Product Description
Here are images of our culture's absurdities, injustices, violence and desires, shot at you in a machine-gun-like assault on your senses and intellect. The result is hilarious, chilling and irrevocably mind-altering --- a left-brain/right-brain challenge ... a consciousness-raising experience filled with laughter, rage --- and truth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

great read
i read this book one night and when i went to bed i must have laughed myself to sleep!!

this book is a recommended cure for apathy

"Popeye appears to have served as Pope or President..."
This is perhaps the first book I have ever read where the introduction was better than the book as a whole.

The first nine pages are pure genius - an alien archaeologist unearths an ancient script from the 20th Century. His introduction is priceless.

The remainder of the book, the script itself, is creative but is really just a compendium of things RAW has said before in other books. Because of the conceit of the script he is working within, he usually says it better where it first appeared. Also, it is a product of its time - 1992 - and the timely nature of his political quips (Quayle) seem dated even now.

Discordians and Subgenii will definitely want to find this book, as both religions are repeatedly mentioned and illustrated.

Sorry, But It Just Didn't Do It For Me
First of all, I've read some of RAW's other work and have enjoyed it immensely.So it was with enthusiasm that I purchased "Reality Is What You Can Get Away With," particularly after seeing the glowing Amazon.com reviews.However, I was disappointed with this book in general.Oh sure, it had humor in a kind of over the top sort of way (although I know that RAW strived for more than humor in the book).But I didn't find that it tremendously "expanded my reality."Maybe that's because I've been in the "human potential," and "freedom" movements for decades.So what RAW writes in "Reality" was not all that shocking, mindblowing or new to me.The book is actually written as a screenplay and perhaps would translate better into the video, rather than the written, medium.

One more thing: based on the reviews of RAW's work I had expected him to be as libertarian as you could find.But there is a passage in "Reality," where he tosses insults at the U.S. because, among other things, it doesn't have a "national health plan."How could anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of economics, society and reality in general really believe that establishing a "national health plan" would, rather than destroying a large part of any economy (as Medicare & Medicaid have already done), bring a slice of utopia into society?

THIS BOOK RULES
I love this book... it is one of my favorite R.A.W. books.... though i will now need to read Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy : "The Universe Next Door", "The Trick Top Hat", & "The Homing Pigeons"but it is all worth it.... his books kick ass!

Oh, STOP please!
I laughed until I started coughing up blood.This is without question the funniest script I've ever read in my life, but if I told you why, I'd have to kill you. ... Read more

Product Description
A once-in-a-lifetime audio meeting with The Illuminatus! Trilogy author Robert Anton Wilson- bringing you face-to-face with this unconventional and brilliant novelist, visionary, and "standup comic for the mystically inclined." Features Wilson on futurist psychology, the paranormal, God, political conspiracies (real and imagined), life extension and space migration, the origins of language, guerrilla ontology, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great except for the deceptive advertising.
The packaging claims to include the lectures Religion for the Hell of It, The Acceleration of Knowledge, and the New Inquisition, as part of a "collector's edition".The CDs DO NOT contain these lectures.Five CDs are in the package, as the package claims, but the lectures are not there.

The interviews with RAW are excellent.

Well worth the price, even sans lecture material
As others have said, this set, despite claiming to on the packaging, does not contain any lecture material.It is 5 discs, all between 70 and 77 minutes long, containing an excellent interview with Mr. Wilson.It ranges from his early years in New York, to Joyce, and on into conspiracy theories with tons of other of Bob's thoughts laced in between.

If you're looking to get this set because of the lecture material, it's not here.Apparently it is intact in the cassette edition, if you can get your hands on that (according to another reviewer here).If, however, you're looking for a long, interesting, and amusing interview with Bob go ahead and pick this up.

I hesitate to give this 5 stars only because it does not fulfill what its packaging says it includes.What is included, in my opinion, is excellent material.

Important info about this set
I just got this - it's four long interviews on five discs.NO lecture material.THIS IS AN INTERVIEW BOX.

A friend of mine ordered this, same story, just the five discs.

My guess is, they were going to include three bonus discs but couldn't get the rights, and it was too late to reprint the box.

It's a good set.I especially enjoyed the autobiographical stuff in the first session.The material on General Semantics, "model-theism", and the Eight Circuits makes more sense in print ("Prometheus Rising"), and I didn't need an hour on Joyce and Pound, but this is an excellent intro to RAW's thought.

It's all here and it's Great (well I guess it isn't all here)
I own the tape version which does contain all it claims to. I guess I owe the reviewer below an apology, though I still feel it deserves more then one star, four or five still, but I can understand the disappointment of getting less then you thought also, probably would have bumped a star or two off for me too. I still don't understand how or why what was on four tapes,(which is the length without the two lecture tapes),is now on Five Discs.

ANYWAYS DID EVERYBODY SEE R.A.W. HAS 2 DVDs "MAYBE LOGIC" AND "WILHELM REICH IN HELL".

WRONG(reviewer below) this collection is Five CDs Six hours long total and it does includes three classic Robert Anton Wilson lectures: The Acceleration of Knowledge, The New Inquisition, and Religion for the Hell of It.
I've owned this set for years now and have listened to it many times, at least 5 times; there is just so much here to take in. I don't know why but even without those 3 lectures this set would be worth considerably more then one star. I own the set on tapes and I thought well maybe they left the lectures off for whatever reason when they switched it over to CD format. I checked Sounds True, the publisher, website and they state it is 5 CDs Six hours long and that the three lectures are here and if it's 5 CDs six hours they are.
I don't know why but the reviewer below either bought it used or a mishap at the manufacture and didn't get it all or a has chosen to Lie for whatever reason.
This set isn't a book on tape, it's an interview with 3 lectures by Bob and it's great, informative, funny, mind blowing stuff. I've listened to it again this year and I wont be surprised if I listen to it again next year. This set and Terence McKenna's The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge are the only sets I continuously revisit and learn something new from every time I do. Whether you are new to RAW in which case this will make a great introduction, possibly somewhat overwhelming but he explains his ideas, or a long time fan that enjoys being entertained by Bob this collection is Classic.

The Editorial Review is incorrect.
It says:
This Collectors Edition also includes three classic Robert Anton Wilson lectures: The Acceleration of Knowledge, The New Inquisition, and Religion for the Hell of It.

That's completely untrue. The package only contains an interview with Mr. Wilson. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Psychology and Occultism Abreast
Robert Anton Wilson's "Book of the Breast" was his fourth book. Now printed by New Falcon Publishing under the indiscriminating title of "Ishtar Rising." The edition that I am reviewing is of the Playboy Press edition which is quite different, which is why I am making the distinction. Although the text is the same, throughout the book there are pictures of Playboy Pin-Ups which add to the whole delight of the book and serves its purpose in getting across the idea of the book. The New Falcon edition is all type and a few non-Playboy pics inserted. The book on the other hand was great. Wilson makes many fine arguments about the Breast and how we should be adoring the Breast, not abandoning it, or locking it out of society as if it were the Devil incarnate which rose upon women's Breasts for men to gawk and lose their scientific rationale. Throughout history, at least from the Judaica-Hebrew inception on throughout time up until about the 20's was sex, women and any other type of so-called deviant thought was considered heretical. R. A. Wilson gives an amalgum of references and quotations and puts it together in a cohesive logical and thought-provoking manner, which I believe is his specialty. His comprehension and retension level of information fascinates me and this is one more testimony to that trait of his that he utilizes so well in his writing. Highly reccomended! I would suggest, however, that you search for this version before settling for the New Falcon edition. Although I fully support the library of New Falcon (as they one of my favorite publishers). The Playboy edition is a little difficult to find and you may pay a few dollars extra, but for the experience of it, I believe it is worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
Is history a vast conspiracy? A cosmic joke? Discover the truth - maybe - in the long-awaited new edition of Robert Anton Wilson's classic cult bestseller The Illuminati Papers. Created as a vehicle to amuse and enlighten, the story of the Illuminati has attracted devoted readers world-wide, who have found in it a perfect metaphor for our times. This edition has a new introduction, cover and layout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

I'd like to see RAW reality-tunnel hs way back from death.
Robert Anton Wilson predicted repeatedly since the 1970's, including in this book, that we would have seen the conquest of aging and death by now. The reality check he experienced in January 2007 suggests that people should deeply discount his value as a visionary "futurist" from now on.

Interesting treatise!
Intelligent, nebulous, and amusing but full of contradictions.
Apparently, Wilson is a man of influence backed up by the crown of England. He is a futurist, a psychologist, and a previous playboy magazine editor that have found the answers for everything!! That must be really nice....
One more thing, Wilson should alter his picture at the end of the book that shows him lighting up a cigarette. The photo does not make him look like the intellectual he is, but instead it might be misinterpreted by the paranoid as a plug for the corporate tobacco companies and a promotion for addiction!!!

The Inaccurati Papers
A compilation of articles and interviews dating back to the late 70s. There's an updated intro by Mr Wilson for this new edition, in which he states that "Generation X" is generally stupid, and that the population has been dumbed down. Hmm, I reckon scientists could have been more stupid in the 70s, as Wilson quotes several who make daft predictions about abolishing work and poverty by the year 2000 and Wilson makes several wildly inaccurate predictions about such matters as the end of work and space migration in language such as: "cybernation plus space colonization plus Leary's I(2) will create an abundance that will make poverty as obsolete in 2001 as smallpox is now." Overall, I would say it is hit and miss, but that there is some interesting stuff in here.

To the reviewer from Dayton
You've obviously never used a Ouija Board.By the way, R.A.W. has done it again - telling it like it is (from his point of view, anyway).To those who aren't sure whether or not to take him seriously, just remember - Hermes was a trickster, but he was the only way out of the underworld.Welcome to Wonderland.

Good
Yeah, yeah, I liked the book. What I don't get is the one review that said RAW was paranoid but then warned you not to play with a Ouija board because "you never know what you might dig up" (paraphrased). Since when did a stupid toy acquire strange, demonic powers? Now THAT sounds paranoid to me. ... Read more

Product Description
No, the spelling of the title is not a mistake. Dance a mad dervish whirl of coincidence and synchronicity with Robert Anton Wilson and his dancing partners James Joyce, the Marquis de Sade, William S. Borroughs, Carl Jung, Timothy Leary, Bobbie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and a host of others.

