Customer Reviews

Ishtar Rising: or Why the Goddess Went to Hell and What to Expect Now That She's Returning

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Greetings.

Once again Robert Anton Wilson scores a direct hit on the idiocy prevalent in western society. As a thelemic female I am enchanted with his wit, humor and superb usage of cynical observation. If you are an easily offended feminist, more than likely you will be irate after reading this attempt to look at social customs prevalent in modern life. I found some of his *explanations* totally hilarious, so I must not be in the overly sensitive bracket.

Considering the morbid fascination with female anatomy and the ludicrous *morality* assigned to viewing what in fact all adult females posess, (up to and including the legal sanctions in many places against seeing female nipples) the breast fixation idea becomes even funnier. His discussions reguarding cinema "sex-goddesses" and the approval/disapproval demonstrated by the Public (towards the late Marilyn Monroe for example) were compelling, and sadly, all too true.

Bob Wilson is definitely one of the kewler writers around; literate, interesting and intellectually satisfying. Even if you do not agree with everything he states, you have to admit his style is impeccable. I collect his works and proudly display them right next to Crowley, Kraig, Reguardie,and the assorted OTO/Magickal/Philosophical books I own. Thank you Amazon.com for making it easy to order and obtain cherished works, Bob Wilson is hard to find these days in the local bookstores. I agree with the Denver Post review which referred to Wilson as "...the Lenny Bruce of Philosophers". Satire remains one of the most definitive methods of social commentary, and Wilson excells in this genre.

Robert Anton Wilson, as usual, tests the reader's view of reality. I can't count the number of times I said, "Oi..." or "Please..." or "Give me a break!" while reading this book. But then, as is usual when I read RAW's books, I find myself thinking, "Jeeze, what if he has a point?" As a feminist, I was offended. As a Discordian philosopher, I was stimulated. It would appear that Mr. Wilson has somehow managed to trace every advance & atrocity committed in human history to the attitude toward the human breast current at that time. Lunacy? Perhaps not! His case is certainly clear and concise, if inane... I recommend this book highly, however, I must warn the reader to look twice, if not more times, at what he has written. There is a message here we might be well advised to look at...

I have a bias towards this volume as I was the Photo Editor for this the Falcon Press / Golden Dawn edition. The book was originally published by Playboy Press as "The Book of The Breast". It was Robert Anton Wilson's thesis like examination of the matriarchal foundations of early religions.

He takes us rapidly through the present and contemporary religions and modern psychology. This presents a timely outline worth fleshing-out [excuse the pun]with other material.

Considering the recent film "Kinsey" and current conservative pressure on "public morality" this is a worthwhile though academically oriented addition to one knowledge bank.

After all, one should begin with a healthy appreciation of where the pleasure comes from--by design, it should be the breast. As a baby, one seeks it out as food source, as an adolescent, it signifies the change--in woman, the budding of breasts indicates ripening, in the male, noticing of breasts indicates a degree of sexual interest--breasts are, to play with Foucault's terminology, a signifier of signifiers. As a feminist, I should shudder at any thought leaning towards "Biology is destiny"--and yet, the breast argument wins me over, as I have two, and they have influenced my existence greatly. Insofar as they are responded to, and insofar as they, in fact, respond to the world around them, I must admit to their importance. Breasts are not, as some may have it, passive. Mine, in fact, are devilishly clever. At times, I let them enter a room before me, to act as a distraction. Wilson is on target in suggesting that breasts are important, and even more so in suggesting that the women who may be attached to them are important as well. In so far as we are mammals, we should offer thanks for the mammaries. Anything that provides food *and* entertainment for so many is certainly worth a book. And a look. Breasts should be a source of comfort--and yet, so many are uncomfortable with them--read this, and try to dig why. And maybe get a better picture of the maidens in Maidenforms while doing so.