Best Cognitive Psychology
Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The. Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. The accuracy and simplicity of this work is a measure of its pure mastery.”. ― James O’Dea , past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). It may take more than one reading and many hours of introspection, but The Untethered Soul is a must-read for anyone in search of greater understanding of themselves and of the truth.”. ― Louis Chiavacci , senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch, ranked in Barron’s top fifteen US Investment Advisors. “This publication has released boundless joy for the hungry souls of the world.”. ― Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati, founder of Yogashakti International Mission and recipient of Hinduism Today’s Hindu of the Year 2000 award. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singer’s brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless devotion.”. — Ray Kurzweil , National Medal of Technology recipient and author of The Singularity Is Near. Singer takes the reader on a journey that begins with consciousness tethered to the ego and ends having taken us beyond our myopic, contained self-image to a state of inner freedom and liberation. Michael A. Singer’s book is a priceless gift to all who have futilely searched and yearned for a richer, more meaningful, creative life.”. — Yogi Amrit Desai , internationally recognized pioneer of modern yoga.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the audio version of this book multiple times, bought copies of it for clients, and shared it with friends. After reading Michael's book, I simply allowed irrelevant, erroneous, totally made up thoughts to just float on by without attaching my emotions to them. It means you're no longer an emotional puppet on the string of everyone else's behavior, attitudes, decisions, choices, etc. I LOVED the audio version of the book because the person who read it was perfect for the content. I've read TONS of other books on similar topics but the way Michael conveyed the material was unique and different and I really GOT IT!"
"Some of the points made in The Untethered Soul are: 1. Learn to relax and stay open no matter what. Do not identify with the experiences you are observing. Facing the fact of bodily death can help you to realize that all of the observed is temporary. Do not allow painful experiences from the past to influence the present. If you want a life full of joy and love you must make a commitment to having a life full of joy and love. Learn how to live from your heart, not from your ego. The Untethered Soul is my second most favorite book on the subject of how to transcend the ego and how to realize the true Self and directly experience that perfect infinite consciousness that has only joy and love and has no suffering. My most favorite book on that subject is THE SEVEN STEPS TO AWAKENING which is a collection of quotes by these seven authors: 1."
"I see life and the spiritual journey differently, and though I do believe we all should strive for a happier life and a more peaceful spirit, I don't believe it is desirable to live without some unhappiness, some worries, some fears. The author contradicts himself many times, but more importantly doesn't indicate any awareness that he has contradicted himself. Thus, while the author makes many statements throughout that I agree with, he also constantly is making other statements that contradict previous ones, giving me the impression that he is just writing a stream of consciousness of statements cherry-picked to resonate with a broad range of spiritual-enlightenment-seekers, without much regard to whether those statements gel together to form a cohesive whole. Structure. I would not want to take that away from anyone, but sadly, it is not the book for me."
Good teaching, we believe, should be creatively tailored to the different learning styles of students and should use strategies that make learning easier. More complex and durable learning come from self-testing, introducing certain difficulties in practice, waiting to re-study new material until a little forgetting has set in, and interleaving the practice of one skill or topic with another. If you want to read a lively and engaging book on the science of learning, this is a must… Make It Stick benefits greatly from its use of stories about people who have achieved mastery of complex knowledge and skills. Over the course of the book, the authors weave together stories from an array of learners―surgeons, pilots, gardeners, and school and university students―to illustrate their arguments about how successful learning takes place… This is a rich and resonant book and a pleasurable read that will leave you pondering the processes through which you, and your students, acquire new knowledge and skills. Anyone with an interest in teaching or learning will benefit from reading this book, which not only presents thoroughly grounded research but does so in an eminently readable way that is accessible even to students. Aimed primarily at students, parents, and teachers, Make It Stick also offers practical advice for learners of all ages, at all stages of life… With its credible challenge to conventional wisdom, Make It Stick does point the way forward, with a very real prospect of tangible and enduring benefits. But the authors don’t simply recite the research; they show readers how it is applied in real-life learning scenarios, with engaging stories of real people in academic, professional, and sports environments… The learning strategies proposed in this book can be implemented immediately, at no cost, and to great effect… Make It Stick will help you become a much more productive learner.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But the main "thesis" of Peter Brown's book - aside from being a summary of what cognitive science data shows about how we learn - is basically that many of the things we often assume about learning are wrong. We all have learning styles that are the way we learn best. While we all certainly have learning preferences (I like to receive my information in written form), that doesn't mean we learn best when receiving information in that form (I can do as well when I receive information audibly as when it is written, even though I prefer the latter). Brown reviews literature that shows that, at least as of now, there is no evidence that shows that how one receives information substantially affects how well we learn the material (after all, hearing or reading a phone number is immaterial to what i am remembering: not the sound or sight of the number, but the number itself). Also, another factor that affects how well we learn is our mindset, whether we learn for mastery or learn for performance. Those who learn for performance - so that they can show how good they are - tend to tackle learning new things (things that might make them look bad) with trepidation, but those who learn for mastery aspire to acquire new skills openly, without regard to whether they will fail before mastering."
"Well, after reading through reviews I found the article this was based on - if you have good google skills, then you should be able to find the PDF for free (I did): What Works, What Doesn't - Some study techniques accelerate learning, wheras other are just a waste of time -. The Scientific American Mind (mind.scientificamerican.com) - by John Dunlosky, Katherine Rawon, Elizabeth Marsh, Mitchell Nathan and Daniel Willingham. This is a little 6 page article which seems to explain >80% of the key points listed in this book."