Coincidance is one of Wilson's personal favorites. If you liked Prometheus Rising or Quantum Psychology, you will love Coincidance! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

What a wonderful book
This book contains many wonders.It presents the deepest fruits of Wilson's half century of Joyce studies, as well as a history of alternative religion in America, studies of Allen Ginsburg and Marilyn Monroe, etc.I loved it.

one of wilson's worst
This is as bad as R. A. Wilson's nonfiction gets (though his fiction can get even worse). Most of these "essays" are self-indulgent and border on the literally meaningless, like the obscure and unmusical poetry he writes. Wilson, who claims he is beyond all models of reality, is in fact a True Believer in synchronicity (the theme of the book), Aleister Crowley and plenty of other occult hogwash. And as is always the case, he has not a single original idea of his own--all he does is re-state the works of others in his own superior prose. Go read Cosmic Trigger or Quantum Psychology and leave this one alone.

Great essays by the master of schizo-prose
Many of Wilson's books have been accused of being mere fodder for hispersonal philosophy, incorporating the same jokes and the same sermons intoa barely recognizable plot. That is not true, but much of what attractspeople to his books is the way that he makes people see things in differentperspectives.

This book has essays on physics, Sade, and Joyce. BothUlysses and Finnegan's Wake are explained in ways that actually make aperson want to read the books, while the Marquis de Sade is given his dueas the master of disturbing literature.

What makes this book worthwhilefor me is the essay on Tennessee Williams comparing him to Sade. I don'tremember the play that he is discussing, nor does American Theatre for thatmatter, but what stands out is a praise for Williams as a true artist -"An artist must put out questions and let the audience figure it outfor themselves. An artist is not there to provide the answers. ArthurMiller is not an artist because he spoonfeeds the answers to you. In everyplay Miller is running for elected office."

I am paraphrasing but inthat one argument, I managed to crystalize and express all my doubts aboutpolitical art - including agitprop, "identity art" and sermonsdisguised as plays.I knew that I hated these types of artisticexpressions, but I always felt like I should like them especially when theyagreed with my political philosophy. For that alone, this book is worthbuying. You have a 90% chance of finding something in this work that statesa constantly debated point so clearly that you wonder why it wasn't saidthis way to begin with.

Just a thought-
Learning Shakespear in High School is all part of the government military/industrial mind control program. It is designed to train the analytical/suspicious mind to deal with intra-relational problems andanalize them instead of attempting to analize societal problems as a whole. This technique is continuated into adulthood by the use of soap operascripts. The mechanism for the brain and thought programming is extremelysubtle but profused in such rampant abundance which effectively rendersoverwhelming impact upon the unsuspecting. It has gone as far as to dictatelaws for grammar and sentence structure. It seems disconnected from thetheory but you will realize that speach or sentence structure is thought.Therefore by controlling sentence structure, your thought structure is alsobeing controlled. Long run on sentences provoke deep drawn out thought oncreative concepts.

Finnegan's Wake explained... among other things
A caveat: while this book, like most of Wilson's works, rates a 10 (with me), this probably belongs in the advanced course, and might be beyond people who've never read Wilson before.If you don't know his style, his philosophies and his history, you might get lost in the muck.But, if you've at least made it through his "Illuminatus!" and "Prometheus Rising," then give it a shot.(Reading "Finnegan's Wake" also helps, but you won't have to in order to follow his analyses.)

Describable as one of Wilson's more straightforward exegises, "Coincidance" deals directly with concepts of quantum physics, Joycean symbolism and the "reality is what you can get away with" school of thought.

Bonus points, Wilson wrote this book entirely in "E-Prime," a variation of English with one subtle but significant difference.(In fact, I've written this entire review in "E-Prime" as well.The only exception appears in the quote above, a repeat of the title of one of Wilson's fictional works.Perhaps, if you figure out what makes "E-Prime" different, you might be ready to read "Coincidance" right now...) ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout human history, thoughts, values and behaviors have been colored by language and the prevailing view of the Universe. With the advent of Quantum Mechanics, relativity, non-Euclidean geometries, non-Aristotelian logic and General Semantics, the scientific view of the world has changed dramatically. Nonetheless, human thinking is still deeply rooted in the cosmology of the middle ages. Quantum Psychology is a brilliant and informative book, and it will seriously change your way of perceiving yourself and the Universe for the 21st Century. Picks up where Prometheus Rising left off. Some say it's materialistic, others call it scientific, and still others insist it's mystical. It is all of these, and none of them at the same time, a unique combination of them all. If you enjoy RAW's writings, and you would like to learn about and better understand his more profound philosophical and intellectual approach to matters, then you will want to read and add this illuminating book to your personal library. It throws light on so much of his other work, and you will enjoy reading it time and time again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

An excellent manual for consciousness change
Robert Anton Wilson presented a here a relatively simple map of the eight circuits of human consciousness.

Sometimes, he wanted the reader to dig a little, but he wanted to make doing so as easy as possible.

Before Wilson and Leary, my main fascinations were Jung and Freud: an interesting thing about the 8 circuit model, it provides a framework wherein you can plug older models of psychology into it.

I suspect there's a lot more you can do with it. The jumping jesus phenomenon: the more knowledge doubles, the more knowledge can be exploited.

I suspect I have achieved 8 circuit activation by basing a system of initiation on the teachings of this book, that I have published freely on the website revealed if you click on my name to find my profile.

Another pro about this book: it plays with the Readers assumptionS about what is really happening

Not so smart you can't afford to be smarter?
This book maybe the best example of how to think to get rid of foolish assumptions and certainties. I guess that would bother some that are not willing to accept their own ignorance and do something about it. This book appears to be the best I've read by the author so far, having also read Promethus and Cosmic Trigger, though they all were on similar levels of genius. Sure, there are no exact formulas or prescriptions that will work for everyone, but if nothing in this book works for you then you most certainly have missed the whole point of the exercise of reading in the first place. Not only was Bob a great writer, but he merely reflects his love for reading through not just writing but concrete examples of consciousness stimulation. That maybe worth the price of admission alone, just to enjoy the guy's particular oscillation of thought patterns and waves that he decides to clarify or help the reader tune into serve only to enhance better understanding of not just his point but anybody attempting to make sense. A sorely missed man but he will live on and only grow in appreciation as time evolves and his ideas resurface for many years to come.

Transcendent
This is a great book for anyone who can think for themselves.

This book has levels of intelligence not often seen, Some might see it as one big koan designed to throw your brain off its tracks!
To question the nature of linguistics, perception, time, reality and space, a bit chaotic but even a subgenius can read between the lines!

Interesting - a bit hard to get through
I would say this is ideal for an intellectual type, who enjoys a clever professor.A bit tough for me to get through - being that I'm more just generally interested in the topics discussed and not passionate about any particular point of view.Learned some things, forgot some things, let some things just pass by.Didn't love it, didn't hate it.Probably wouldn't get another book from the author.

Damaging Your Assumptions
This is arguably one of Robert Anton Wilson's best books, along with Prometheus Rising. Although not a quantum physicist by trade or by training, RAW, with unfailingly skill and humour, applies the insights of quantum theory to the psychology of everyday life. If this book alone out of RAW's huge catalogue of works were to be read (and understood), that would be enough to guarantee severe and lasting damage to your previously immutable assumptions...Radical Uncertainty ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine trying to make sense of an amalgam of Timothy Leary's eight neurological circuits, G. I. Gurdjieff's self-observation exercises, Alfred Korzybski's general semantics, Aleister Crowley's magical theorems, and the several disciplines of Yoga, not to mention Christian Science, relativity, quantum mechanics, and many other approaches to understanding the world around us. That is exactly what Robert Anton Wilson does in Prometheus Rising. This is a favorite among RAW fans, an intelligent and fun guide for those who think for themselves. In short, this is a brilliant book about how the human mind works and what you can do to make the most of yours! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (79)

Loving every minute of growth and catharsis...
This is one of the best books I have ever read.This is an excellent study of different aspects of yourself and those around you... but more importantly, it offers numerous incredible opportunities to awaken from the typical trances humanity falls into.

This book is by far the best, most accessible explanation of the eight circuit model of the brain (or mind-body) that I have ever seen... and the exercises at the end of the chapters allow you to experience what the author is talking about... often very rapidly.

To be more specific, the meditation exercises have changed my experience of reality.Realizing that being alive at this moment is due to a near infinite number of causes that could be traced in any number of ways has given me a little breathing room from 'strict causality'.What appears to be cause is typically one aspect of influence in an entire field of potential... which might be considered the 'ultimate cause'.

I also enjoyed the exercise on broadening/transforming perspective on politics.Participating in the other side of politics over a period of years (and then re-examining both sides) has changed my formerly simple understanding ("we're right, they're wrong")... and has given me a certain amount of kind skepticism toward politics.I do believe they are doing their best.But a large percentage of political thought is negative rhetoric about the rhetoric of the other side.People are not served by hearing a constant rehashing of why the other guy is wrong and his ideas are killing the "American way of life"

If you only practice one of the exercises, I would suggest breathwork/pranayama.Just a few minutes of proper breathwork every day will gradually lead to an elimination of the veil between you and the deeper, hidden parts of your self.

The only mild criticism I would put against it is that Wilson doesn't clearly make the distinction (or if he did, I didn't get it) that 'You' are not the circuits... but what 'You' perceive to be you will often act mechanically based off the circuits.Having said that, the book does show you clearly (if you are willing to look), all the typical ways in which human beings act like machines.Without knowing and accepting this, it is very unlikely that you will ever transcend the machine.

All the information in Prometheus Rising is applicable, and very useful, if you know what you are looking for.Each chapter is ended with exercises to help you internalize the information in the chapter, as well as become your own programmer.These exercises act as meditations (or contemplations) you can take with you into your daily life as you observe yourself and other humans.

