The H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P: Understanding the Anomalously Sensitive Person [Hardcover]

David Ritchey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0929915291 | ISBN-13: 978-0929915296 | Publication Date: June 1, 2003

More than five million Americans are Anomalously Sensitive Persons (ASPs). They exhibit uncommonly high levels of sensitivity in the physiological, cognitive, emotional, states of consciousness and transpersonal ("metaphysical," "paranormal," or "psychic") realms. The trait of ASPness, which has its genesis in the structure and chemistry of the brain, has important psychological, medical, educational and social implications.

While anomalous sensitivity is associated with a variety of psychological and physical difficulties, including decreased life expectancy, simplistic attempts to correct this condition may be at the expense of undermining potential genius.

Find out your potential by taking the simple test inside this book!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ritchey's book is a brilliant example of how clinical observations followed up by systematic research can provide new insights into that realm of experiences called transpersonal, psychic, or mystical. I was impressed by the research described in HISS of the ASP, so Cassandra Vieten and I developed a questionnaire to see if we could independently verify his findings. We invited attendees at an IONS conference to fill out the questionnaire, and analysis of data returned by 500 people confirmed that Ritchey's conclusions were essentially correct: There is indeed a class of people who, by comparison to the "average" person, are extraordinarily sensitive in many ways. Identification of these unusual people provides intriguing clues about what these rarefied experiences may be all about, and I believe that Ritchey's interpretation of those clues is well worth studying. --Dean Radin, Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences

From the Publisher

What do you have in common with Einstein, Edison and Mother Theresa?

Are you an A.S.P.? More than five million Americans are "Anomalously Sensitive Persons (A.S.P.s)," according to a provocative new book, The H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P.: Understanding the Anomalously Sensitive Person, by David Ritchey.

A.S.P.s are both unusually creative and highly sensitive to physiological, cognitive, and emotional stimuli, Ritchey states, and they are prone to experiencing altered states of consciousness, including the "transpersonal (or "psychic") state." Their gifts often result in major contributions to society. Well-known examples of people who are likely to be ASPs include Mother Theresa, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein.

Drawing on 10 years of research and the testing of a cross section of the American population, Ritchey identifies the possible brain structures, hormonal influences and other factors that appear to underlie the experiencing of such things as extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, trance channeling and alien contact.

Being an A.S.P., Ritchey says, carries with it a heavy price -- including shortened life expectancy, emotional problems, immune disorders, and other conditions that perhaps arise out of a difference in brain development. The A.S.P. brain, and the compensatory mechanisms it develops can, however, be the basis of genius.

"In our society, being different results in being labeled," he says. "In the case of the A.S.P., genius may be labeled as pathology, and treated accordingly." For example, some instances of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may be an indication of giftedness that is suppressed by pharmacological and psychological interventions because society views ADD behavior as different or disruptive.

This book is an adventure like none you've ever before embarked upon. Whether or not you are an A.S.P., you cannot but come away from the adventure knowing much, much more about yourself, your fellow humans, and about the almost unimaginable realm of possibilities which pertain to this 3-D world-- I could not recommend a book more highly. --Robert C. Girard, President, Arcturus Books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Headline Books (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929915291
• ISBN-13: 978-0929915296
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Ritchey is currently retired and spends most of his time writing about those things that have historically been of special interest to him. His first book, "The HISS of the ASP" is about the neuropsychology of paranormal experiences. His second book, "The Magic of Digital Fine Art Photography" is a collection of 90 of his photographs. His third book, "26 Card Tricks," is a how-to manual of card magic. He is currently writing a book, "A Sense of Betrayal," about his experiences in the Vietnam War. He plans to write a book about the game of SCRABBLE, and another about dogs. He lives in Bucks County, PA with his golden retriever, Katherine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demystifying Psychic Sensitivity, October 26, 2003

By 

Cynthia Sue Larson "www.realityshifters.com" (San Francisco bay area, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P: Understanding the Anomalously Sensitive Person (Hardcover)

Finally -- a book has arrived that scientifically demystifies the "sensitive"! For years, the general public has looked askance at individuals with anomalous sensitivities, often labeling them "crazy," since normal people don't see ghosts or spirits, talk to trees, recall past lives, or claim to influence the world with psychokinesis. Psychologists examining such sensitives using traditional diagnostic guidebooks, such as the DSM, have often been confused when they've found these individuals are often diagnosable with eight or more simultaneous valid psychological and medical conditions! Clearly there is something more going on than traditional psychology has understood.

David Ritchey's THE HISS OF THE ASP covers ten years of scientific research and fifteen years of clinical psychological insights, as it describes how many of the sensitivities of the Anomalously Sensitive Person (ASP) can be objectively measured on a Holistic Inventory of Stimulus Sensitivities (HISS). The HISS test can be administered to determine what kind of sensitivity a person has, and is included along with detailed analyses of the variables being studied. While THE HISS OF THE ASP is packed with details about interpreting test scores, it keeps the reader awake with amusing anecdotes and entertaining cartoons and quotes throughout.

THE HISS OF THE ASP will clearly be required reading for all serious students of psychology, as it clarifies centuries of confusion on the subject of how best to understand and support anomalously sensitive individuals.

-- Cynthia Sue Larson
author of AURA ADVANTAGE: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, October 3, 2003

By 

harper schantz (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P: Understanding the Anomalously Sensitive Person (Hardcover)

I SO related to the case-study individuals in The HISS of the ASP! What a releif to know that there is somebody who not only understands, but is making an effort to communicate this information to the "ASPs" themselves, as well as to proffessionals. The subject matter is both deep and complex,so it is not an "easy read" ( i.e. a "beach book"),but the ideas presented are so valuable as to warrent one's undivided attention. I highly recommend that anyone who considers themselves "sensitive" read this book from cover to cover. You'll be glad you did!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A home run for the non-ordinary among us, October 11, 2003

By 

David Pursglove (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The H.I.S.S. of the A.S.P: Understanding the Anomalously Sensitive Person (Hardcover)

David Ritchey's work and cooperation with our project as he was preparing his book, and especially the questionnaire, have been invaluable to our research here at the New Being Project where we're researching the possibility of an imminent human evolutionary jump. Are ASPs "the budding limbs and organs of our future nature"? (Michael Murphy) The situation may be even more extreme than Bob Girard from Arcturus Books states in his review when he says that Ritchey's book may be "suggesting that there is a vast underdeveloped resource of genius in the 5 million ASPs in America alone." Oh yes. . .and maybe much more than just "genius".

As other reviewers have stated, the book is enormous in scope and superior in execution. If you want strong intimations not only of what's in our species' current tool kit, but of who we are quite likely *becoming*, this book will get you wide-eyed in many places.

I also want to second the apt counsel of another reviewer: "I highly recommend that anyone who considers themselves a "sensitive" read this book from cover to cover. You'll be glad you did!"