"Most of us will focus on the prescriptions of Chapter 8: e.g. avoid rereading as a primary study method, and do use the blank paper assessment test, etc.. =====. While reading, I noticed two points made by the authors that will shape your experience: 1) page ix in the Preface: "first author is a storyteller". 2) page 200: "early readers (of the book draft) urged the author to get specific with practical advice". I agree with reviewers Soumen, T. Pagni, Economist: yes, the book could've been much shorter and focused on the advice. I also agree with the numerous reviewers who praise it: yes it provides excellent practical insight into the best ways to learn (both physical and mental tasks). I'm now prepared to wade through long winded stories to find the main points. - sustained, deliberate practice, even when it feels ponderous, is helping me learn. - Trust the process of study, forget, retrieve. Upon revisiting the material, I found myself *wanting* to find and connect the ideas spread across the stories and the book. During retrieval practice, I actually started remembering some of the advice from the stories, moreso than from the explicit recommendations. RELATE IT TO WHAT I ALREADY KNOW: I consider this book (MIS) a valuable complement to What Smart Students Know by A. Robinson (WSSK). WSSK tells you in much greater detail what to do while you are a matriculating student i.e. how to approach the conventional schooling process, how to assess class/book structure, how to relate the material to what you've learned, what specifically you should during the pre-study, study and post-study periods. Personally, the advice in this book is worth far more than the cost of $21, and a few hours of reading, reflection and note-taking that I paid for it."
In a highly accessible, step-by-step style, master clinician Judith S. Beck demonstrates how to engage patients, develop a sound case conceptualization, plan treatment, and structure sessions effectively. See also Dr. Beck's Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems: What to Do When the Basics Don't Work , which addresses ways to solve frequently encountered problems with patients who are not making progress. Beck describes the nuts and bolts of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and brings therapeutic processes and techniques to life through session narratives and case examples. “In addition to the fundamental aspects of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) that were presented in the original volume, the second edition presents innovations in theory and clinical practice. This is a text that deserves to be read—and reread—from cover to cover, whether you are a student learning CBT for the first time or an experienced clinician.”--Evan M. Forman, PhD, Director, PhD Program in Clinical Psychology, Drexel University. The book offers a comprehensive introduction for those new to CBT, with illustrative case examples throughout; it is also an essential resource for experienced cognitive therapists who want to brush up on their knowledge and skills. Attentive to both the art and science of CBT, this volume is a ‘must read’ for graduate students and clinicians who are looking to build or sharpen their CBT skills.”--Drew Erhardt, PhD, Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University. This is an essential text for cognitive therapy courses.”--Mark McGrosky, MSW, LCSW, doctoral candidate and adjunct lecturer, Silver School of Social Work, New York University (on the first edition). “When I want students to learn how to conduct cognitive therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond is the first book I assign. When students have mastered this text, Judith Beck’s Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems is a natural (and useful) next step.”--Thomas L. Rodebaugh, PhD, Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis (on the first edition). “This excellent introduction to CBT offers enough detail to give students the ability to begin to practice, and is sufficiently broad to allow students to apply CBT across a range of client problems. I have used this book for several semesters with graduate students who find it helpful in expanding their understanding of CBT and developing their clinical skills.”--Michael Likier, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Professional Psychology and Family Therapy, Seton Hall University (on the first edition). Beck’s clear and crisp writing style, use of multiple case examples, and inclusion of helpful handouts and worksheets make this text a ‘must have’ for any teacher who would like to provide students with a solid grounding in cognitive therapy.”--Jennifer S. Kirby, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (on the first edition). "Whether readers are graduate students getting their first exposure to cognitive therapy or seasoned professionals wanting a refresher on cognitive theory, Dr. Beck's book will satisfy most all professional training needs." ( Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 2011-07-15). "A comprehensive road map to the practice of CBT....A must-read guide for graduate students and practicing therapists who are interested in learning the essentials of CBT. What is most impressive about this work is that it provides thorough and detailed instruction yet is concise enough to be read cover-to-cover in a reasonable length of time….After mastering this text, those interested in more in-depth instruction from Dr. Beck can obtain her work Cognitive Therapy for Challenging Problems: What to Do When the Basics Don't Work , also published by Guilford Press.”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The text is perhaps a bit dialogue/scenario heavy for my tastes, but it's also really a wealth of good info, including plenty of great homework templates."
"I was surprised at what a great copy I received as a used book."
"This is a must-read for any therapists!"
"I'm a therapist working with severe and perisistant any mental illness including psychosis and I recommend his book often."
"This book has the potential to help many, many, people if practitioners put this information to work!"
"I am reading this book in conjunction with a book titled "Making Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work" and have found they mesh well when read together."
"This is a great book to learn more skills when working with clients."
"Foundational, must-have text for learning and applying CBT."