All the circuits are explained, and extensive examples of their possible interactions are given as well.Robert Anton Wilson draws on his considerable understanding in a wide array of arts and sciences to make all the information in the book attainable to virtually everyone who is willing to read with an open mind.

Best of all, this book is so fun to read, you will love every minute of growth and catharsis!

Just read the first two chapters... if you're not hooked by this point, this book is not for you.

keep smiling,

Benjamin

If you would like to learn meditation quickly and powerfully, check out
Master Meditation, Master Your Life

Prometheus Rising: Incredible Read
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend; could not have been more satisfied.

Combines Freud & Jung, Timothy Leary, several other moral and philosophical leaders of the past to create an outstanding 'handbook for the human brain'.

Easy to read, lots of helpful images.Basically presents us with several new 'maps' by which we can undersand human psychology, the unconscious, and to steer our own lives in more constructive, uplifting and truth-seeking directions.

5 Stars!Best book I've read in YEARS.

Think of this like Fight Club
Personally I walked away from this book with less programming than I had before. I do not practice yoga, do drugs, or believe in some weird new age philosophy. I also do not believe RAW intended the readers to do that. The section discussing Crowley's instruction to never believe a thing he teaches I found very important. RAW put fourth his own beliefs (that he did not believe completely as he was a total agnostic)and a possible guideline. Other than that this book was mainly a manual for self deconstruction with some helpful hints on reconstruction.

It's your choice, spacemonkey or Tyler Durden? Rushkoff also put it well, "program or be programmed."

You will rise.
An excellent book for anyone interested in psychology, philosophy, humanity, metaphysics, counterculture, drugs, the occult, etc.Wilson takes his vast knowledge of the great work of those who came before him (including Crowley, Nietzsche, Gurdjieff, and Joyce) and applies it to Leary's 8 Circuit Model in a way that is easy to understand, easy to apply to your own life through very clear exercises, and most of all, humorously entertaining.The aim of this book is to aid the reader in understanding themselves so that they too can "rise" as many before them have.Non-fiction work is seldom referred to as "a gripping page turner" but this excellent book is definitely an exception.If you too are sick of the simplicity and mundanity of the average "self-help" books out there, look no further.After reading this book you will (given that you really take the time to understand the exercises) be a smarter, stronger, and wiser human being.

A life-changing experience
This is somewhat written in response to the few negative reviews on this page. This is by no means a perfect book. It is by no means an original book. But perfection and originality are not Wilson's goal in this case.

Robert Anton Wilson was a revolutionary thinker, not because the ideas he espouses are his own work, but because he has a talent for making these ideas accessible to everyone. He was a PR guy for underrated ideas, and should be approached as such. Without his work, accumulating the same knowledge and wisdom would require years of studying Leary, Gurdjeff, Korzybski and the cryptic Aleister Crowley.

For those who already know a lot about the above, this book may still offer new perspective, and is worthwhile for the exercises alone.

Wilson has his own biases and it certainly is ironic that much of the book exposes the author enacting his own principle: "What the Thinker thinks, the Prover proves". However, the author recognises that he may be wrong, and is not trying to force ideas on the reader. Some negative reviews have overlooked this.

Other reviews have written the book off as pseudo-scientific, and it may be so in certain areas, but they have overlooked the utilitarian practicality of the models discussed - probably because they did not do the exercises. Prometheus Rising does not describe a complete systematic model of human consciousness, but it is a set of practical tools and models that each of us can modify according to our own unique structure and implement as a method of reprogramming our own nervous systems.

The author's emphasis is on his readers affirming or denying the ideas for themselves through the exercises contained in each chapter. The exercises are the best part of the book, and each exercise includes its opposite (I would give an example but my copy is on loan). This provides the reader with the experience of perceptions shifting to fit beliefs, which is the core idea of this book.

With regards to the more extreme ideas, such as that tall people are more logical, I would suggest that the reader consider the possibility that this is Wilson's "guerilla ontology" at work, deliberate disinformation that will only be accepted by a dogmatic reader. After all, Wilson was quite short himself.

Like with Aleister Crowley, you have to stay on your toes if you don't want to fall into the traps. Of course, we can never know for sure what he found believable, but by the end of the book you will hopefully see that it's irrelevant what Wilson believes. This book is about you. Beware of becoming a Wilsonite.

Some of the exercises are humourous, some profound, some ridiculous, but I will say this: this book is of no use unless you actually do the exercises. Only then can one be in a position to reject or accept any idea or model as (probably) true, (probably) false, useful, or useless. And regardless of whether your conclusion agrees with the author's, the journey is an experience of personal growth.

This book has changed my life, and I hope that it will do the same for you. ... Read more

Product Description
This book can be considered a "scholarly" appraisal of both the historical and modern use (and misuse) of drugs in conjunction with sex and "occult" practices. But don't let the word "scholarly" put you off. Done in Wilson's inimitable style, this is a book filled with humor, cynicism, wonder and essential information for those who would pursue what can be an immensely rewarding path, potholed with an array of social and physical dangers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Robert A. Wilson for President
The title: Sex, Drugs & Magick, sure is eye-catching. Not only that, but the book is written by none other than Robert Anton Wilson, known for writing interesting things about controversial topics. And on top of that, the publisher is New Falcon Publications, known for its desire to publish books that really has something to say.

The original title of the book (and its first edition name) was Sex, Drugs, and the Occult, and these are the topics dealt with. Now "occult", however, has been changed into "magick", since Wilson is of the opinion that the word "occult" never really fit the rest of the book.

But, the title is still somewhat misleading, if you ask me. Wilson himself says he focuses on the combination sex and drugs; different drugs, taken during different circumstances, and how these can affect - for better or worse - any sexual stimulation.

And sure, in the beginning this is indeed what the book is all about. But, when looked at from a larger perspective one get the feeling that it's really a story about different drugs and how they affect the way the user relates to world around him or her. Most of the time the sex is there, in one way or another, but the book is not only about sex and drugs.

But I don't think that matters very much. Wilson has, as always, created something great, and I sure had a good time reading it. And it's arranged in quite an interesting way: every other chapter is called an interlude, where Wilson offers very interesting portraits of people he's met during his long and fascinating life, the different drugs these people used, and how the drugs came to affect their lives. In between these interludes you'll find purely non-fictional essays, and the combination of the non-fiction with something subjective descriptive works perfectly.

It's important to point out, however, that it's not a book arguing for the legalization of all drugs known to man. It's written for responsible adults, and Wilson, while never hesitating in admitting how he's tested most drugs out there, is still keen to make sure to the reader that drugs are drugs; dangerous substances that easily can be abused, overdosed, and result in both physical and psychical suffering and death. He's not saying you should try them, but he's also not saying you shouldn't: the use of a drug does not equal abuse of a drug. He's simply trying to be neutral, and chooses to focus on descriptions, instead debating whether or not they should made legal.

All in all the book is just as good as I thought it would be. Just as the title says, if you read it you'll learn a lot about sex, drugs, and magick, and I have no choice but to recommend it to you.

And, it can be quite interesting having it around when your fiends are coming over. The title will definitely get a lot of attention.

Robert A. Wilson for President
The title: Sex, Drugs & Magick, sure is eye-catching. Not only that, but the book is written by none other than Robert Anton Wilson, known for writing interesting things about controversial topics. And on top of that, the publisher is New Falcon Publications, known for its desire to publish books that really has something to say.

The original title of the book (and its first edition name) was Sex, Drugs, and the Occult, and these are the topics dealt with. Now "occult", however, has been changed into "magick", since Wilson is of the opinion that the word "occult" never really fit the rest of the book.

But, the title is still somewhat misleading, if you ask me. Wilson himself says he focuses on the combination sex and drugs; different drugs, taken during different circumstances, and how these can affect - for better or worse - any sexual stimulation.

And sure, in the beginning this is indeed what the book is all about. But, when looked at from a larger perspective one get the feeling that it's really a story about different drugs and how they affect the way the user relates to world around him or her. Most of the time the sex is there, in one way or another, but the book is not only about sex and drugs.

But I don't think that matters very much. Wilson has, as always, created something great, and I sure had a good time reading it. And it's arranged in quite an interesting way: every other chapter is called an interlude, where Wilson offers very interesting portraits of people he's met during his long and fascinating life, the different drugs these people used, and how the drugs came to affect their lives. In between these interludes you'll find purely non-fictional essays, and the combination of the non-fiction with something subjective descriptive works perfectly.

It's important to point out, however, that it's not a book arguing for the legalization of all drugs known to man. It's written for responsible adults, and Wilson, while never hesitating in admitting how he's tested most drugs out there, is still keen to make sure to the reader that drugs are drugs; dangerous substances that easily can be abused, overdosed, and result in both physical and psychical suffering and death. He's not saying you should try them, but he's also not saying you shouldn't: the use of a drug does not equal abuse of a drug. He's simply trying to be neutral, and chooses to focus on descriptions, instead debating whether or not they should made legal.

All in all the book is just as good as I thought it would be. Just as the title says, if you read it you'll learn a lot about sex, drugs, and magick, and I have no choice but to recommend it to you.

And, it can be quite interesting having it around when your fiends are coming over. The title will definitely get a lot of attention.

Robert Anton Wilson Wrote the Review!!!
while the book is almost solid gold, there had to be some room for the paper, hence 4 stars.But I have found out through numerous sources within the Very DISCORDIAN MOVEMENT ITSELF! that R.A.W. Wrote the one star "Take Drugs to Achieve Enlightenment!" Review.I hear they're planning to include it in a PBS retrospective, as an aside for his long career, that has ended in his tragic death from Pancreatic cancer.

Sex and Drugs: A Journey Beyond Limits
This book takes a rather interesting point of view that will not sit well with those who do not think... To do the quality and type of work pointed out here is well beyond the capabilities of the average. Instead of believing what the media shamans tell you or the scientistic-priests ( you know, the so-called credible scientists that tell the world with a straight face that they know, a priori, that anything beyond their personal experience cannot possibly be true... ), an intelligent reviewer might find themselves practicing sex, pranyama and the ingestion of THC while keeping strict and accurate journals that may be peer reviewed.

