Kosmic Consciousness [Unabridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Ken Wilber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

"Just who is Ken Wilber?" For more than 30 years, a rising tide of readers enthralled by this visionary philosopher’s map of human potential have asked this question about the famously "low profile" author. Finally, early this year, Wilber—the author of A Brief History of Everything and Grace and Grit—agreed to create a series of in-depth dialogues on audio for the first time ever. The result is Kosmic Consciousness: a landmark recording that invites us to experience a full-length audio learning course with this celebrated thinker.

Listeners will be surprised and delighted to discover the Ken Wilber behind the writer’s pen—spontaneous, irreverent, and incredibly passionate about how each of us can participate in the unfolding of human consciousness. Through over 12 hours of revelatory insights, Kosmic Consciousness explores: The integral map of the Kosmos (the universe that includes the physical cosmos as well as the realms of consciousness and Spirit), the pursuit of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, discovering your "multiple intelligences", using altered states, male and female sexuality, how meditation accelerates personal growth, prayer, does it work?, integral perspectives on individuals spanning Jung to Piaget, Baryshnikov to Nietzsche, Jesus to the Buddha, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

"Just who is Ken Wilber?" For more than 30 years, a rising tide of readers enthralled by this visionary philosopher's map of human potential have asked this question about the famously "low profile" author. Finally, early this year, Wilber--the author of "A Brief History of Everything and "Grace and Grit--agreed to create a series of in-depth dialogues on audio for the first time ever. The result is "Kosmic Consciousness: a landmark recording that invites us to experience a full-length audio learning course with this celebrated thinker. Listeners will be surprised and delighted to discover the Ken Wilber behind the writer's pen--spontaneous, irreverent, and incredibly passionate about how each of us can participate in the unfolding of human consciousness. Through over 12 hours of revelatory insights, "Kosmic Consciousness explores: The integral map of the "Kosmos (the universe that includes the physical cosmos as well as the realms of consciousness and Spirit) - The pursuit of the Good, the True,and the Beautiful - Discovering your "multiple intelligences" - Using altered states - Male and female sexuality - How meditation accelerates personal growth - Prayer, does it work? - Integral perspectives on individuals spanning Jung to Piaget, Baryshnikov to Nietzsche, Jesus to the Buddha, and much more. For Ken Wilber's many avid readers--and those who have been waiting for a highly accessible invitation to his work--here is one of the most creative and significant thinkers of our time offering a feast of ideas and inspiration on our evolution toward "Kosmic Consciousness.

From the Publisher

For Ken Wilber’s many avid readers—and those who have been waiting for a highly accessible invitation to his work—here is one of the most creative and significant thinkers of our time offering a feast of ideas and inspiration on our evolution toward Kosmic Consciousness.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated; Unabridged edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591791235
• ISBN-13: 978-1591791232
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,826,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An In-Depth, Focused, Look at Wilber's Theories, October 8, 2003

By 

Jordan Gruber "CEO, Enlightenment.Com" (Menlo Park, CA<P>Menlo Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kosmic Consciousness (Audio Cassette)

Tami Simon and Sounds True have put together the ultimate audio learning set for those who are fans -- or would like to be fans -- of the great American spiritual philosopher Ken Wilber. Tammy closely interviews Ken as to the many components of this "theory of everything," and she is relentless in making sure that Ken has explained topics to the point where they can be clearly understood.

Ken, as always, is brilliant, and Tammy shows great spunk throughout. One of my favorite exchanges comes early on where Ken is describing first person, second person, etc., and at one point he says something like, "You have to have two minds capable of understanding each other to have this. Suppose, for example, that you were catatonic..." and Tammy shoots back "...or that you, Ken, were totally incomprehendible." Well, maybe you have to hear it, but it is definitely funny.

Tammy has clearly done her homework, and Ken has such a huge wealth of information at his disposal that a great deal of ground gets covered. The reason I have given this 4 as opposed to 5 stars is that it ... is ... just ... a ... little ... long. But then again, if you want a comprehensive learning experience, you'll certainly get it here. Another slight criticism is that Tammy doesn't really push or challenge Ken personally here (e.g., the way Ken is pushed and challenged in the earlier Speaking of Everything CD interview). But then again, when looked at for its main purpose -- conveying the breadth and some of the depth of Ken Wilber's theories -- Kosmic Consciousness does an excellent job.

This interview, while perhaps a little light for the most serious of Wilber scholar's, does have a good deal that is new and interesting and that will keep the interest of the already-deeply-immersed. And for the person struggling to understand Ken's books, especially the technical details of concepts like lines, levels, waves, quadrants, and so on, Kosmic Consciousness will be a real Spirit-send. All in all, if you know a Ken Wilber fan, or someone who should be a Ken Wilber fan, then this ten CD audio set will make a great gift.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complicated theories made accessible by an absorbing interview, April 5, 2006

By 

Courtney B (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kosmic Consciousness (Audio CD)

I have, to my eternal embarassment, tried to read several of Ken Wilber's books over the years, to no avail. After chastising myself and wondering if my cognitive powers were deteriorating with age, I gave up. Then I bought Kosmic Consciousness, and WOW! I GET IT! Wilber is earthy, funny and irreverent, which makes him my kind of super-intelligent person. He is easy to listen to, and his crystal clear explanation of the Integral Model not only makes perfect sense, but also gives me a perspective on the developments happening around me and within me, as the society I live in and my own consciousness move forward in their awkward dance. And with this understanding and perspective comes an easing of the anxiety that had been following me around, saying, "Gack! There are crazy people running my world!" Looking at events as part of a developmental continuum makes them seem far less chaotic and incomprehensible, and allows me to cut myself and everyone else some slack. I'm looking forward to listening to KC a few more times, and I have also taken up the books that defeated me in the past. With Wilber's live voice in my head, his written words have become a story I can play on my brain's CD deck. Thank you Sounds True for perservering, getting the interview, and providing such an excellent container for this vital informaion.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overview of Wilber's theories and he is personable too, November 13, 2005

By 

M. Sojka (Mount Shasta, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kosmic Consciousness (Audio CD)

My experience with Wilber's works prior to Kosmic Consciousness was reading The Simple Feeling of Being and some on-line material that was freely available. His writings on AQAL (quadrants, levels, lines) had previously resonated with me right away and after reading previous reviews of this audio book i decided to spend the big bucks on its purchase. Being that I commute about 300 miles each way once a week, this gives me about 4.5 hours twice a week to listen to books on tape/CD.

I am now listening to the CD's for the 3rd time. The first time through i found the basic information on quadrants, levels, lines, and states to be the most interesting. The questions and answers about how astrology, reincarnation, and other spiritual and what-if questions seemed somewhat a waste of time and CD space because I found the information about the integral map much more interesting and informative. The 2nd listen through i changed my mind about the what-if questions and application to the spiritual because that is when Ken's vast knowledge and ability to apply his theories to these limitless questions came through.

This audio book is astonishingly fascinating and I have now become very interested in learning more about this man's vast amount of work. His model and the science behind it fills a gap for me that I could not previously find in either scientific or occult writings. The information provides hundreds of springboards for the listener to take off on depending on what appeals to you personally.

I would give this series a 5 for the first half and a 4 for the second half of spiritual what-if and occult questions. The integral model and the science behind that is what was most interesting to me, though others might find the questions meant to bridge the science with spirituality and the occult more to their taste. A big plus and key to this book is that Wilber has an engaging voice and personality which he allows to come through here. The interviewer is pretty good as well though again, i would have preferred her to stay more on Wilber's work and less on the what-if and beyond answer questions.

Was it worth the price of the CD set? Yes!