Best Medical Cognitive Psychology
Major New York Times bestseller. Winner of the National Academy of Sciences Best Book Award in 2012. Selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2011. A Globe and Mail Best Books of the Year 2011 Title. One of The Economist 's 2011 Books of the Year. One of The Wall Street Journal 's Best Nonfiction Books of the Year 2011. 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient. Kahneman's work with Amos Tversky is the subject of Michael Lewis's The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds. “Daniel Kahneman demonstrates forcefully in his new book, Thinking, Fast and Slow , how easy it is for humans to swerve away from rationality.” ― Christopher Shea, The Washington Post. Arguably the most important psychologist in history, Kahneman has reshaped cognitive psychology, the analysis of rationality and reason, the understanding of risk and the study of happiness and well-being . A magisterial work, stunning in its ambition, infused with knowledge, laced with wisdom, informed by modesty and deeply humane. Arguably the most important psychologist in history, Kahneman has reshaped cognitive psychology, the analysis of rationality and reason, the understanding of risk and the study of happiness and well-being . A magisterial work, stunning in its ambition, infused with knowledge, laced with wisdom, informed by modesty and deeply humane. So impressive is its vision of flawed human reason that the New York Times columnist David Brooks recently declared that Kahneman and Tversky's work ‘will be remembered hundreds of years from now,' and that it is ‘a crucial pivot point in the way we see ourselves.'. But for those who are merely interested in Kahenman's takeaway on the Malcolm Gladwell question it is this: If you've had 10,000 hours of training in a predictable, rapid-feedback environment--chess, firefighting, anesthesiology--then blink. It now seems inevitable that Kahneman, who made his reputation by ignoring or defying conventional wisdom, is about to be anointed the intellectual guru of our economically irrational times.” ― Evan R. Goldstein, The Chronicle of Higher Education. As Copernicus removed the Earth from the centre of the universe and Darwin knocked humans off their biological perch, Mr. Kahneman has shown that we are not the paragons of reason we assume ourselves to be.” ― The Economist. But Mr. Kahneman's simple experiments reveal a very different mind, stuffed full of habits that, in most situations, lead us astray.” ― Jonah Lehrer, The Wall Street Journal. “[A] tour de force of psychological insight, research explication and compelling narrative that brings together in one volume the high points of Mr. Kahneman's notable contributions, over five decades, to the study of human judgment, decision-making and choice . Thanks to the elegance and force of his ideas, and the robustness of the evidence he offers for them, he has helped us to a new understanding of our divided minds--and our whole selves.” ― Christoper F. Chabris, The Wall Street Journal. “With Kahneman's expert help, readers may understand this mix of psychology and economics better than most accountants, therapists, or elected representatives. “The mind is a hilariously muddled compromise between incompatible modes of thought in this fascinating treatise by a giant in the field of decision research. Kahneman uses this scheme to frame a scintillating discussion of his findings in cognitive psychology and behavioral economics, and of the ingenious experiments that tease out the irrational, self-contradictory logics that underlie our choices. We learn why we mistake statistical noise for coherent patterns; why the stock-picking of well-paid investment advisers and the prognostications of pundits are worthless; why businessmen tend to be both absurdly overconfident and unwisely risk-averse; and why memory affects decision making in counterintuitive ways. Kahneman's primer adds to recent challenges to economic orthodoxies about rational actors and efficient markets; more than that, it's a lucid, marvelously readable guide to spotting--and correcting--our biased misunderstandings of the world.” ― Publishers' Weekly (starred review). Before Malcolm Gladwell and Freakonomics, there was Daniel Kahneman who invented the field of behavior economics, won a Nobel…and now explains how we think and make choices. Before computer networking got cheap and ubiquitous, the sheer inefficiency of communication dampened the effects of the quirks of human psychology on macro scale events. In this absolutely amazing book, he shares a lifetime's worth of wisdom presented in a manner that is simple and engaging, but nonetheless stunningly profound. This book is a must read for anyone with a curious mind.” ― Steven D. Levitt, William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago; co-author of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics. “ Thinking, Fast and Slow is a masterpiece--a brilliant and engaging intellectual saga by one of the greatest psychologists and deepest thinkers of our time. Kahneman should be parking a Pulitzer next to his Nobel Prize.” ― Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University Professor of Psychology, author of Stumbling on Happiness, host of the award-winning PBS television series "This Emotional Life". “This is a landmark book in social thought, in the same league as The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith and The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud . His work has reshaped social psychology, cognitive science, the study of reason and of happiness, and behavioral economics, a field that he and his collaborator Amos Tversky helped to launch.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first observation, giving the title to the book, is that eons of natural selection gave us the ability to make a fast reaction to a novel situation. Thinking slow, applying human logic, we might reflect that it is probably Johnny coming back from the Girl Scout camp across the river bringing cookies, and that running might not be the best idea. Thinking is metabolically expensive; 20 percent of our energy intake goes to the brain. NB: Kahneman uses the example of multiplying two digit numbers in your head quite frequently. Whistling past the graveyard - we know full well that mental processes slow down after 65. We are inclined to expect more regularity than actually exists in the world, and we have poor intuition about the tail ends of the bell curve. It requires slow thinking to come up with the right answer - and the instinct to distrust your intuition. The larger the sample size, the more accurate the statistical inference from measuring them. For instance, the asking price of the house should have nothing to do with its value, but it does greatly influence bids. If I know somebody who got mugged last year, and you don't, my assessment of the rate of street crime will probably be too high, and yours perhaps too low. Newspaper headlines distort all of our thinking about the probabilities of things like in and terrorist attacks. Nonetheless, if you ask about Tom W, a sallow gloomy type of guy, people will ignore the statistics and guess he is in mortuary science. The most important aspect of this chapter is Bayesian analysis, which is so much second nature to Kahneman that he doesn't even describe it. Given these numbers, most people will assume that the cab in the accident was blue because of the witness testimony. However, if we change the statement of the problem so that there is a 20% chance that the blue identification of the color was wrong, but 85% of the cabs involved in accidents