As an aside, WHO THE ... CAN TELL ANOTHER WHAT ENLIGHTENMENT IS? Wilson points at "Higher Consciousness", if you will forgive the play on words there, but does not preach WHAT it will be for anyone. Hmmm... Seems strange that people seeking enlightenment still sound as if they KNOW what it IS. Some reviewers crack me up.

Errors not withstanding a very good book.
It is not suprising to me that this is so good. Robert Anton Wilson's work in general is excellent: informative and entertaining.

To the Individual that posted the "of course" attack. Don't be so dogmatic and close minded. If so many people through out history have found these techniques and substances useful, maybe there is something to it ... Read more

Product Description
The sequel to the cult classic The Illuminatus! Trilogy, this is an epic fantasy that offers a twisted look at our modern-day world--a reality that exists in another dimension of time and space that may be closer than we think. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Prefered to Illuminatus!
I loved Illuminatus!, but Schroedinger's Cat has stolen my heart. The idea of putting a fence around Alabama, calling it "Hell", and moving the aberrant minds, those violent individuals who cannot be saved, into this zone and letting them continue without restriction (besides being stuck in Alabammer) is a fantastic idea.

Just one of a multitude of fantastic ideas to come from this great work.

Read Illuminatus Trilogy First....
...and bear with this book. The style of writing is odd, as there are many "false starts" and "false endings". (I am trying not to be a spoiler here.) Things happen in the first third of the book that may cause the average reader to put it down and walk away. But I hung in there, and I was not disappointed.

Of the three Illuminatus trilogies: Illuminatus! Trilogy, Schrödinger's Cat, and Masks of the Illuminati. This is my favorite read. There is a great deal of conspiracy, quantum physics, alternate worlds and reality hopping going on. This is jarring at first, but as you get the hang of it, it becomes quite fun. I found myself enjoyably 'falling through' the book at an ever increasing speed. I DO feel that reading the first trilogy "Illuminatus!" (and enjoying it) is a pre-requisite for reading this one. If you didn't like the first one; sorry, don't bother reading this one. It shatters preconceptions at a much more alarming rate! You have to be ready to think on your feet or else the book will seem like just so much garbage to you!

It also helps if the reader has some experience with alternate reality science fiction. If you can grasp the whole "bearded Spock" thing from the "Mirror Mirror" episode, you're pretty much on your way. Quantum physics is often referred to, but a working knowledge is hardly necessary. (There is an appendix explaining Quantum physics basic concepts for the new learner. It is a nice primer, but hardly the final word.)

At first the reality changes at each chapter break, the characters change sexual orientation, jobs, personalities, relationships, and roles within the book. As the book progresses the reality changes more frequently and yet the whole thing just keeps rolling along to its ultimate punch line. I was engrossed, and sometimes confused, but once I realized what the author was doing, I just hung on for the ride and... IT WAS GREAT!

Think of this as the advanced class in reality tunnel expansion to the introductory class that is the Illuminatus! Trilogy. It seems much more Sci-Fi oriented than the original, but it's really not. I think Wilson just uses Quantum Physics as an entryway to expand the world view of the more scientifically oriented reader.

one of the best books I've ever read
the yellow submarine
edged toward the lawless land
to unload
the terrorists
to explode
the sands.

Multi dimensional thinking, sexual experimentation, tragic hypotheticals, magical incantations, a precursor to the telepathic cop on Heroes (how many are floating around in reality?), a beastiality in a box . . .

shifting styles, parallel storylines, educational descriptions of quantum physics and consciousness

I suspect it was inevitable, but that the rapid shift in attention by the modern day psychic community to the field of quantum physics was largely triggered by RAWilson.

A book I only read once before it was stolen, well worth the purchase because it is so dense with undiscovered riches you can read it again and again without losing interest. Written in layers, to reveal different secrets to different kinds of readers.

Not Free SF Reader
Parallel universes are certainly not a stretch, when you think about
all the bizarre stuff that Robert Anton Wilson comes up with. Here we
have another Illuminati trilogy style collection, even with some of the
same characters. However, these are alternate universe versions of
these people, hence the title of the trilogy.

If you don't like that original trilogy, you are probably not going to like this.

Operation MF continues...
After reading The Illuminatus! Trilogy, I stared at my copy of Schroedinger's Cat and wondered how the hell Bob could top the 800-page work of lunacy he had created with Robert Shea.Of course, I shouldn't have doubted Bob; anyone who has read his books knows how he can construct the most meaningful anecdotes and stories from seemingly random and uninteresting information.This book is no different.

When I started reading this book, I assumed that the story would have to do with Schroedinger's Cat (obviously), but I didn't understand the novel's structure until I reached page 80 and the book ended, only to start again in a different world (which I know sounds strange; read it if you want to understand).The plot of this novel seems entirely random, and up to a certain point it is, but it has more structure than would seem at first glance.Like Illuminatus!, it would require a great deal of analysis and scholarship to unravel the ever-knotted threads of Schroedinger's Cat, and I know few who have the time to do that.Still, it's quite an enjoyable read, even if you never know fully what the hell is going on.

As is usual for Robert Anton Wilson books, Schroedinger's Cat is side-splittingly funny.Perhaps the funniest part of the book is how characters change from world to world.For instance, in one world, Epicene Wildeblood is a debonair ladies' man.In a different world, Epicene is now a she, Mary Margaret Wildeblood, after a sex change.Even historical figures in the novel change depending on the world.James Joyce, in one world, was a minor composer.In another, Ezra Pound was not a famous poet; he was a famous folksinger.In yet another, Aleister Crowley was not an infamous occultist, but instead a British general who was the first person to reach the North Pole, which he claimed was inhabited by little green people when he got there (if you laugh at that, you will appreciate the book's humor).

It's hard to put together a review of this book, because there's no continuous plot (at least not in the ordinary sense). Characters disappear for (sometimes literally) hundreds of pages, then reappear as if nothing happened.It's very disorienting and why I waited several months after reading the book to actually review it.I thought that "sitting on my thoughts," allowing them to formulate, would help.Instead, I find that I've forgotten half of what went on in the book.Oh, memory, how thou hast robbed me!

Anyway, before I start to ramble, let me say that this is a good bookfor all science-fiction fans to read, since it is actual SCIENCE fiction (i.e. it involves quite complicated issues of quantum mechanics).I would recommend it to anyone with an IQ of 250 or a Ph.D. in rocket science. If you're like me and have neither, it's still a great novel.It just won't make full sense until you understand Bob's philosophy of neurological model agnosticism and quantum mechanics.
... Read more

Product Description
"The biggest sci-fi cult novel to come along since Dune."--The Village Voice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (268)

I Love RAW
Robert Anton Wilson is an amazing man.This book is a self contained manual to deprogram yourself from society.Buy it.

A guy banging an apple?? Seriously?
This book makes absolutely no sense.It starts out almost halfway able to follow, but by later on in the book you have no idea who is doing what or what character is even talking.And by later on in the book I mean chapter 2.I really wanted to like this book, it is chock full of things I can read all day about (secret societies, violence, conspiracies, etc) but seriously, at least write in a way where you can understand what the hell is going on.

Mid paragraph characters change, sometimes mid sentence.Nothing makes any sense whatsoever.Everyone loves this book because of its genious and innovative writing style, well I have news for you, its not.There is a reason no one else ever wrote a book like this, because it sucks.This is the only book I have ever read that made me seriously pissed off because NOTHING MAKES SENSE.But by all means if you want to read a book about a guy banging an apple than by all means....

Incoherent Garbage
Maybe there's a story buried in this mess.Maybe it's even a great story.A lot of people seem to think so, but I found the method of narration so irritating that I quit reading this abomination as soon as I found that the second volume would carry on using it.

It's Not All Rambling
I'm a RAW fan when it comes to this book. Yes, I can admit, some of this book makes no sense. Yes, there are black masses, lots of sex, and mystic mumbo-jumbo. It takes a lot to read this book if you want anything from this book.

That being said, I love this book. Almost every time I read this book, I find something new to think about, to enjoy. It can take a lot of effort to figure out, and I'm convinced that that some of it means nothing, but there's an enjoyment in finishing the book.

It's easy to get lost in the text. The narrative jumps from one person's mind to another, sometimes within the same sentence. Plot points jump as well. Oh, and time travel happens to certain characters. It's a trippy ride and drugs definitely played a part in the writing.

I can't really tell you too much. You can't sum this book up at all. If you can find a friend to lend it to you, read a little bit and see if you like it. It will be a waste of both time and money if you can't find yourself into the text. If you can't, read the preview. Both will help you decide.

Lassie Come Home
This book has a unique ability that I have come to love and appreciate. From reading the works of RAW, and The Illuminatus! Trilogy and Schroedinger's Cat, I was exposed to numerous philosophies, movements, and figures that I otherwise had no familiarity with. At that time in my life (early 20's) when I felt the most isolated from my fellow man, I found refuge in the works of people such as Wilson. It was helpful to know "there are others," and Wilson (being one of these others himself) guides you to many many more.

It is a sad world we live in without that wonderful man. ... Read more

Product Description
What is TSOG? It's the "Tsarist Occupational Government", those wonderful folks in Washington B.C. (oops, sorry, that's D.C.) who, OF COURSE, always have your best interest at heart. Of course.

TSOG is Bob's most powerful political statement to date. What is happening RIGHT NOW to human freedom? What in the world is the U.S. doing with a drug TSAR(!) who routinely and gleefully destroys millions of lives and bullies the governments of the rest of the world into prosecuting an insane war on [some] drugs? How did a Nazi spy come to have an enormous influence on current U.S. foreign policy? Will the 'war on terrorism' put the last nail in the coffin of YOUR rights? Would Hannibal Lecter make a better president than George W. Bush?

