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

Rob Brezsny (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 22, 2009

Readers were instantly beguiled by Rob Brezsny's new approach to the humble horoscope when his "Free Will Astrology" column first appeared in 1996. Instead of the generic, one-size-fits-all style of similar columns, Brezsny used witty parables, tender rants, cultural riffs, pagan wisdom, and lively rituals in his playfully positive readings. He brings that same sensibility—and the same message of a smiling universe—to this self-help book for people who may be skeptical about self-help books. Brezsny persuasively advises readers to go along with the universe's good intentions, but his rejection of cynicism and a bleak view of human nature isn't rooted in denial. On the contrary, he makes a case for a cagey optimism that requires a vigorous engagement with the dark forces. He asks us to rethink life as a sublime game created for our amusement and illumination. The book is a chameleon of a tome. You can read it straight through, slowly and surely, or else pick it up and open it at random for tasty hits of inspiration as the spirit moves you. You can even start at the end and weave your way backward. Brezsny has substantially updated this edition—he added nearly one hundred pages—by expanding various sections, adding more than a dozen new pieces and a new chapter, and providing readers with a number of playtime activities and exercises that let them participate through their own writing and drawing. "Brezsny's horoscopes are like little valentines, buoyant and spilling over with mischievousness. They're a soul prognosis." —The New York Times

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I have seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob Brezsny."
—Tom Robbins, author of Still Life with Woodpecker, Jitterbug Perfume, and many more

"With this work—an instant pop classic—Rob Brezsny offers a positive, participatory, proactive vision of the workings of our inner and outer universe, which will only give us as much pleasure, love, and ecstasy as we are prepared to accept."
—Daniel Pinchbeck, author of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl

"This wild, wise, and subversive book is a must read for those who want to live a more imaginative and free life . . . Rob Brezsny is a Culture Hero."
—Utne Reader

"I dig Rob Brezsny for his powerful yet playful insights, his poetry, and his humor . . . I salute him for his dedication to inspiration."
—Jason Mraz, singer-songwriter

"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

"The verbally acrobatic, mystically literate Brezsny lets fly a thousand zingers, each with the feel of having been carved with poetic effort to express a hard reality instead of a platitude."
—San Francisco Chronicle

"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, actress

"With Pronoia, renegade wizard Rob Brezsny presents an irreverent manifesto, mixing activism and optimism. It reads like the I Ching on Ecstasy and is as insightful and puzzling as a Zen koan."
—Body + Soul

“If you read a snippet of [Pronoia] every day, you’re bound to experience more than a little bliss. We already loved Rob for his thoughtful and astute horoscopes…but those are mere glimpses of his abundant wisdom, humor, and encyclopedic storehouse of information. Sit down with this compendium of ruminations, suggestions and outlandish observations and let your imagination run wild.”
—Whole Life Times

“Pronoia depicts life as a gift whose purpose is to enrich the human soul… When you see life from this perspective, living takes on a newfound joy and illumination.”
—Spiritual Media Blog

“Like some voluble combination of HL Mencken and a Sufi whirling dervish, Brezsny writes with disarming fluidity while still remaining acerbic. Pronoia’s style is too sinuous, too wriggly and difficult to classify, edgy and uncomfortable and literally kick-ass (he advocates the athletic kicking of one’s own ass with some regularity).”
—Santa Fe Reporter
 
“I am deeply inspired by the illuminated words of Rob Brezsny. He is a word wizard for the soul."
—SARK, author of Succulent Wild Woman, Eat Mangoes Naked, and Change Your Life Without Getting Out of Bed
 
“You don't need The Church, a Savior, a Guru, or psilocybin mushrooms to ‘break on through to the other side.’ Brezsny takes you there in the pages of Pronoia. It’s the best book I’ve read in the 21st century!”
—Chris Duel, News-Talk 550 KTSA, San Antonio, Texas
 
“In Pronoia, Brezsny tenderly leads us into the practice of re-imagining the world as a compassionate miracle. It’s the best campaign platform I’ve heard in years. And the book offers a bevy of ideas for tricksters to re-create the universe. Brezsny for president!”
—Santa Cruz Sentinel
 
“Pronoia is like stepping through your very own magic looking glass. Brezsny is a diabolical lyricist, an infectious dreamer, and a riotous Doctor of Know.”
—Cathoderaytan.net
 
“In this age of divisiveness in politics and religion, it’s rare to come across something uplifting enough to catch your eye long enough for you to put down your remote and actually read something.”
—Chico News & Review
 
“Now, you might think that Pronoia is some kind of mealy new-aged crap, or yet another ‘business success/self-help’ rag. But you’d be wrong. It is, in fact, the most marvelous inanimate object I’ve ever held in my hands.”
—Corinna Bloom
 
“Pronoia is a food processor for the spirit, a socket wrench for attitude adjustment, and a garbage disposal for the soul. It shreds, dices, pulses, grinds, and disintegrates all the negative myths that the doom and gloomers throw our way, and blends them into a mind-soothing smoothie for vibrant living.”
—Rob Grogan, Front Porch
 
“Pronoia is a life manual for not just overthrowing the dictator within (and so without) but more vital than this, a manual for creating an intelligent, sexy and juicy alternative to the Big Should."
—Moonkissd.com

“If you know someone who is down on himself and the world, who spends most of his time complaining rather than creating (and who doesn’t know someone like that?) this is the perfect gift for him or her. Pronoia is filled with great uplifting information, and perhaps nothing says it better than the book’s tag line: ‘888 Tricks for Becoming a Wildly Disciplined, Fiercely Tender, Ironically Sincere, Scrupulously Curious, Aggressively Sensitive, Blasphemously Reverent, Lyrically Logical, Lustfully Compassionate Master of Rowdy Bliss.’”
—New Paradigm Digest

“With great zest and an inimitable creativity, Brezsny sees the present moment as the perfect moment. … Throughout this extraordinary book, he celebrates many of the qualities we have incorporated in our vision of Spiritual Literacy: imagination, wonder, gratitude, reverence, play, beauty, compassion, connections, mystery, and more. … Suffice it to say, this is a rollercoaster ride that surprises, entertains, and edifies in equal measures. It is the perfect resource to lift your spirits and send you on your way rejoicing!”
—Spirituality & Practice

About the Author

As much a storyteller and social observer as astrologer, Rob Brezsny brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his astrological writing. "Free Will Astrology," his syndicated weekly column, appears in 120 publications all over the world.In addition to his books and column, Brezsny is a musician and 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. Bill Graham, one of rock's top impresarios, managed the band until his death. Brezsny is currently working on a new CD, This Is a Perfect Moment, which will serve as the soundtrack for the book Pronoia.Between 1979 and the present, Brezsny has performed in more than 700 shows, from intimate performance art venues to giant rock shows at the Whole Earth Festival in Davis, California. After leaving the rock music business for good in 2000, he branched out to develop a series of performance art shows, which he performed at the Burning Man Festival in 2001, 2002, and 2004. He lives in Mill Valley, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; Rev Exp edition (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556438184
• ISBN-13: 978-1556438189
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.1 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (159 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > New Thought

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.
*****

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.

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.