Pioneering Book by Personable Authors, May 26, 2011
I was shocked to see the scorching negative comment on this book. I met one of the authors tonight at a Microsoft job fair, she is one of their Human Relations recruiters (probably has a broader portfolio than that), and we talked about the book, the emergence of “lists” at which this book was a pioneer, and the total concept of women as distinct from men and both the obstacles and challenges that women face, and the enormous value that women bring, best reflected for me in another book I have reviewed, Mapping the Moral Domain: A Contribution of Women's Thinking to Psychological Theory and Education.
Phenomenal Starting Point for Anyone Opening Up, May 24, 2011
Disclosure: I bought this book because I am negotiating a contract with the publisher for a book in their new Manifesto series (tentative title: Manifesto for Truth–Public Intelligence in the Public Interest). I wanted to get a “sense” of where the publisher was grounded. I am also looking at (these were given to me) four of the books by Patricia Cori the most interesting to me being an early one, No More Secrets, No More Lies: A Handbook to Starseed Awakening (Sirian Revelations).
Ten years ago I would have considered this book–and those of Patricia Cori–to be off the wall, psycho-babble. Not now! Now, after a decade of being exposed to deeply grounded common sense among individuals such as Tom Atlee, Harrison Owen, Paul Hawkins, Barbara Marx-Hubbard, Peggy Holman and so many others, I find this book to be *startlingly* effective, easy to read, and full of *so many* gifted phrases. The authors, each published on their own, are strong together. Along with the other books that I list below within my ten book limit, I absolutely recommend this book as a window into the period of Awakening that begins now–2012 is not about apocalypse, it is about the death of atrocities against humanity by governments and corporations and banks, and the emergence of the human spirit and the human mind into a Whole Earth manifestation that “connects” with the larger Cosmos. I am not fully mature yet, but this book is a helpful point of reference.
“Idiot America” is great, informative book about concepts we see everyday. Also, many of the 1-star reviews are likely biased because of some of the political and religious topics noted. I think this book is definitely a full, 5-star book.
The Following comments aren't meant to be particularly negative towards the United States and the concepts in this book aren't exclusive to the USA. The concepts in “idiot America” exist all over the entire world. “Idiot America” is a superbly covered account of something that's very prevalent in the US.
Charles Pierce provides the history of “cranks” (con artists and showmen) from the founding of the nation to current examples today in contemporary America. I focused on TV and Radio because of it's widespread impact on the populace today (even in the age of the growing Internet, which is becoming dominant). Much of TV and Talk Radio promote misinformation based on emotion, histrionics, shock, being loud, and over-the-top attempts to get ratings.
The author notes “The 3 Great Premises: and applies them to many instances in this book:
1. Any theory is valid if it moves units (rating, and making money).
2. Anything can be true if it is said loudly enough.
3. Fact is what enough people believe (the Truth is what you believe).
There are many examples in this book. Here are just a few:
Phi Beta Iota: We reproduce the excerpt in order to add links to all of the books and individuals mentioned. Tip of the Hat to Reality Sandwich for this offering, and to Evolver Editions (North Atlantic/Random House) for their new Manifesto series in support of human consciousness and planetary synthesis.
Noosphere: The Next Stage in the Evolution of Human Consciousness, A Testimony
To mark the recent passing of José Argüelles, we offer an excerpt from his upcoming book Manifesto for the Noosphere: The Next Stage in the Evolution of Human Consciousness, available from Evolver Editions/North Atlantic Books in October 2011.
EXCERPT:
We must enlarge our approach to encompass the formation taking place before our eyes … of a particular biological entity such as has never existed on earth-the growth, outside and above the biosphere, of an added planetary layer, an envelope of thinking substance, to which, for the sake of convenience and symmetry, I have given the name of the Noosphere. –Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Future of Man
Amazon Page
Manifesto for the Noosphere is the result of forty years of study, contemplation, investigation, and synthesis. While the noosphere may be beyond the grasp of conventional science, it is a deep and pervasive intuition that has gripped the minds of scientists, philosophers, poets, and artists since the concept first emerged in 1926. It is an evolutionary concept posited by studies in both biogeochemistry and paleontology. It is a whole-systems paradigm that melds prophecy and analysis of current world trends. It is a perception that the transformation of the biosphere is inevitably leading to a new geological epoch and evolutionary cycle, and it is due to the impact of human thought on the environment that this new era — the Noosphere — is dawning.
After the success of his initial works (The Spectrum of Consciousness and No Boundary), Ken Wilber gave his “spectrum” model a serious reappraisal and found it woefully lacking. It seemed that he had made a mistake that he goes on to chide others for in his later books- he confused prerational myths with transcendental truths, and confused the spiritual fall with the scientific fall. He makes up for his previous errors with “Up From Eden: A Transpersonal View of Human Evolution”.
“Ken Wilber is one of the most important pioneers in the field of consciousness in this century.”—Deepak Chopra
“The most sensible, comprehensive book on consciousness since William James.”—Dr. James Fadiman, President, Association for Transpersonal Psychology
“No Boundary does for this generation what Alan Watts' writings did for an earlier one. It brings the most difficult subject of all—nature of consciousness—into an easily grasped presentation that is both elegant and simple.”—John White, editor of Kundalini, Evolution, and Enlightenment Continue reading “Review (Guest): No Boundary–Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth”
Six Stars for Ron Paul's Consistent Constitution–50 one liners, May 10, 2011
I have read and reviewed earlier books by Ron Paul, such as The Revolution: A Manifesto and A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship. This book moves into a higher class (only 10% of the books I read and review get 6 Stars, see all my reviews in 98 categories at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog). I decided in this instance, thinking of Ron Paul as a viable Presidential candidate for the first time, to deconstruct the book down to 50 one liners. I offer these as a short form of the book, not a substitute for the real deal, but intended to help inspire more people to either buy the book, or absorb this free summary as we all try to break free of the corrupt two-party tyranny that fronts for a neo-fascist state.
Bottom line: liberty is a human condition diminished by a leviathan state.
Below: one line summary of each of the 50 chapters. See also the review by A. Maheshwari that I liked so much I cross-posted it to Phi Beta Iota for others to appreciate.
Pioneering Book by Personable Authors, May 26, 2011