Bob's keen wit skewers those who are forcing us all into slavery, and warns us that there is little time left. How long will it be before Bob's books are banned as 'literary terrorism'? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good news, bad news
I'm a huge RA. Wilson fan and recommend all of his books.This is a hard book to read however for anybody who believes they "are" free in the modern United States.RAW seriously asks the questions any intelligent individual should be concerned with about matters of civil liberties, the nature of government, and with his usual wit and compassionate humour.A must for anybody interested in freedom, liberty, and increasing their intelligence.Nobody can accuse RAW of being naive, uninformed, or blindly optimistic.

Loved it!
While there is no overall theme to this work, unlike others of RAW's works, it still is great.Mostly put together from the "Thoughts of the Month" from Wilson's web site and expansions on those, it strikes home at the problems of the government intruding in our lives.

Old Falcon
Robert Anton Wilson is sort of like the Howard Stern of the New Age movement. I'll give him this, he's entertaining. This book however, gets a resounding 'piece of crap' rating. It's a great book of fun little facts, but completely lacks any unifying theme (despite what you'd think), and Wilson degenerates all too often into one of his pat rants. This guy's getting old, and he apparently needs money, because he's cranking out high-volume and low quality lately, and re-issuing danged near everything. It's incredibly interesting (as a synthesis of facts already known to me and avid RAW Readers) in the first few chapters, but then meanders like the mind of a septagenarian, life-long potsmoker (oh wait, that's what Wilson *is*!!), on his deathbed. It gets into 15 year old news (the Manhattan Beach Satanic child abuse case(s)....ummmm...Why!?), 'Seeing-is-not-knowing' General Semantics that Wilson is wellknown for and 'map is not the territory' etc...all of which have *what* to do with a neo/quasi-fascist conspiracy financed by Dutch-English-American banker/extant blueblood families that have subverted the American Constitution? Well, I don't friggin' know either, but my guess is that the answer is 'nothing' and Wilson needed to put out a book. There's this whole reciprocally fellative network that I've noticed with these 'new agers' cross-endorsing their latest project and the New Falcon Press is a particularly egregious case of this phenomenon (in fact, in some occult bookstores, the genre, yes the *genre* is listed as Wilson-Hyatt- hahahahahahahaha).

Covers usual range of fascinating, slightly off-beat topics
TSOG, which stands for Tsarist Occupational Government, is Wilson's term for the take-over Bush Co. has assumed over the United States of America with a Tsarist-style dictatorship, however he does note the basically interchangeable nature of `Bore and Gush'.

Wilson opens with a touching and maddening description of the state of his body thanks to post-polio syndrome and the current TSOG in America, though his mind remains as sharp as ever. He comments on the inhumane intervention of the federal government regarding the only thing that relives his otherwise constant pain: marijuana; the state of California having already declared it legal for medicinal use, and the direct effects on the condition of his health as a result of their illegal ruling.

Wilson covers his usual range of fascinating, slightly off-beat topics, ranging from conspiracy theories, the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, religion, marijuana and the war on some drugs, and furthers his philosophy of `Maybe Logic' (a brilliant DVD of the same name was [finally] released in the summer of 2003).

Interspersed are also clever line drawings by the author, poignant, satirical, and yet another reminder that Wilson is talented in so many respects. The bits of visual art that pepper his work are rarely mentioned, but in my opinion they should to be: he's pretty damn good.

However, TSOG doesn't seem to contain the usual amount of personal stories and accounts usually found in many of the previous RAW books that made them so cleverly inspiring and entertaining. Or perhaps it is that TSOG is mostly comprised of quotations, news articles, statistics and other bits gathered from websites and outside sources rather than purely written (or typed as the case may be) in his own hand.

Yet, as always, Wilson continues to provide the reader with intelligent thought and inspire delineations off toward the beaten path. Though TSOG doesn't compare as favourably with his previous works, his fans will likely enjoy it anyway.

Too little RAW content
I hate to pan a R.A.W. book, but this is, by far, his weakest effort. Some of it reprints material from 'Trajectories', even more of it is material from his website . The original material has been bulked up by silly full-page illustrations that add very little to the book, and even more pages are spent on quotes, many of them from Ezra Pound, so that the book should almost be credited as "Edited by" R.A.W. instead of authored. Wilson doesn't put a lot of effort into maintaining his "Tsarist-Occupied Government" argument beyond the short introductory essay (which, itself, is Wilson at his conspiracy-theory best), so the title of the book is a little misleading; this is more like a sequel to _Coincidence: A Head Trip_, filled with much shorter writings on Wilson's familiar themes; Satanic Panics, religion, uncertainty, drugs, UFOs and archetypes.

The last ten pages are a preview of his next book to be published, _Tale of the Tribe_, advertised as being about the Internet (by which I assume New Falcon means the World Wide Web). Given that so much of _TSOG_ looks like an amateur website captured on paper, one can hope that a book on contributions to cyberspace models by Rennaisance thinkers will work out better.

It seems to me that the state of the U.S. gov't needs to be critiqued in the way that Robert Anton Wilson does. It's unfortunate that, as the need grows, his power to voice that critique seems to be failing. ... Read more

Product Description
The Walls Came Tumbling Down deals with the scary things that happen to those who stumble into a borderless or other-worldly consciousness without any intent to go there and without any preparation or Operating Manual to tell them how to navigate when the walls tumble, the doors of perception fly open and the bottom falls out of their mental filing cabinet, leaving the brain suddenly free of the limits of mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

RAW is my favorite author, but...
I love Robert Anton Wilson, I'v read most of his books except for a few i can't get a hold of.I guess because this book is a screenplay or script or whatever you call it, I kept trying to imagine actors saying the dialog lines and it just didn't seem natural to me.I really liked the story though, it was still an entertaining read, full of RAW's humor.It was worth the buy to me, I have been trying to find the more obscure/less popular books he's written before they go out of print or something. He was a great author (my personal favorite), but not so much a movie writer. Hail Eris!

not another brick in the wall
a psychedelic, philosophical screenplay that proves unique and thought-provoking.

I don't so much mind that it wasn't made into a film as the direct dialogue between Wilson and your own brain frequently evokes the most satisfying images.

A script from the vault
Robert Anton Wilson wrote this film script in the late '90's while settling into a new environment (Los Angeles) and recovering from a collapsed film deal. Wilson waited nearly a decade before publishing it. This is not one of Wilson's better works. Wilson's books of philosophy and social criticism shine with brilliance, wit and a clarifying debunking. Praise of these points festoons the covers here, but it is not The Walls Came Tumbling Down that earner that lauding. In the story Michael, an academic scientist, is so barraged with hallucinations and the paranormal that his entire reality is upset for reality only to emerge as a world run by a controlling shadow government with an extraterrestrial treaty. The quick scene changes and short dialogues threaten to unseat even the reader. The Golgotha imagery, folk hallucinogens and parallel universe theorization is a grab bag of alternate reality models that may have been advanced in the late '80's. However, it now reads as predictable, unexciting and not revealing at all. Certainly a necessary addition to the library of the Wilson completists, but a better entry point into his wisdom can be found in Reality is What you can get Away With or Prometheus Rising.

A RAW SCRIPT
Robert Anton Wilson's screenplay which he attempted to have produced in a film is about the adventures of a scientist who Flashes back on LSD and experiences future memory blocks. Eventually time and space skip from oneplace to another to an ending I will not reveal here. Entertaining and awell written script, however, I can understand why Hollywood passed theidea. Scattered somewhat, however visually appealling it may be (even tothe unconscious). More likely a better read, nonetheless, Wilson is Wilson,so if you enjoy reading Wilson, then this Wilson will be good enough foryou.

What a wonderful book
Wilson has done it again.This screenplay tells a story of transformation, a parable of overcoming prejudice and illuminating reality.Check it out. ... Read more

Product Description
While this, the second volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy, continues along the path set by the original Cosmic Trigger I: Final Secret of the Illuminati, it also stands solidly on its own. Any reader with an open mind and a sense of humor cannot help but be entertained and enlightened while following Wilson's explorations into such subjects as the future of cyberspace; the peculiarities of Irish jurisprudence; links among the Mafia, the CIA and the Catholic Church; anal-eroticism in The White House; the Dog Castrator of Palm Springs; and many more observations from his infinitely fertile brain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

My Favorite Philosopher
Wilson has probably been the biggest influence on my thinking, and while Cosmic Trigger is probably his master work, this book did not disappoint. Wilson uses writing to make the reader more conscious of his own assumptions and neurological bias.He is interesting, compassionate, and curious.Highly recommended and a wonderful addition to the Cosmic Trigger canon.

Oh what a fine ride!
This book is awe inspiring to me- I think we have lost a great mind in RAW's passing - I hope we can all keep ours opened a bit more in reading his observations and insights and truths! Read them all!

Hail The Master Of Knowledge - Wilson Has Done It Again
Wilson has done it again. from james joyce to leary. just when icke was starting to wake up to some of these things...

Hail eris. all hail discordia... and knowledge...

A decent follow-up, but nothing outstanding
R.A. Wilson's "Cosmic Trigger: The Final Secret of the Illuminati" was a fascinating look at the events leading up to the writing of the classic Illuminatus! Trilogy.An intriguing look at relativism in literature and reality, the first Cosmic Trigger delightfully wove acid, Uncle Al, and conspiracy theories into a head-trip of "cosmic" proportions.Wilson's follow-up, unfortunately, fails to break any new ground.

Cosmic Trigger II is an interesting little book, and fun to read in these times of Bush II (Son of Huge Berserk Rebel Warthog? Or Insane Anglo Warlord reborn?).Wilson delves into his childhood, his education, his time in Ireland, his visit to communist East Germany, and yet another fold in his conspiracies- the Knights of Malta and their connections to fascists, the Mob, and the Republican Party.

All in all, CT II is a fun read, but nothing exceptional.If you spy a cheap copy in a used book bin, pick it up for a morning read, but otherwise don't bother.

George Burns was right!
It's funny how Robert Anton Wilson's chosen subject matter has effectively invalidated criticism of his books.One of his central themes is the mistrust of authority and "experts".Also, much of the chapters in any of his book are dedicated to intentionally misleading the reader in order to force said reader into performing the heinous task of thinking for themselves.

