Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings [Paperback]

Rob Brezsny (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 24, 2005

Human beings are selfish, small-minded, violence-prone savages, civilization is a blight on the earth, and the rising tide of chaos ensures that everything's going to fall apart any day now. Right? Wrong, says Rob Brezsny. In Pronoia Is the Antidote to Paranoia, he declares evil is boring, the universe is friendly, and life is a sublime gift created for our amusement and illumination. This buoyant perspective is not rooted in denial. On the contrary, Brezsny builds a case for a "cagey optimism" that does not require a repression of difficulty, but rather, seeks a vigorous engagement with it. The best way to attract the blessings that the world is conspiring to give us, he insists, is to dive into the most challenging mysteries. This witty, inspiring how-to shows how any reader can become "a wildly disciplined, fiercely tender . . . lustfully compassionate Master of Rowdy Bliss."
 
The newly revised and significantly expanded—by more than a hundred pages—edition of Pronoia is now available (ISBN: 978-1-55643-818-9).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I've seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob Brezsny."
- Tom Robbins, author of Another Roadside Attraction, Jitterbug Perfume, and Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

"Brilliant! Absorbing! Wildly useful! Rob Brezsny gets my nomination for best prophet in a starring role. He's a script doctor for the soul."
-Marisa Tomei, Academy Award-winning actress

"I am deeply inspired by the illuminated words of Rob Brezsny. He is a word wizard for the soul."
-SARK, bestselling author of Succulent Wild Woman and many other books

"What's amazing is how Brezsny's prose remains invigorating in the transition from weekly astrology to larger scope writing. The prose is still poetic, circular, almost dancing, combining the narrative voices of Anais Nin, Tom Robbins, David Ignatow, and a host of ancient mystics."
-Rain Taxi

"Brezsny holds his own place next to other cultural shamans such as Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, Reverend Ivan Stang, William S. Burroughs, and Ken Kesey."
-PopMatters

"Like a mutant love-child of Jack Kerouac and Anais Nin, Rob Brezsny writes with devilish humor, spiritual audacity, and erotic intensity. The Televisionary Oracle is a kick-ass gnostic tale. Prepare to be astonished."
-Jay Kinney, author of Hidden Wisdom

"A book so weird it might drive you stark raving sane."
-Robert Anton Wilson

About the Author

Rob Brezsny writes "Free Will Astrology," a syndicated weekly column that reaches nine million readers in over 100 publications, including the Village Voice, where it has appeared every week since January 1999. It is also published on his website, www.freewillastrology.com, and is distributed through a weekly email newsletter with 26,500+ subscribers.

When Utne Reader named Brezsny a "Culture Hero," it observed: "With a blend of spontaneous poetry, feisty politics, and fanciful put-on, Brezsny breathes new life into the tabloid mummy of zodiac advice columns."

In its profile of Brezsny, The New York Times quoted a reader who compared his writing to that of Tom Robbins. The horoscopes "are like little valentines, buoyant and spilling over with mischievousness. They're a soul prognosis."

Before his other book, The Televisionary Oracle, Brezsny's enduring artistic artifacts were music albums, one created as a solo artist and three with the band World Entertainment War, which recorded for MCA. World Entertainment War's albums was nominated for a "Bammie," California's version of the Grammies, and benefited from the promotional wizardry of rock's top impresario, Bill Graham, who managed World Entertainment War until his death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Frog Books (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583941231
• ISBN-13: 978-1583941232
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.9 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (161 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm sorry to report that Amazon is still selling copies of the old edition of my book "PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia." It's out-of-print, and was superseded by the substantially revised and expanded version.

If you're thinking of buying PRONOIA, please get the revised and expanded version here: http://bit.ly/Pronoia

Don't get the old one, which is here: http://amzn.to/XiwU0l

Because of the quirks of what Amazon is doing, I don't get any of the revenues from the sale of the old book.

What's the difference between the old edition and the new version of PRONOIA?

The revised and expanded version has over 63,500 new words and 73 new illustrations -- 55% additional material beyond what the first edition had. Basically, there's a whole extra new book crammed into it.

There are 2 extra chapters, 18 completely new pieces, plus 14 new Sacred Advertisements. Many of the original pieces of the book were revised and expanded, as well.

A central piece in the book, "Glory in the Highest," is nine times longer than it was in the original.

+

Here's more on the differences between the two editions of PRONOIA:

The ISBN-10 of the revised and expanded edition is 1556438184. It's 400 pages, and was published in September 2009.

The ISBN-10 of the old edition is 1583941231. It's 312 pages and was published May 2005.

+

Here's my bio:

Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He writes "Free Will Astrology," a syndicated column that appears in 115 publications around the world and on the Web. He periodically performs a pagan revival show called the Sacred Uproar.