are green, people will overwhelmingly say that the cab in the accident was a green madman. In other words, this witness could be expected to identify the cab as blue 29% of the time whether she was right or wrong. Recommend that you cut and paste this, because Bayes theorem is cited fairly often, and is kind of hard to understand. The chances are little bit of both, and if I take a test a second time I will get a lower score, not because I am any stupider but because your first observation of me wasn't exactly accurate. The probability of a smart grade school kid becoming a Rhodes scholar is a cumulative probability of passing a whole series of hurdles: studying hard, excelling in high school, avoiding drink and drugs, parental support and so on. We make judgments on the basis of the knowledge we have, and we are overconfident about the predictive value of that observation. We discount the many perils which could have totally derailed the company along the way, including the venture capitalist who could have bought it all for one million dollars but thought the price was too steep. The answer is, not really, because performance on the SAT depends quite a bit on prior education and previous exposure to standardized tests. The key anecdote here is about a formula for predicting the quality of a French wine vintage. The rule of thumb formula beat the best French wine experts. He would trust the expert intuition of a firefighter; there is some similarity among fires, and the firemen learns quickly about his mistakes. The key notion here is that people within an institution, project, or any endeavor tend to let their inside knowledge blind them to things an outsider might see. It should destroy the notion that there are CEOs who are vastly above average, and also the efficient markets theory. The guys in charge often don't understand, and more important, they are blind to their own lack of knowledge. Part four - choices. This is a series of chapters about how people make decisions involving money and risk. Pouring good money after bad, the sunk cost effect, is an example. We overestimate the visible ones, such as tsunamis and terrorist attacks, and ignore the ones of which we are unaware. As a policy, should we accept the supposedly lower risk of buying mutual funds, even given the management fees? The classic example is people who refuse to sell for a loss, whether shares of stock or a house. Mountain climbing or marathon running are sheer torture at the time, but the memories are exquisite. Lift decision: do we live life for the present experience, or the anticipated memories?"
"Content is interesting, but as other reviewers point out, do not buy the Kindle version, because links often don't work, and many images and footnotes seem to be lost."
"Back in 1994, Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini, Director of the Institute of San Raffaele in Milan, Italy, wrote a charming little book about common cognitive distortions called Inevitable Illusions. In it, he predicted that the two psychologists behind behavioral economics - Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman - would win the Nobel prize. Although Gladwell never says that snap judgments are infallible and cannot badly mislead us, many readers got a different message. As the Royal Statistical Society's Significance magazine put it "Although Gladwell's chronicle of cognition shows how quick thinking can lead us both astray and aright, for many readers Blink has become a hymn to the hunch." As a student, she was deeply concerned with the issues of discrimination and social justice, and she also participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations. Eighty-five percent of test subjects chose the second option, that Linda was a bank teller and active in the feminist movement. A more formal and theoretically better argued rebuttal of some of Kahneman's hypotheses can be found in the works of Gerd Gigerenzer. Kahneman notes that even top performers in business and sports tend to revert to the mean in the long run. While much of what we learnt can perhaps be extended to the real world, it is doubtful every generalization will work in practice. My cautionary comments probably have more to do with the distortions that might arise by those who uncritically generalize the findings to contexts for which they may not applicable. Nevertheless, Thinking Fast and Slow is a very valuable book by one of the most creative minds in psychology. After I published this review, I noticed an odd coincidence between Thinking Fast and Slow and Inevitable Illusions that I mentioned in my opening paragraph. Both books have white covers, with an image of a sharpened yellow pencil with an eraser top."
"Great book, basically Psychology 101."
"It has provided a robust framework for understanding, evaluating, and making decisions and understanding what guides others in their decisions such that the reader can avoid pitfalls and better guide others towards better decisions, or at least to mitigate large and potentially damaging fallacies."
"This is pretty much the life work of Daniel Kahneman placed inside an easily digested book."
"How glad I am that I have now become a little more aware of how my intuitive system overrides my decision making and thinking in so many ways, many of them being wrong."
Best Psychology & Counseling
Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The. Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. The accuracy and simplicity of this work is a measure of its pure mastery.”. James O’Dea , past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). It is the clearest statement I know of who we are and what we face in our emerging humanity.”. Jean Houston , philosopher, psychologist, and author of A Mythic Life and Passion for the Possible. It may take more than one reading and many hours of introspection, but The Untethered Soul is a must-read for anyone in search of greater understanding of themselves and of the truth.”. Louis Chiavacci , senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch, ranked in Barron’s top fifteen US Investment Advisors. This publication has released boundless joy for the hungry souls of the world.”. Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati, founder of Yogashakti International Mission and recipient of Hinduism Today’s Hindu of the Year 2000 award. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singer’s brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless devotion.”. — Ray Kurzweil , National Medal of Technology recipient and author of The Singularity Is Near. Singer takes the reader on a journey that begins with consciousness tethered to the ego and ends having taken us beyond our myopic, contained self-image to a state of inner freedom and liberation. Michael A. Singer’s book is a priceless gift to all who have futilely searched and yearned for a richer, more meaningful, creative life.”. — Yogi Amrit Desai , internationally recognized pioneer of modern yoga.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the audio version of this book multiple times, bought copies of it for clients, and shared it with friends. After reading Michael's book, I simply allowed irrelevant, erroneous, totally made up thoughts to just float on by without attaching my emotions to them. It means you're no longer an emotional puppet on the string of everyone else's behavior, attitudes, decisions, choices, etc. I LOVED the audio version of the book because the person who read it was perfect for the content. I've read TONS of other books on similar topics but the way Michael conveyed the material was unique and different and I really GOT IT!"