Since this is the case, how can we trust any of the reviews of his work?All of these are written by people who have read at least one of his books, and probably more.Are these people railing against his work actually serious in their hatred?Do the people praising it actually believe in what they're saying?

I'm going to go on record and say that this is probably the most lucid and thought out of his non-fiction books.

But to illustrate the point, why did I only rate it two stars?Why not one?Why not five?What does George Burns have to do with anything?

Only recommended if you can stomach the thought of reality laughing behind your back. ... Read more

Product Description
This, the long-awaited third volume of the Cosmic Trigger series, includes Wilson's witty and humorous observations about the widely spread (and, happily, premature) announcement of his demise. And, of course, what Wilson masterpiece would be complete without synchronicities, religious fanatics, UFOs, crop circles, paranoia, pompous scientists, secret societies, high tech, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes (real and fake), Orson Welles, James Joyce, Carl Sagan, Madonna, and The Vagina of Nuit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

MUST READ all 3!
This should be mandatory reading for everyone! ha ha! Okay everyone with a brain! RAW is awesome and this series is just magical! If there is life on other planets I really hope they grab a copy of this early on in studying humans - especially American Humans. THIS is how history books should be written!

A nice ending to the trilogy of wickedly entertaining brain food
If you enjoyed the first two Cosmic Trigger books, pick this one up. Iwould recommend reading the first two books initially but you don't have to in order to get a lot out of this one.RAW makes me laugh and think and laugh again.I like to keep a notepad nearby to jot down people, subjects etc. he mentions, for more research later on. His writings have opened up many doors for many people.

I found this third book to be easier to follow and more focused on it's thesis than the previous volumes.For me, reading all three in sequence seemed to work very well. Enjoy!

Wilsonian Romp
There really is not much for me to say on this one. It's just a fun ride. The kind you come to expect with Wilson. It is book you can read without having read the Cosmic Trigger books, but it helps.

What a conclusion
How many books can begin with their author dieing?Well, it seems that nothing is impossible to Robert Anton Wilson.Finding out about his death on the internet, Wilson takes us along another journey of self discovery and an examination of belief systems.

The story takes us to Ireland and unveils a host of new story lines to help you question the way you look at the world and help you to expand your mind.While this book comes close to the second book in the series, it falls just short of being equally as excellent.Wilson again attacks his topic through the intertwining of several story lines and does not disappoint.For anyone new to Wilson, you may wish to start with the second book in the series.If you have read the first two books, this one is definitely an excellent ending to the series.

OK, HERE'S THE DEAL....
I feel that Wilson might be a genius. He seems to me to be smart enough to realize that his opinion isn't necessarily the best one. He's careful to state that his opinions are just that, OPINIONS.This colors everything he does. {People looking for answers should run screaming the other way.)

This is a set of essays, strung together in a manner that will make you think.His style as an essayist is engaging.In fact, I enjoy his essays more than his novels.Even when I disagree with Wilson (which might very well happen if you read with an open mind), I still find something to think about and consider.

I think that his books are designed to be mind-openers, not mind closers...I actually met a RAW-Dogmatic guy once, and after I finished laughing, tried to show him that (in my opinion) he missed the message.

This seems to me to be a fantastic book.I hope you enjoy it, too. ... Read more

Product Description
They are the most secret of organizations and the most powerful --- the Illuminati. They continue to shift the patterns of history to fulfill plans of their own, to open pathways to power which ordinary mortals are never meant to tread.

It is 1776, and Sigismundo Celine, a young Neapolitan aristocrat and musician --- exiled from his homeland after an unfortunate duel --- has fled Europe for the American colonies. Here he will seek to master the next levels of metaphysical magic, and search for the Indian territories. In the meantime, the Irish fisherman, Moon, is caught up in revolution, his fate linked with George Washington and Lafayette. While Sigismundo prepares to contest the most powerful of the Indian medicine men, Moon, Washington, and the troops are waging an equally desperate battle for survival. THESE ARE THE EVENTS WHICH WILL SOON RESHAPE THE WORLD... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Slow death from a fast start
Having raced through the first book in this trilogy "The Earth Will Shake" (Damn good read that promised much.) I then plodded my way through volume two "The Widow's Son" with its footnotes inside of footnotes full of references that I could not find reality that exist, I think, as a set up joke within the body of the story that is both fleeting and feeble given the interminable set up. I opened this book, the third installment "Natures God" with hope. First I noted, with a sigh of relief, that there were very few footnotes and then I notice that it was short. Too short to finish this complex tale with all that it deserved given how much time I had given over to its reading. Indeed, it did not end well: Story lines left trailing fates and all that I had taken an interest in were just..... Stopped. No more, the end. If RAW had intended to write a fourth volume I do not know, and now Pope Bob is gone.

Dear Bob, please finish and release the fourth book before you croak, it's your best artwork...
Mr. Wilson, (not to be confused with that cantankerous abomination that lived next door to Dennis the menace), would do us a big flâva fave if he would 'git his ol' booty fininishin' and submittin' the fourth book he mentions as forthcoming at the end of this excellent book "Nature's God"! At the end of this book RAW says to look forward to the fourth book in the Historical Illuminatus Chronicles series and even gives us a title, Volume IV - "The World Turned Upside Down". So what happened? FYI in case the reader doesn't know, this is RAW's best artwork to date and yeah I've read pretty much everything so why he would let a big fan like me down by not finishing the series makes one want to say "Git' your flabby old tired geezer of an ace up and finish the series!" Not the most articulated formed sentence attempting to garner favor from Mr. Wilson and solicit his involvement in FINISHING THE FOURTH BOOK. Seriously, great book and Thank you dear brother Robert, may peace and joy reign throughout the remainder of this incarnation. Your fan, joey

Excellent
The third in the Historical Illuminatus Trilogy.As good as the other two, and they were great.The only problem I see is that thus far, this is the last one.There should be more.I hope the Robert Anton Wilson reads this, and writes some more in this series.Robert Anton Wilson left this plane on January 11, 2007.He will be sorely missed.

Immensely quotable
In Nature's God, the third book of Wilson's Historical Illuminatus Chronicles, it is 1776, and our dear Sigismundo Celine has done a runner and made for America.Here he meets up with Seamus Muadhen, now James Moon, who also left the old world after not killing his sworn enemy.They chat, briefly but insightfully, over alcohol before parting ways, Sigismundo further drowning himself: `Those of happy histories can ask what lies behind the surface of things.Those of us who know what lies behind the surface always choose to enjoy every illusion as long as possible.The color of a perfect English rose in my brain, not in the flower, but I would prefer to enjoy the color than to think dull thoughts like that.Leave philosophy to the innocent.We veterans of infernos and abysses prefer the roses, the sunsets, and the beautiful meaningless music' (pg 36).Shortly after, James joins revolutionary army of George Washington and Lafayette.

After leaving a few false leads in his wake, Sigismundo flees to the wilderness where he build himself a cabin, and sit in meditation `seeking the solitude to make his mind an empty mirror at the age of twenty-six.That was the result of being involved with conspirators and magicians since he was fourteen' (pg 69-70).However he is occasionally interrupted by the adorably named Miskasquamish of the Maheema, a shaman of a fictional Native North American tribe.

Meanwhile, back in England, Maria is initiated into a surviving witch cult in England and begins spreading feminist propaganda under a false name, while her husband advances in Freemasonry and turns to the drink and boys.

This is an immensely quotable book, perhaps even more so than the previous volumes, despite its smaller size.don't think this will be the last book in the chronicles, it seemsdecidedly unfinished, with the possibility of a fourth in the future.

Wilson has packed a lot of excellent material into this work - where else are you going to read an in depth piece on God's Willy?Highly recommended in addition to the previous two.

Interesting and amusing read
I found Robert Anton Wilson's Three Volume Historical Illuminatus Chronicles an amusing read.I read these in the early 1990s and one quote stuck.'Intellectual laziness and common sense are the same thing. Common sense is just the tradename of the firm.'It has helped me laugh laugh off complacent people for the past ten years.I have applied this quotation in much of my published writing as well as my PhD thesis.I often bring it out during business conferences when people say to me 'That's just common sense'. I have been using this for over ten years and I always get a laugh from the other people in the room and a degree of compliance and dissent from they who try to dismiss and stymie my efforts to help people deal with new ideas.

Read the three books and find it.

I reckon Nature's God should be as well known as Persig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

My only complaint is that Robert refuses to engage in any sensible discourse about his ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout history, secret societies have played a crucial role in shaping events that have created our world. Only an inner circle of power elite know the full extent of the influence of the conspiracy...

It is Paris, 1772, and Sigismundo Celine knows he is destined to play an important part in this history-behind-history. The masons, the English nobil ity, the Jabobites, the Rosicrucians, the ruling clique of pre-Revolution France: these are but a few of the factions involved in the machinations and intrigue in which Sigismundo has become enmeshed. Thrown into the Bastille, shot at, assaulted by assassins, tortured, and brutally interrogated, he knows only what he is and what he must do to become the one spoken of in the old texts.

But what he doesn't know could kill him: the secret powers of Maria, the Italian beauty who has become an English Lady; the Irish fisherman, Moon, who stumbles across the inner workings of an unsuspected cult; and the question they keep asking: the identity of The Widow's Son. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

The best book ever written by Robert Anton Wilson
In 1989, I had the privelige to appear in a production of Wilson's play, "Wilhelm Reich in Hell". The play was extreme didacticism, but clever and fun in it's own right. We got to meet, and spend some time with the great Robert Anton Wilson.

I have already reviewed the first book in this series, but thought I would drop in and point out some stuff about this.

Wilson doesn't just walk a fine line here, he engages in metaplot.The story also serves as a platform for a critique on pedagoguery, via the seldom used function of the footnote war. Sigismundo's tale, at the same time, is a ripping adventure, a political diatribe, a lesson in various traditions and several kinds of funny all at the same time.

When the world turns upside down, watch carefully.Wilson moves a player off the board and into the action deftly, and, as always, with great humor.This is a book that you can read a hundred times and always discover something new.Buy all three now while they are available!

fnord
by the way...Robert Anton Wilson passed on earlier this year, and today's rabid conspiracy buffs should always read Wilson.He found humor in the most shocking of things, and dignity and honor in the oddest of places. So should we all.

