Ken Wilber: Thought As Passion (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Pyschology) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Ken Wilber (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Finally, in a single highly readable edition we have a description of the life and work of one of the most controversial and profound thinkers of our age. Despite, or indeed because of, the prodigious number of books, articles, and interviews that Ken Wilber has produced over the years, most readers know little of the history of his intellectual, spiritual, or private lives, and only a few have attempted to keep track of the complex and fascinating intricacies of his thinking on topics as diverse as transpersonal psychology, religion, sociology, and European philosophy. In these pages we get both the big picture and a good read. Here is a gift to everyone interested in the life and work of a spiritual and philosophical genius." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Guide to the life and work of Ken Wilber, widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and passionate philosophers of our times. Outlines his theories and uncovers his personal life, showing how his experiences influenced and shaped his writing. Softcover, hardcover available.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press; illustrated edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791458164
• ISBN-13: 978-0791458167
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #773,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making Ken Wilber Assessible, March 4, 2004

By	Paul Helfrich (Castaic, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

March 04, 2004

If you want a well researched, thorough overview of the work of Ken Wilber, then Frank Visser's Ken Wilber: Thought as Passion is a great choice. It covers a broad scope and is a relatively easy read. That's the short version.

The long version must take into account Wilber's five periods or models to date. Visser's book nicely introduces the first four periods in a general way, and sets the stage for further study of the oeuvre. Wilber-5, so-called, has emerged in the last few years and will be published for the first time in the upcoming Kosmos, Vol. 2 (whose working title is Kosmic Karma and Creativity). One of the novel aspects of Wilber-5 is what he calls a post-metaphysical approach (among other things), which relies on empiricism in the three great domains of body, mind, and spirit. So the jury is still out on the niggly details of Wilber-5, and how its critic's will respond. But one thing is certain, once published it may be easy to misconstrue criticism of this Visser opus because it's NOT Wilber-5 and appropriately focuses on the influence of the perennial traditions in Wilber-1 through Wilber-4. But to Frank's credit, he mentions Wilber-5 several times and acknowledges that Wilber's views continue to develop.

Having said that, if you really want to get inside Wilber's head, or at the very least, into his heart, then it's appropriate to study his work beginning with Wilber-1. Why? First, Wilber is a developmental, evolutionary, transcendentalist thinker and doer. It's apt to see how his theory developed as it was informed by his own bodily, mental, and spiritual growth. Second, even though Wilber no longer recommends his first two books, The Spectrum of Consciousness (1977) and No Boundary (1979), they're required reading because we can trace the "integral impulse" at work from the very beginning along with what are now acknowledged flaws (the so-called pre/trans fallacy in particular). That integral impulse included nascent awareness that the three great domains of body, mind, and spiritual science must be included in any integral approach. Put another way, it reflected Ken's precocious understanding that transcendental experience is not solely pathological, and properly developed could greatly inform human development. He also refined transpersonal psychological theory to include the full spectrum of consciousness, from body to mind to soul to nondual spirit, along with identifying appropriate pathology and therapies.

Thus, Visser's book handles Wilber-1 through Wilber-4 with the skillful means of one who is far more than a journeyman with the material. In fact, Frank includes a great deal of biographical material that provides a human face and heart, background in the transpersonal field in general to situate Wilber's oeuvre, major critics, a summary of their differences, as well as his own critiques. He also includes a thorough bibliography of Wilber's work that alone is worth the price of the book! In the closing chapter Visser offers further insights and suggestions that may help refine the inchoate Wilber-5 model based upon his theosophical background.

In summary, if you're seriously interested in learning about Wilber's work, this is a great place to start. Ken personally recommends A Theory of Everything (2000) because it's concise, and A Brief History of Everything (1996). Together, they give a full accounting the major insights of Wilber-1 to Wilber-4, now called AQAL: all quadrants, levels, lines, states, types (and the kitchen sink. It is a thorough model :-).

All in all, let's give Frank Visser a hearty congratulations for a job well done!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original Contribution, January 18, 2004

By	J. Davis "Research Guy" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had expected Visser to play the role of a cheerleading reporter of Wilber's works, and was pleasantly surprised to see that Visser is a capable thinker in his own right. Not only does he manage to clearly and concisely convey the gist of Wilber's vast collection of writings, but he also contributes many insights that help put Wilber's work in context and in perspective. There seems to be a healthy undercurrent of friendly disagreement and tension between Wilber and Visser on a number of issues, and I think Visser displays a remarkable objectivity for one who maintains the main website on Wilber's work.

In sereral places I wished Visser had put even more of his own thoughts into the book, but of course the subject of the book is Wilber's thought, not Visser's. Specifically, Visser had a short section in which he explores the similarities between Theosophy and the Integral perspective. I haven't read all of Wilber's writings, but from what I have read there seems to be a major avoidance of the Western esoteric tradition, with the possible exception that Wilber once wrote that he admired Rudolf Steiner's writings. By esoteric I don't mean Western mysticism, which Wilber covers well enough, but the strand of Kaballism, Rosicrucianism, Anthroposophy, Theosophy, Alice Bailey, etc. There is a vast amount of material there dealing with involution, evolution, stages of consciousness, and so forth, that should rightly be incorporated into a fully integral spirituality. I have found that most Wilberians and Integral thinkers in general show little interest in the occult traditions, and most occultists show little interest in Integral studies. This means we have two almost exclusive strands of practioners trying to cover very similar ground without communicating much with each other. The result is not healthy in my view.

I imagine Wilber avoids the Western esoteric tradition because it does not play well with academics, whom he is trying to reach. But Visser appears to have a Theosophical background and may will be a thinker capable of championing an expansion of integral thought that embraces the esoteric and occult as well as the usualy religio-mystical traditions.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Let Wilber know you read this, May 19, 2004

By	Daryl Paulson (Bozeman, Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Visser, as I stated before has done a great job in explaining the works of Ken Wilber. Yet Wilber denounces this book because of Visser's affinity for Theosophy. Wilber is not a theosophist or a Alice Bailey follower even though his first two books were published by the Theosophical Society. Interestingly, Wilber wrote the forward to this book. Wilber, and rightfully so does not want to be catagorized as a Theosophist. He has worked many years to bring legitimacy and validity to transpersonal studies through hardcore analysis and synthesis of the sciences, the humanities, and philosophies. Some think he is overly sensitive to being labeled a new ager or even a theosophist, but given the trashing he has received concerning many of his books, it is probably founded. Anyway, please read this book, but know that the Theosophical connection in the last chapter is solely Visser's.