"Some of the points made in The Untethered Soul are: 1. Learn to relax and stay open no matter what. Do not identify with the experiences you are observing. Facing the fact of bodily death can help you to realize that all of the observed is temporary. Do not allow painful experiences from the past to influence the present. If you want a life full of joy and love you must make a commitment to having a life full of joy and love. Learn how to live from your heart, not from your ego. The Untethered Soul is my second most favorite book on the subject of how to transcend the ego and how to realize the true Self and directly experience that perfect infinite consciousness that has only joy and love and has no suffering. My most favorite book on that subject is THE SEVEN STEPS TO AWAKENING which is a collection of quotes by these seven authors: 1."
"I see life and the spiritual journey differently, and though I do believe we all should strive for a happier life and a more peaceful spirit, I don't believe it is desirable to live without some unhappiness, some worries, some fears. The author contradicts himself many times, but more importantly doesn't indicate any awareness that he has contradicted himself. Thus, while the author makes many statements throughout that I agree with, he also constantly is making other statements that contradict previous ones, giving me the impression that he is just writing a stream of consciousness of statements cherry-picked to resonate with a broad range of spiritual-enlightenment-seekers, without much regard to whether those statements gel together to form a cohesive whole. Structure. I would not want to take that away from anyone, but sadly, it is not the book for me."
Best Alternative Medicine
Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The. Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. The accuracy and simplicity of this work is a measure of its pure mastery.”. ― James O’Dea , past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). It may take more than one reading and many hours of introspection, but The Untethered Soul is a must-read for anyone in search of greater understanding of themselves and of the truth.”. ― Louis Chiavacci , senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch, ranked in Barron’s top fifteen US Investment Advisors. “This publication has released boundless joy for the hungry souls of the world.”. ― Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati, founder of Yogashakti International Mission and recipient of Hinduism Today’s Hindu of the Year 2000 award. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singer’s brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless devotion.”. — Ray Kurzweil , National Medal of Technology recipient and author of The Singularity Is Near. Singer takes the reader on a journey that begins with consciousness tethered to the ego and ends having taken us beyond our myopic, contained self-image to a state of inner freedom and liberation. Michael A. Singer’s book is a priceless gift to all who have futilely searched and yearned for a richer, more meaningful, creative life.”. — Yogi Amrit Desai , internationally recognized pioneer of modern yoga.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the audio version of this book multiple times, bought copies of it for clients, and shared it with friends. After reading Michael's book, I simply allowed irrelevant, erroneous, totally made up thoughts to just float on by without attaching my emotions to them. It means you're no longer an emotional puppet on the string of everyone else's behavior, attitudes, decisions, choices, etc. I LOVED the audio version of the book because the person who read it was perfect for the content. I've read TONS of other books on similar topics but the way Michael conveyed the material was unique and different and I really GOT IT!"
"Some of the points made in The Untethered Soul are: 1. Learn to relax and stay open no matter what. Do not identify with the experiences you are observing. Facing the fact of bodily death can help you to realize that all of the observed is temporary. Do not allow painful experiences from the past to influence the present. If you want a life full of joy and love you must make a commitment to having a life full of joy and love. Learn how to live from your heart, not from your ego. The Untethered Soul is my second most favorite book on the subject of how to transcend the ego and how to realize the true Self and directly experience that perfect infinite consciousness that has only joy and love and has no suffering. My most favorite book on that subject is THE SEVEN STEPS TO AWAKENING which is a collection of quotes by these seven authors: 1."
"I see life and the spiritual journey differently, and though I do believe we all should strive for a happier life and a more peaceful spirit, I don't believe it is desirable to live without some unhappiness, some worries, some fears. The author contradicts himself many times, but more importantly doesn't indicate any awareness that he has contradicted himself. Thus, while the author makes many statements throughout that I agree with, he also constantly is making other statements that contradict previous ones, giving me the impression that he is just writing a stream of consciousness of statements cherry-picked to resonate with a broad range of spiritual-enlightenment-seekers, without much regard to whether those statements gel together to form a cohesive whole. Structure. I would not want to take that away from anyone, but sadly, it is not the book for me."
Best Medical Ethics
Medical Apartheid is the first and only comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Washington, a journalist and bioethicist who has worked at Harvard Medical School and Tuskegee University, has accumulated a wealth of documentation, beginning with Thomas Jefferson exposing hundreds of slaves to an untried smallpox vaccine before using it on whites, to the 1990s, when the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University ran drug experiments on African-American and black Dominican boys to determine a genetic predisposition for "disruptive behavior."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a really good book."
"This is a superb book."
"Chilling and terrifying to read about how we in america where experimented on and still are."
"Everybody should read this."
Best Textbooks
A lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homer’s “nimble gallop” and brings an ancient epic to new life. “A staggeringly superior translation―true, poetic, lively and readable, and always closely engaged with the original Greek―that brings to life the fascinating variety of voices in Homer’s great epic.”. - Richard F. Thomas, Harvard University. “Emily Wilson has produced a clear, vigorous, sensitive Odyssey that conveys both the grand scale and the individual pathos of this foundational story. Emily Wilson has convincingly answered this call: hers is a vital Odyssey for the twenty-first century that brings into rhythmic English the power, dignity, variety, and immediacy of this great poem.”. - Laura Slatkin, New York University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"More than in other translations, the Odyssey comes across here strongly as a historical document, the product of a culture from a particular time and place. Muse, tell me how he wandered and was lost. when he had wrecked the holy town of Troy, and where he went, and who he met, the pain. he suffered in the storms at sea, and how. he worked to save his life and bring his men. back home. Compare Wilson's language with that of the opening of Robert Fitzgerald's translation: "Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story. of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the stronghold. on the proud height of Troy. He saw the townlands. and learned the minds of many distant men, and weathered many bitter nights and days. in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only. to save his life, to bring his shipmates home. Fitzgerald translates it as "skilled in all ways of contending," and Fagles as "the man of twists and turns.""
