfully overlooked James Redfield's name, however. (Purveyor of new-age Schlock)
The book was a waste of money. All that the authors manage to do is give a brief survey of the perennial philosophy (done far more masterfully in Aldous Huxley's famous anthology), talk about exceptional capabilities manifesting in human beings (accomplished with far more documentation and flair in Murphy's own "Future of the Body"), and tie it together with evolutionary rhetoric pulled straight out of Ken Wilber's "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution" (one of the best books I have ever read). Then they go on to list a few basic, debatable
"spiritual practices", and one of the biggest reading lists I have ever seen.
Bottom line: Skip it. Get the three other books listed above instead- they're all very worthwhile reads, unlike this tired summary.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good Overview, with Lack of Awareness of Current Practices, May 2, 2002
The book begins with a beautifully written insightful overview concerning the impact of worlds major religions and philosophies on human consciousness, realizations of our oneness with all, as well as the beauty of the individual's uniqueness and that more of us are will to step back and appreciate our spiritual consciousness from a much broader perspective. That section of the book is easily worth 5 stars. Part IV covers most of man's major transformative practices developed over the course of recorded history and blatantly misleads the reader concerning the effort transformation requires. It is not intentional, but it does indicate a lack of first hand experience on the part of the authors concerning the studies and developments by numerous organizations over the latter half of the 20th Century, much of which overshadows all previous history in effectiveness of the experiential transformative technologies available today. Look up in search engines and experience first hand the leading edge transformative practices available through the Monroe Institute, Star's Edge International, and other consciousness technologies where you can experience powers of consciousness that are more rapid than a thought and very effective. (Example: In January 1999, I healed a 9 year long painful skin rash on myself that doctors couldn't and also woke up with the flu one day, with teeth chattering chills, weak and sweating profusely and completely eliminated it in 5 minutes using modern practices of consciousness. After years of using the familiar practices discussed in this book, it took me about a week to learn the newer practices which have been developed in the last two decades. Asian monks say they achieved more enlightenment in a week with these newer practices than 20 years of meditating in a monastery).
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25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Distortedly Simplistic...Good Intentions...But Nothing New, May 6, 2002
It is Redfield's genuine sense of optimism that makes me pick up his books and read them. There is something contagious about a positive outlook on life and spirituality. But I have never read a book by him that did not go miles beyond naive in its treatment of religion/spirituality.
Redfield and his associates have loaded a plate for us at the salad bar of religious and philosophical syncretism. They have put some good things there. But the nutritional balance is suspect. Moreover, like mixing chemicals pulled randomly from under the kitchen sink, the resulting combination may be volatile.
My biggest complaint against this book is its willingness to 'spin' religious and philosophical 'developments' so that they fit neatly into their spiritual evolution paradigm. No matter that their notions run cross-currents with the larger context within which many of these religious and philosophical ideas have developed. It reminds me of a kind of inter-religious proof-texting, whereby religious leaders of the ages are all pointing in the direction in which the authors want us to go. But this is NOT where many of the thinkers and religious leaders of the past suggested we go.
Also disturbing is the book's over-simplification of ideas concerning evolution. While the authors deny that they do so, the book is built on the assumption of a linear trajectory that is not well attested by history or science. While I normally spend a lot of time criticizing Post-Modern thinkers, it might be wise for Redfield and company to take some of their critiques seriously and realize that the universe is not a 'just add water and stir' kind of place.
In truth, this is a digested cut and paste book glued together with wishful thinking.
Honestly, though, I think it is done with the best of intentions. And I will undoubtedly pick up Redfield's next book and read it, too.
Lastly, I would caution the reader that there is basically nothing new here. If you have read New Age books before, you have read this one. The strongest part of the book is the annotated bibliography (for which I commend the authors). Again, I don't agree with their interpretation of what they have read, but they are reading a lot of interesting things. To repeat...I can't help but feel good feelings for the authors. But this book leaves a lot to be desired.
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