Brezsny's latest book is the revised and expanded edition of "Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings." Novelist Tom Robbins had this to say about it: "I've seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob Brezsny." According to Popmatters.com, "Brezsny holds his own place next to cultural shamans like Robert Anton Wilson, Timothy Leary, William Burroughs, and Ken Kesey."

As much a storyteller and social observer as astrologer, Brezsny brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his astrological writing. When Utne Reader named Brezsny a "Culture Hero," it observed: "With a blend of spontaneous poetry, feisty politics, and fanciful put-on, Brezsny breathes new life into the tabloid mummy of zodiac advice columns."

In addition to his books and column, Brezsny has created five music albums. Three were with the band World Entertainment War, which recorded on MCA Records and was nominated for a "Bammie," California's version of the Grammies. WEW benefited from the promotional wizardry of one of rock's top impresarios, Bill Graham, who managed the band until his death. The story of Brezsny's life in music is recounted in his book "The Televisionary Oracle."


Here's some further evidence:
Rob's website: http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Facebook page: http://bit.ly/BrezFB
Twitter: http://twitter.com/FreeWillAstro
Rob's weekly horoscopes are at http://FreeWillAstrology.com/horoscopes
Rob's book The Televisionary Oracle: http://bit.ly/Televisionary
Rob's music page: http://bit.ly/RealWEW
Rob's CD: http://bit.ly/WEWmusic

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

281 of 293 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Book to be Experienced, not merely read! July 13, 2005

By O. Brown HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

*****
I don't think I've ever come across a book anything like Pronoia before. It is large, chock full of information of the positive sort (as opposed to of the negative sort). This is because "pronoia" is the opposite of "paranoid" (when you think everyone is out to get you)---you think every is out to shower you with blessings! The book is written to celebrate pronoia is a variety of ways, all of which make you feel good.

The author, Rob Brezskny, writes in a lyrical, irreverant, wildly unconventional and beautiful style. I've never seen anyone else write like that---he is unique. The book sort of reminds me in a way of Ram Dass' "Be Here Now", a cult classic, and an amazing consciousness book of the time that is still in print today. I think that Pronoia will be as popular as that classic book.

Pronoia is an experience, not just a book. And you can GET the experience from just reading the book! It can be read linearly, or bit by bit from time to time, with equally good results. There are many interactive sections, provocative questions, exercises to try, ideas for journalling, etc. throughout the book. These interactive things aren't traditional exercises you'd find in a "normal" book, though. They are wild, wacky, and wonderful---just like the book!

The book is quite irreverent, yet it beautifully captures the God I worship in its pages---not the God of any one religion, but of all of us. He thinks up interesting new names for this supreme being like "the Divine Wow"...and you experience the love of this higher power throughout the book, not in ways you'd expect. There is much humor throughout too---it is a laugh-out loud kind of book....

If you are open, even just a little bit, to the experience that the whole world COULD be conspiring to shower you with love and blessing---or if you'd LIKE to be open to this possibility---then this is a book, and an experience for you. If you are a negative, pessimistic person, or if you are depressed, or if you are just searching for more meaning and happiness in your life---AND---you read this entire book, I will bet that you will be much more ready, if not entirely ready, to live your life quite differently in various ways.

Pronoia is a great value too---lots of book, lots of experience---for a really great price. If you're wondering if you should get it, the answer is yes! I know it looks odd and is different, but take the chance and you won't be sorry! I am buying 5 more copies to give to my closest friends...one of the best and most life-changing books I've read.
***** Read more ›

94 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Follow your rowdy bliss! July 24, 2005

By DivaLion

Format:Paperback

Pronoia is a philosophy book of a most unusual stripe. It takes a lot of the ideas that Breszny has developed on the Free Will Astrology site and particularly that he included as themes in his amazing novel, The Televisionary Oracle, and expands on them, shaping them into a chaotically coherent philosophy of life. The style is undeniably Breszny-- quirky, irreverent, soulful, linguistically athletic, challenging, hopeful.

This is not your college Philosophy 101 class's philosophy book. It's structured rather freewheelingly, part creative workbook (including spaces for you to write your own thoughts and even your own chapter), part essay collection, part word art (noting the inclusion of "homeopathic medicine wheels" that cram negative information in a circular paragraph enclosed by healing symbols and words), part exuberant poetry slam, part instruction manual for the inner development of "rowdy bliss". Big and packed full of interesting information and musings, illustrated lavishly with quirky graphics and nifty fonts, it is the kind of book that you can either read straight through or flip around, seeing where the pages fall in a somewhat bibliomantic attempt to receive an eccentric oracle. One thing's for sure, one reading is not enough to completely absorb everything this book contains, but it will be a pleasure to go back and re-read many times in the future.