"I have read and taught the Odyssey at least five times over the past twenty years. And Emily Wilson's version is a godsend."
"The first stanzas will make you perk up and realize that this is the most interesting translation of the Odyssey for our time."
"but at age 81 I consider The Odyssey the greatest book I have ever read, for itself and for its influence on my ways of thinking and of living. The main reason is that, in comparison to the others, it is best at creating the mood of an ancient, epic, poem. I love it when he repeats, for the nth time, "Son of Laertes and the Gods of old, Odysseus, master of land ways and sea ways..." and other such formulaic hints that we are not reading a James Bond or even a Scott Fitzgerald, nor Salinger, nor McEwan, nor certainly a Hemingway novel -- the content should perhaps be enough to distinguish Odyssey as the great epic it is, but I like the complementing embellishments of Fitzgerald's version. For a more important difference, compare the climax, as Odysseus is about to slaughter the suitors: Fitzgerald has him say: "You yellow dogs, you thought I'd never make it. home from the land of Troy. But Fitzgerald focuses on breaking the rules, on disrespecting the mores of their time: the suitors were contemptuous of both the gods, and the opinions of their fellow men."
"I've never read the Odyssey before in it's entirety, so can't compare this to other translations."
Best Behavioral Sciences
From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.”. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas. “Yuval Noah Harari’s celebrated Sapiens does for human evolution what Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time did for physics.… He does a superb job of outlining our slow emergence and eventual domination of the planet.” ( Forbes ). “[I]nteresting and provocative…It gives you a sense of perspective on how briefly we’ve been on this earth, how short things like agriculture and science have been around, and why it makes sense for us to not take them for granted.” ( President Barack Obama ). “I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history…you’ll have a hard time putting it down.” ( Bill Gates ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Parts of it were downright fascinating such as "imagination" being a keystone to human activity, e.g. corporations, money, and religion. Finally he keeps touching on the fact that animals have paid a terrible price for the rise of sapiens. Incidentally our family has a farm background and I eat no chicken, turkey, pork, or beef. Now I didn't give the book five stars because he makes positive references to the misguided but widely read Jared Diamond. Let me emphasize that on this snowy March day the cat and I are both glad we don't need to go out and scavenge something off the frozen earth."
"A standard history of the human race begins with Paleolithic proto-humans, traces the development of modern man or homo sapiens sapiens, then chronicles the beginnings and expansions of human civilization from agriculture to the present. He asks how "An Animal of No Significance" managed to become the dominant life form, and whether that animal's learning to produce his own food and then to further harness the natural world to his will through science were boons or setbacks, both for that animal and for the rest of the biosphere."
"Thought provoking."
"A fascinating read that clarified many ideas I had on how our species has come to dominate and systematically destroy much of this wonderful planet."
"Every chapter had mind-bending insights into our history."
"a well written master piece that gives the reader unique insight in our history, while making some of the difficult trade-offs in our society visible and comprehensible."
"Very interesting book."
"It uncovers the facts and truths of our human history, from the beginning of Homo Sapiens to the present time."
Best Emotional Mental Health
Singer shows how the development of consciousness can enable us all to dwell in the present moment and let go of painful thoughts and memories that keep us from achieving happiness and self-realization. Copublished with the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) The. Untethered Soul begins by walking you through your relationship with your thoughts and emotions, helping you uncover the source and fluctuations of your inner energy. The accuracy and simplicity of this work is a measure of its pure mastery.”. ― James O’Dea , past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). It may take more than one reading and many hours of introspection, but The Untethered Soul is a must-read for anyone in search of greater understanding of themselves and of the truth.”. ― Louis Chiavacci , senior vice-president of Merrill Lynch, ranked in Barron’s top fifteen US Investment Advisors. “This publication has released boundless joy for the hungry souls of the world.”. ― Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati, founder of Yogashakti International Mission and recipient of Hinduism Today’s Hindu of the Year 2000 award. Singer bridges these two great traditions in a radiant treatise on how to succeed in life from our spiritual quest to our everyday tribulations. With great eloquence, wit, and compelling logic, Singer’s brilliant book completes this thought by showing them to be two poles of the same selfless devotion.”. — Ray Kurzweil , National Medal of Technology recipient and author of The Singularity Is Near. Singer takes the reader on a journey that begins with consciousness tethered to the ego and ends having taken us beyond our myopic, contained self-image to a state of inner freedom and liberation. Michael A. Singer’s book is a priceless gift to all who have futilely searched and yearned for a richer, more meaningful, creative life.”. — Yogi Amrit Desai , internationally recognized pioneer of modern yoga.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the audio version of this book multiple times, bought copies of it for clients, and shared it with friends. After reading Michael's book, I simply allowed irrelevant, erroneous, totally made up thoughts to just float on by without attaching my emotions to them. It means you're no longer an emotional puppet on the string of everyone else's behavior, attitudes, decisions, choices, etc. I LOVED the audio version of the book because the person who read it was perfect for the content. I've read TONS of other books on similar topics but the way Michael conveyed the material was unique and different and I really GOT IT!"