A Real Eye Opener (Third Eye That Is)
One of the smartest men I've ever had the pleasure to read.I threw away my tin foil hat after reading.

Entertaining and thought provoking
After Volume One, I expected more of the same and got it.Genuinely human characters and compelling stories.Having learned to be cautious with first opinions of characters from previous RAW works, complexity and moral ambiguities arise.This was one of those books that one wants to rush through, but drags out, not wanting it to end even though there was a volume three. (I recommend getting all 3 together)

Book II of RAW's best artwork to date...
Chances are, if you are reading this review you've already read the first in this series, "The Earth Will Shake", and if you enjoyed that fun ride it only gets better with this Volume II. The Widow's Son continues to follow Sigismundo Celine through mayhem and merriment until you hanker for Volume III, which is also available for purchase and titled "Nature's God" (I had lots of fun reading that one too) yet be forewarned; at the end of Volume III is a plug for a non-existent Volume IV which may annoy the heck out of a reader hankerin' for more of this great series!

Smokin' Dope
Eheh,

To the illuminated reader with the comment on dope smoking. There's a little more to it than that, as you may well understand, had you the wealth of knowledge that the author of this book has spent his life attatining. "Dope" of various kinds have been historically reffered to with far less right-wing and insulting names throughout history, it is impossible at times to separate much of history and it's narrators from the use of such substances. George Bush would disapprove I know, but then he is an idiot too.

Incidentally, this book is a stunning work, many of the ideas can not be accepted on face value or deemed to be true, but then you can say that about any book of fiction or non fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
They have been with us all through history: The "Invisible College" of wisdom, and their adversaries -- the destroyers -- who rise from the flames to burn again. The history of the world is their story: a conspiracy as vast and all-encompassing as the riddle of time itself.

In Naples, Italy, in 1764, a young aristocrat is about to stumble onto one piece of the great pattern. Through a heartless murder and his passion for the beautiful daughter of his enemy, young Sigismundo Celine uncovers the mystery of the Rossi brigade, former M.A.F.I.A. assassins, and the secret agenda of the dreaded Inquisition.

In the wind of the raging social storm that will soon tear through Europe and America with the flame of revolution, Sigismundo begins his journey of discovery, joined by the boy Mozart, Dr. Frankenstein, Casanova the spy, lover and magician ... and a mysterious violet-eyed assassin who calls him "brother." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Can't put it down
Well written and unique.Character and plot driven.Characters are so welldescribed.

Best of the three
I absolutely loved this book.It would be a five star review, except for the fact that I've already read the two follow-ups.They betray the fact that RAW burned through all his best ideas on the first book.What appear in EWS as great set-ups for subsequent books turned out to be one-shots, left to die on the vine in the rest of the series.The Widow's Son is also a good book, but RAW spent too much time on farcical footnotes and not enough on character and plot development. So some of the genius of The Earth Will Shake is ruined by lack of cultivation.

Still, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, conspiracies and using the arts to help liberate mankind.

Historical fiction, fun, sun and piracy
Robert Anton Wilson has proven to be capable of extraordinary talent with this series. Mixing fiction with non-fiction he weaves one of the most satisfying Masonic related tales to be discovered and published. The Earth Will Shake, The Widows Son and Natures God are a type of writing that I had previously not encountered through Wilson. This series can actually be very inspiring, and it's written in such a dramatic way I am convinced it would make an excellent movie. Yet, at the end of the series, the reader sees reference to the fourth book "The World Turned Upside Down", and alas, it is non-existant. Whatever reason Bob has for abandoning us devout readers of this series (I have read all three books three times and stolen much wit from them) I urge you, dear Bob, please don't leave us hanging, finish the fourth book! More! More! Your Friend, Joey

Earth Still Shaking
I read this book back in the late 80's when it was printed by a mass-market publisher (Signet, I think) containing two abridged volumes; The Earth Will Shake and The Widow's Son.I loved it then and was never able to find Nature's God. Now I have all 3 books. After re-reading this edition, I've enjoyed it twice as much!!There is still yet an unpublished forth book, "The World Turned Upside Down" and we're all awaiting this gem to be published.Earth Will Shake is a coming of Age novel set in the enlightenment era where a murder happens in church during an Easter mass. From that point on it's a roller coster ride of wicked but serious fun.You are enlightened by the sheer weight of the subject matter that continues to this day.In these works you meet diverse characters who are historically real.I.e., the young Mozart, Count Cagliostro and Casanova, just to name a few.Dan Brown though entertaining, is comparatively an amateur hack when writing about the Illumniati (see for yourself and read this.You won't be disappointed). When the Da Vinci Code got ALL the attention, there was no mention of this work and I find that a sad reality though parr for the course in these "shaky" times.Remember, "reality is what you can get away with"...

Excellent
Anything by Robert Anton Wilson is worth reading.His Illuminati stuff is doubly so.The original Illuminatus Trilogy is one of the greatest scifi, horror, thriller, political, historical, adventure and pornographic novels ever written.All of the Historical Illuminatus books are equally well done, equally fun to read, and equally true historically. ... Read more

Product Description
Before the X-Files, before alt.conspiracy, there was Robert Anton Wilson and his legendary Illuminatus! Trilogy. Now this avatar of conspiriology, renowned for his razor wit and progressive philosophy, takes you on a fascinating, eclectic ride through what Wilson has termed the "Cultic Twilight" where conspiracy theories flourish.

Everything Is Under Control covers the range of Wilson's kaleidoscopic knowledge, from John Adams to the Voronezh (former Soviet Union) UFO sighting, the Campus Crusade for Cthulhu to the Mothman prophecies, and everything in between. What do the Freemasons, the Kennedys, and Princess Diana have in common? All are at the center of gigantic conspiracy theories with incredibly complex and endlessly multiplying twists, turns, highways and byways. Arranged by alphabetical entries which include cross-references to other entries in the book and also provide addresses to related sites on the Web, this book is truly interactive--you can dip in, read through, or follow one of the URLs from an interesting entry onto the internet.

What some famous people say about Robert Anton Wilson:

"A dazzling barker hawking tickets to the most thrilling tilt-a-whirls and daring loop-o-planes on the midway to higher consciousness."
--Tom Robbins

"Wilson managed to reverse every mental polarity in me, as if I had been pulled through infinity."
--Philip K. Dick

"One of the most important scientific philosophers of his century--scholarly, witty, scientific, hip and hopeful."
--Dr. Timothy LearyAmazon.com Review
Robert Anton Wilson is the grand pooh-bah of late-20th-centuryconspiracy theory, but regular Wilson fans may find Everything IsUnder Control inchoate in comparison to such masterworks as the Illuminatus! trilogy. Theformat may be encyclopedic, but the information isn't; to note oneglaring omission, the only entries on Ronald Reagan refer readers tothree other entries in which Reagan is briefly mentioned--none ofwhich has anything to do with Iran-Contra. (Actually, there is alisting for Iran-Contra, but again, it merely points to some ofthe pieces of the puzzle.)

The book's primary value, then, apart from the snippets of conspiracy"proof" it does provide, is in Wilson's playful yet insightfularticulation of the psychology and linguistics of conspiratorialthinking. "Because we can say 'the Jews' or 'the New World Order' or'the Patriarchy,'" he writes, "we can believe, or almost believe, thatthese grammatical abstractions have the same kind of reality asbasketballs, barking dogs, and baked beans." There are also some funprivate jokes, including a lot of data on the Discordians. It's notthe best Wilson book--that, perhaps, is Masks of theIlluminati--but it's an adequate introduction to hisimaginative philosophy. --Ron Hogan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Something important to know.....
.....When reading RAW's works.
In a letter to me back in 1977, Mr. Wilson said that he writes "Mostly other people's opinions" in his books.
I believe it's important to know that if one is tempted to criticize his point of view.It usually isn't.
Entertaining though, isn't he?

Poor thinking.
Is Robert Anton Wilson mealy mouthed?He sure likes to beat around the bush and not speak directly and not committing himself to anything.However, he did take a stance that he wanted to induce a generalized agnosticism.And he articulated the goal of all of his writings as an: "attempt to break down conditioned associations--to look at the world in a new way, with many models recognized as models or maps and no one model elevated to the Truth."This book shows a dim view of conspiracy theories.Therefore, rather than tolerate them as models or maps, he seems displeased with conspiracy theorists when they blame masons or juwes for anything.He also is a member of the church of subgenius which makes Christianity an object of blasphemy.Wilson is otherwise quite tolerant of gnostic philosophies, such as zen or taoism.In fact, he notes in several lectures that persons born in the East don't have difficulty with quantum physics.Despite his purported agnosticism, Wilson is clearly firm in his beliefs; namely, his belief in gnosticism.This book shows that.It shows his aggravation with conspiracy theories that indict gnostic organizations such as the freemasons or illuminati.Yet, the same man, while claiming agnosticism, is quick to indulge in blasphemy and indictments of Christian institutions.I agree with Wilson's statement that human explanation amounts to models, and no one model is perfect (i.e. the true one).However, those models do, in relation to each other, approximate more or less to the facts, some more so than others.After all, the Copernican model certainly is superior to the ptolemaic one.Along with thinkers like Wittgenstein and Aquinas, Wilson is correct in saying that human knowledge is impoverished.However, parodying conspiracy theories doesn't prove his point.Nor is he justified in ignoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as an historical fact which makes Christ's claims to circumvent the limitations of human understanding on firm ground.Jesus, of course, is in a better position to explain what how He did it.Someone has literally come from outside the world and given us an understanding we can be confident in.Wilson claims to be an honest intellectual, yet he only addresses Christianity in parody and blasphemy, which shows he never really took up serious discussion of its claims.For his soul's sake, I hope he changed his views before he met Jesus face to face.

somewhat disapointing
I am a fan of Wilsons writing and just decided on a whim to pick this up.Although there is some interesting information, it is not exactly what i thought it would be.Itbecomes somewhat tedius to read...