No doubt the less whimsically inclined would regard this book with a raised eyebrow and no little incredulity; Breszny's a holy fool, a sacred clown, and he can be downright outrageous and goofy even when he's at his most heartfelt and profound. Cynics may find his relentless optimism over the top....

But this is a smart man who's invested a tremendous amount of contemplation and personal experience into every idea he proposes. He is in no small measure radical, as he challenges the assumptions about the bleakness of the world that are so constantly fed to us. His optimism and faith are not at all blind nor are they syrupy or saccharine; he addresses the existence of sorrow and suffering in the world and encourages his readers to adopt the scientist's tools to test and evaluate our beliefs.

At the heart of his philosophy is that we all have the right to experience tremendous joy in our lives, the ability to shape the world around us, and the unceasing gifts of a benevolent universe that longs to help us and communicate with us. He takes the previously-little-explored concept of "pronoia" and expands it into a creative, active, loving, lusty way of life. Not for him is the traditional religion's dichotomy of material=bad vs. spirit=good; nor the "fluffy newage" optimism that shoves the shadow self into the closet and slams the door. He proscribes neither quivering submission to and timid requests of a scornful punisher deity, nor spartan rejection of the world in seeking a cold and lonely enlightenment. His ideas belong in the world, not apart from it; they go boldly into crowds creating beauty and weirdness, offering a hand to others, and proclaiming the dangerous notion that the world is a rich and beautiful place. He recruits "guerrilla prayer warriors" and sacred artists and tantric clowns with a charisma and dedication that is thrilling in its possibility and irresistible in its charm.

This is not a book to read if you are determined to be unhappy or if you don't want your world shaken up a bit. However, if you have the sneaking suspicion that leading a happy, fulfilled life might just not be a heresy, or you are tired of the status quo and eager for a truly unusual point of view, or if you need the kind of healing that makes you laugh and cry at the same time, or if you have already been crusading for beauty, truth, freedom, and love-- you need this book. It is hope and humor and beauty and love. Discordians and adherents of the Church of the Subgenius, both of which are mentioned favorably within, and tricksters of all stripes may particularly enjoy Breszny's antics.

One of my favorite parts of Pronoia was the "Anti-DSM-IV", which is a section that turns the DSM-IV, that manual of the mental health professions, on its head by describing a long list of different states of psychological and spiritual health and happiness. As someone who's long thought that the field of mental health seemed to focus far too heavily on the miserable without clearly defining what constitutes happiness and well-adjustment, I was thrilled to see this marvelous and insightful bit of writing.

I found Rob Breszny's writing at a time in my life when I had just begun to clearly articulate my growing beliefs in the inherent goodness of the world, the benevolence of the Divine Wow, and the human capacity for joy and love. Reading his work was a confirmation of those beliefs, an inspiration to take it even further, and an exciting realization that others were thinking along these lines and maybe even creating a bold new movement in a weary and discouraged world.

This book gets a huge thumbs-up from me. Even if you think it sounds corny or suspect, I recommend giving it a read-- there just might be something in there that surprises you. Read more ›

126 of 141 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book soaks into you like a sunbeam June 17, 2005

By Diogenes DogSnack

Format:Paperback

It's like dreaming in a sunbeam being bombarded with visions that soak into you and change your outlook for the better. I've been reading it for days now and always finding new things. It's not necessary to read it in a linear fashion. Get this book, it's refreshing and good.

53 of 57 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Irreverent, and sometimes a little vulgar, but still Uplifting! August 28, 2005

By D. Buxman TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The premise of this book is to look at your interactions with the world from a different perspective than what most people exercise. Rather than thinking that the whole world is out to get you, the author suggests the idea that maybe the universe is working in a vast conspiracy to help you. When you get right down to it, the thought is both liberating and uplifting. As someone who is still trying to shake off the prudishness of 20 years in the Lutheran Church, portions of the book concerning sexuality were a little disturbing, but not so much as to sour the whole experience. This is an innovative piece that isn't really easy to characterize. Sometimes it rambles a little, but it still ranks highly as a uniquely exhilarating book. If you are weary of news of war and destruction, this is the antidote.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pronoia now and then September 4, 2005

By Timothy S. Heater

Format:Paperback

Every time I pick up this book and start to read, my mood changes. These wise words pull me right out of any of the shadows that the world can send my way. I begin to feel lighter and less worried about the state of the world. I feel hope and maybe even start to hum a ditty. Even if the universe is not constantly sending blessings our way, it can be enough to consider the posibility. I have worked for the last twenty years with the criminally mentally ill. This book is a good anidote to that toxic environment. The expanded edition makes this tome worth another read. The author came upon many of his ideas through the experience of the event called Burning Man. If you can't make it there do the next best thing and read the book.