"Some of the points made in The Untethered Soul are: 1. Learn to relax and stay open no matter what. Do not identify with the experiences you are observing. Facing the fact of bodily death can help you to realize that all of the observed is temporary. Do not allow painful experiences from the past to influence the present. If you want a life full of joy and love you must make a commitment to having a life full of joy and love. Learn how to live from your heart, not from your ego. The Untethered Soul is my second most favorite book on the subject of how to transcend the ego and how to realize the true Self and directly experience that perfect infinite consciousness that has only joy and love and has no suffering. My most favorite book on that subject is THE SEVEN STEPS TO AWAKENING which is a collection of quotes by these seven authors: 1."
"I see life and the spiritual journey differently, and though I do believe we all should strive for a happier life and a more peaceful spirit, I don't believe it is desirable to live without some unhappiness, some worries, some fears. The author contradicts himself many times, but more importantly doesn't indicate any awareness that he has contradicted himself. Thus, while the author makes many statements throughout that I agree with, he also constantly is making other statements that contradict previous ones, giving me the impression that he is just writing a stream of consciousness of statements cherry-picked to resonate with a broad range of spiritual-enlightenment-seekers, without much regard to whether those statements gel together to form a cohesive whole. Structure. I would not want to take that away from anyone, but sadly, it is not the book for me."
Best New Age & Spirituality
Across age groups, from baby boomers and their parents to millennials and even children, more and more people—women especially—are hearing that their thyroids are to blame for their fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, memory issues, aches and pains, tingles and numbness, insomnia, hair loss, hot flashes, sensitivity to cold, constipation, bloating, anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, loss of libido, restless legs, and more. It’s something much more pervasive in the body, something invasive, that’s responsible for the laundry list of symptoms and conditions attributed to thyroid disease. Empowering readers to become their own thyroid experts, he explains in detail what the source problem really is, including what’s going on with inflammation, autoimmune disease, and dozens more symptoms and conditions, then offers a life-changing toolkit and many new recipes to rescue the thyroid and bring readers back to health and vitality. If you’ve struggled with any chronic health issue, you’re not alone—you are one among millions confronting the mysterious symptoms that medical communities have begun to connect with thyroid illness. We’ve already waited 100-plus years for real insights from medical communities into thyroid problems, and they haven’t come. ACHES AND PAINS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE BRAIN FOG AND FOCUS CANCER EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS FATIGUE MONONUCLEOSIS FIBROMYALGIA AND CFS HAIR THINNING AND LOSS HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES HEART PALPITATIONS VERTIGO HYPERTHYROIDISM HYPOTHYROIDISM MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS MYSTERY WEIGHT GAIN SLEEP DISORDERS TINGLES AND NUMBNESS. “While there is most definitely an element of otherworldly mystery to the work he does, much of what Anthony William shines a spotlight on—particularly around autoimmune disease—feels inherently right and true. and star of Dawson’s Creek, and Kimberly Van Der Beek, public speaker and activist. “My family and friends have been the recipients of Anthony’s inspired gift of healing, and we’ve benefited more than I can express with rejuvenated physical and mental health.”. “Anthony William is one of those rare individuals who uses his gifts to help people rise up to meet their full potential by becoming their own best health advocates . Anthony William is the real deal, and the gravity of the information he shares through Spirit is priceless and empowering and much needed in this day and age!”. His book is truly ‘wisdom of the future,’ so already now, miraculously, we have the clear, accurate explanation of the many mysterious illnesses that the ancient Buddhist medical texts predicted would afflict us in this era when over-clever people have tampered with the elements of life in the pursuit of profit.”. — Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University; President, Tibet House US; best-selling author of Man of Peace, Love Your Enemies, and Inner Revolution; host of Bob Thurman Podcast. — David James Elliott, Camera Store, Scorpion, Trumbo, Mad Men, CSI: NY; star for ten years of CBS’s JAG. “Anthony William is the gifted Medical Medium who has very real and not-so-radical solutions to the mysterious conditions that affect us all in our modern world. I am beyond thrilled to know him personally and count him as a most valuable resource for my health protocols and those for my entire family.”. — Annabeth Gish, Halt and Catch Fire, Scandal, Pretty Little Liars, The West Wing, Mystic Pizza. “Anthony William has devoted his life to helping people with information that has truly made a substantial difference in the lives of many.”. Through Anthony’s work, I realized the residual Epstein-Barr left over from a childhood illness was sabotaging my health years later. “In this world of confusion, with constant noise in the health and wellness field, I rely on Anthony’s profound authenticity. “My recovery from a traumatic spinal crisis several years ago had been steady, but I was still experiencing muscle weakness, a tapped-out nervous system, as well as extra weight. A dear friend called me one evening and strongly recommended I read the book Medical Medium by Anthony William. My weight has dropped healthily, I can enjoy bike-riding and yoga, I’m back in the gym, I have steady energy, and I sleep deeply. Nothing made this fact so clear to me as seeing him work with an old friend who had been struggling for years with illness, brain fog, and fatigue. “Twelve hours after receiving a heaping dose of self-confidence masterfully administered by Anthony, the persistent ringing in my ears of the last year . — Mike Dooley, New York Times best-selling author of From Deep Space with Love and Infinite Possibilities, scribe of Notes from the Universe. “Anthony William is the Edgar Cayce of our time, reading the body with outstanding precision and insight. — Ann Louise Gittleman, New York Times best-selling author of over 30 books on health and healing and creator of the highly popular Fat Flush detox and diet plan. Some of Anthony’s clients spent over $1 million seeking help for their ‘mystery illness’ until they finally discovered him.”