Scary and fun
I love flipping through this, although I wish he had updated it before he died. There are so many new theories...As the daughter of a severe paranoid, I grew up in FEAR, constant FEAR of THEM!! ooooooohhhh, Scaarrrry stuff! The thing I love about RAW is his ability to get me to the point where I think, "f*** it, why waste time worrying?"

fact or fiction?
This book is not to be seen as a historical collectiion of incontrovertable facts. it began as a contest that R.A. Wilson heald on his website where people would submit random concpiracy theories to be published in this anthology. some of the theories may be complete invetions and some of them may be actual stories with supporting facts. at the very least it is great fun for casual conspirisists and paranoid maniacs who want more reasons to look over their shoulders. ... Read more

Product Description
The great psychiatrist Wilhelm Reich once wrote, "No President, Academy, Court of Law, Congress or Senate on this earth has the knowledge or power to decide what will be the knowledge of tomorrow." In 1957, the government of the United States of America jailed Dr. Reich and burned all of his published works. Wilhelm Reich in Hell provides a remarkable new look at the vilification and destruction of a great man who refused to bow to Gestapo tactics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Avoid this Disinfo
I bought into RAW's diatribe on the Illuminati thinking it was ground breaking and I was going learn about the vermin that run this world from the shadows,etc,etc... turns out he is/was just another parasite feeding the sheeple entertainment just from a different angle to snare those thinking they're on the edge of discovering what's really going on and to play his role in furthering the great work along...... yes this may be a funny read but in the end a waste of your time.......

Mind Blown.
Every time I read one of these books it changes my perspective.Somehow Wilson constantly manages to bring up concepts that convict me and force me to look in, as well as over my shoulder.

Historical Footnote found and Expanded
Harness sexual energy to power the world?Of course, the man was mad.Anyone in that time who would proclaim such a thing would be the Victorian equivilant of a Salem witch!Of course, the port-o-potty booth he made to help, um...harness that power, was a little too weird for the time, but he was on to something.He had notes and everything!He was a free thinker!A psychologist!A student of the greatest minds of the time!

But even these days, it would mean a trip to the psyche ward for you to proclaim such a thing.However, I doubt the FBI would burn down his house and destroy all his notes these days...right?

Wilhelm Reich in Hell is an interesting collection of thoughts and ideas regarding the "truth" about Orgone enery, the man behind the ideas and his ultimate downfall.It's a weird read, but sharp, funny and exciting a read as anything Robert A. Wilson puts out.Good stuff.

A superb book for anyone interested in Reich
Wilhelm Reich was many things in his lifetime- a student of Freud, a political activist, a research scientist, and an inventor.His work was decades ahead of its time and is finally being rediscovered and reevaluated by the public.If, like me, you are interested in Reich and his work, you might want to check out a novel called We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell.it draws heavily on Reich's theories, particularly Listen Little Man and The Mass Psychology Of Facism.It's a great introduction to Reich's work and the entire novel draws heavily on his theory.It's very interesting watching an author explore his theories in a fictional setting.Well worth reading.

Another great paradigm-buster
I noticed this book on a roommate's bookshelf at 2:30 AM one night, grabbed it (intending to flip through the preface to find out what it was about) ... and ended up reading the whole thing through before dawn.Wilson's like that.

This play is absolutely vintage RAW.From the lengthy introductions, where I finally found out where most of his tirades against organizations like CSICOP came from (he reveals that they were one of the major forces behind the book-burnings that played a central role in Reich's disintegration), to the play itself, new ideas are thrown out at a dizzying pace.Social commentary (such as the persistent beeping within the play of a computer tracking nuclear arms buildup), philosophy and a detailed and even-handed examination of Reich's later life (and eventual degradation into insanity) meld seamlessly.

The play itself is full of shocks -- both the prurient (some instances of actor nudity and simulated sex) and the brilliant.To avoid spoiling the surprises, I won't go too deeply into the latter, except to say that the boundaries between performance and reality at times disappear.This little gem is definitely worth a read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Erudite sounding nonsense
Robert Anton Wilson is a brilliant nonsense novelist. Unfortunately when he tackles a serious topic, as he does in this book, he still writes nonsense. Like most advocates of nutty pseudoscience he is convinced that scientists criticize his views only because they are rigidly and dogmatically committed to a belief in the absolute certainty of some alternate theory. Anyone who has ever worked in real science or with real scientists knows that science NEVER claims certainty about anything. Scientists are human and can be as stubborn or biased at times as can any other person, but science as a collective approach rejects no theory because it is new or conflicts with any existing theory. But science does require meaningful evidence before it accepts or rejects any claim. It is also a long-established principle in science that extraordinary claims require an extraordinary level of proof before they are accepted -- and many extraordinary claims have met this standard and gained scientific acceptance in the past. The theories of Reich, Jung, etc. were not simply rejected due to scientific "fundamentalism" but due to a total lack of any supporting evidence and a plentitude of conflicting evidence. This book is not an easy read but it can be quite entertaining -- unfortunately it is nearly total disinformation.

eclectic, erudite, exceptional
This book is Robert Anton Wilson's look at how science went wrong in the 1900s. There are many books dealing with the same topic, but there are few, if any, writers who can match Wilson's quirky, insightful, and humorous prose:

"There remains, of course, Scientific Method (SM), the alleged source of the certitude of those I call the New Idolators. SM is a mixture of SD (sense data: usually aided by instruments to refine the senses) with the old Greek PR. Unfortunately, while SM is powerfully effective, and seems to most of us the best method yet devised by mankind, it is made up of two elements which we have already seen are fallible - SD (sense data) and PR (pure reason) can both deceive us. Again: two fallibilities do not add up to one infallibility. Scientific generalizations which have lasted a long time have a high probability, perhaps the highest probability of any generalizations, but it is only Idolatry which claims none of them will ever again have to be revised or rejected. Too many have been revised or rejected in this century alone.
Certitude is seized by some minds, not because there is any philosophical justification for it, but because such minds have an emotional need for certitude."

The main point of the book is how science fell prey to Fundamentalist Materialism or the New Idolatry, as Wilson calls it. This is basically the failure to adhere to the scientific principle of empirical testing and remain model agnostic. What this means is that scientists begin to pay more heed to pet theories, ego, career, and popular paradigms than to actual data, and let honest, open inquiry fall by the wayside. He uses data from a wide variety of sources, including hard science and some fairly fringe areas.

He challenges the status quo and argues quite convincingly that science has followed much the same path as religion in this regard, even to the point of calling dissenters "heretics."

Wilson's ability to shake entrenched notions and cause one to entertain new thoughts is quite singular, and I consider him one of the most important writers and thinkers in Amercia today. I highly recommend this and his other works.

The genius of Wilson strikes again!
I love the style of this man. As in his other writings, Robert Anton Wilson entertains and challenges with intelligence and wit in The New Inquisition. Wilson takes the reader on a philosophical, scientific and linguistic journey, shattering expectations and preconceptions along the way, leaving one feeling that nothing is completely real and that everything is possible. Or something like that. What is this "reality" thing anyway!?

Wilson argues for creative agnosticism in all areas of thinking and ideology. Models are regarded as "tools to be used only and always where appropriate and replaced (by other models) only and always where not appropriate". All forms of dogmatic thinking are cleverly undermined with irreverent humour and intelligence, Wilson continually pointing out the consequences of accepting limited perception.

The ideas of various 20th century "heretics" are explored to support Wilson's insights. Wilhem Reich, Velikowsky, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake and Jung are just some of the original thinkers touched on. Throw in some quantum physics, UFO sightings, all manner of reported strange phenomena, a bit of Zen, and you have some idea of what this book is about. Brilliant.

Don't Believe Everything You Read
In this book Robert A. Wilson drives home the point that the scientific "establishment" is prone to acting like religious fundamentalists when it comes to offbeat new ideas that don't conform to accepted "laws" of science. Just like the old inquisition attempted to destroy all examples of thought or action that did not comply with their religious dogma to the letter, mainstream scientists of today have become a new inquisition and have suppressed and often incarcerated eccentric thinkers like Reich or Velikovsky. So the point is, you can't believe everything that you hear from the scientific establishment, as "evidence" that is compiled to dispute offbeat theories often shows traces of simply conforming to preconceived notions. A common example is the "mass hallucination" excuse that is often trotted out to explain UFO sightings or religious visions that are witnessed by many people. Mainstream scientists may even compile "evidence" to justify the mass hallucination theory, which is not a theory at all but a reaction to an uncomfortable or unacceptable idea. Wilson asks us, which is harder to believe - UFO's or mass hallucinations? If you're open minded, you can see the gaps in the establishment's reactions, without resorting to outlandish theories yourself.

Wilson manages to stay objective and open-minded through most of the book, though he shows tendencies of the worst conspiracy theorists by assuming that simply piling on examples of suppressed ideas actually proves the existence of an organized conspiracy against them. This fails, as does Wilson's use of the vague term "Citadel" as the supposed cabal of mainstream scientists who have devoted their lives to stifle creative thinking. Of course there are specific examples of this, as Wilson convincingly demonstrates, but he fails to reveal an organized effort by "the enemy." And as always, Wilson's sarcastic, stream-of-consciousness writing style has a negative impact on his credibility, as does the very awkward final chapter of this book in which he attempts to wrap up many disconnected ideas into an overall philosophical theory.

If you approach this book with an open mind, you will definitely learn how to read what you get from the scientific community with a healthy skepticism, and will want to see more evidence before you believe everything you read. This can definitely help you become a freer thinker. But if you're one of those folks who claim that Wilson's books have changed your whole way of thinking, you've pretty much missed his point entirely.

for the open minded
If you are an open minded materialist ready to question what you believe to be true about what Wilson might call the Church of Scientific Materialism, then this is a fantastic book.

It's fantastic because there are few sources that ask questions in a logical reasonable manner.Wilson has been through a lot in his life, and he is smart enough to commit the sin of Socrates-- admitting his ignorance while mercilessly spearing those who claim they know the "truth."

Stay away from this book if you aren't willing to read it with an open mind.It will either frustrate or bore you. ... Read more