. — Richard Sollazzo, M.D., New York board-certified oncologist, hematologist, nutritionist, and anti-aging expert and author of Balance Your Health. This kind, sweet, hilarious, self-effacing, and generous man—also so ‘otherworldly’ and so extraordinarily gifted, with an ability that defies how we see the world—has shocked even me, a medium! — Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of The Kids’ Family Tree Book, Cruel Beautiful World, Is This Tomorrow, and Pictures of You. Holding my head heavy in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably at the kitchen table, not knowing which way to turn, I realized I had finally hit a wall. Through the streaming tears and heaving sobs, I whispered what I vowed never to do: ‘I give up.’ I have nothing left in knowing what is next, I pleaded to the darkness. Since then, it had been five months of consistent doctor visits, herbs and supplements, acupuncture and energetic healing work, hypnotherapy and homeopathy, psychology, medical tests and procedures, paperwork and phone calls, lab tests and consultations, medicine and vitamins, more tests, and numerous ER visits in snowstorms—all leading to a dead end and no hope in sight, with my son’s condition only slowly worsening over time. I was exhausted physically and emotionally, broken down by the relentlessness of my son’s undiagnosable stomach pain and no hope for healing. “Leaving a medical office one day, pushing my son in a wheelchair (because it was now too painful and tiring for him to walk much) down the long corridor of the medical center from which we had spent many, many hours over many months, my ten-year-old son looked up at me and said, ‘They aren’t on our side, Mom.’. “Then, the answer to my prayer arrived through a text from my mother explaining she had found someone who I should check out named Anthony William. Anthony William knew what was ailing my son within the first three minutes of our phone conversation, explaining that Calvin had a mutated shingles virus inflaming his vagus nerve. This explained the nerve pain and the lack of physical evidence in any blood work or other existing diagnostic tools. He was available to me when I needed him for follow-up calls (even in the middle of the night), emotional support, and as my cheerleader to keep me going as Calvin recovered. “It is clear how deeply committed Anthony is to his work in serving others in order that they may have the possibility to lead healthy, vibrant lives. “In 2015, my previously healthy five-year-old daughter started to develop neurological issues such as wobbly legs, frequent falls, an inability to walk when going from sitting to standing, general weakness, and decreased strength. Being a nurse for ten years and my medical community not providing me answers about why my daughter was getting worse was a hard pill to swallow. After visiting multiple doctors in several different states without any answers except ‘asthma’ and medications to treat the asthmatic symptoms, I was fortunate enough to have a session with Anthony William where he gave me specific information about the source of my son’s problems as well as holistic ways in which to repair them. It is hard to express the gratitude I feel toward Anthony William for his invaluable insight that directly led to my son’s amazing recovery into the teenager I always hoped he could be—active, healthy, happy, and enjoying life with a smile on his face and boundless energy!”.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Reading Anthony William's books and using the treasure trove of information contained within is the single most impactful thing I have ever done in my life, and for my health and well-being. I have healed illnesses that all the doctors could do is shrug their shoulders and hand me pills, along with the statement, "There's nothing we can really do for you". Anthony William is the only person who has ever given any true answers, and any infmation that actually helped me to heal the ROOT cause of my illnesses. That's the short version of my story - this information works because it is true, pure and untampered with. If you want the long version of my story, it's below: I have about a page of diagnoses that it took years of searching to get before I finally found Anthony William's book. I'll list some of them: Fibromyalgia, Mast Cell Activation Disorder, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hypothyroid, PCOS, Migraines, PTSD, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Dysautonomia/POTS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Sleep Apnea,....there are more diagnoses, but that's enough, you get the picture, right? I was homebound for almost a year because I was essentially allergic to the world and would react to all kinds of things wherever I went. I was unable to prepare food, or do dishes or laundry or keep my house clean. I had homeschooled my son and was unable to do that anymore - the only time I left my house was for doctors' appointments, and I had to always be driven by my husband because I had lost the ability to drive a car. I had less than zero energy, I felt horrible all the time, I was in terrible all over body pain and had crazy brain fog. I ate what I believed to be SO cleanly - all organic, grassfed, free-range meats and eggs, no grains or dairy, no nightshades, autoimmune paleo, low FODMAP. But he also worked 40 hours a week, took care of our son, made our food, did all of the grocery shopping and other errands, took care of the house and 1.5 acre yard, was getting our house ready to sell - I had zero idea how I was going to do this cleanse, how I could possibly pull it off with no energy to make any food. My energy was highest (I use that term very loosely) in the morning, so okay, let's see if I can manage to make some celery juice. At the time I only had a Vitamix, no juicer, so I used that and a tiny bit of water to blend the celery, then strained it through a nut milk bag. And still surprisingly, I had enough energy that day to make myself a morning smoothie after the celery juice. It went on like that as I did the cleanse - by Day 3 I began to blog it, because it was a freaking miracle happening to me, I couldn't believe it. But I got into the groove eventually, and the last week of the cleanse I did add in cooked potato to slow down the detox a bit. One day I realized I'd forgotten to call in my Low Dose Naltrexone prescription, because I no longer needed it to take the edge off the pain! My EDS symptoms like constant subluxations and pain - G. O. N. E. I can hardly believe how much has healed. My rosacea is healing, a raised mole I had completely disappeared, and listen, my friends, this is not just me I am talking about - I am by no means an anomaly here. I"m happy to answer any real questions you have about this work, but if you're on the fence and wondering if you should buy this (and the other two books) and if you can heal?"
"When it comes to my health, I always want to know and heal the ROOT cause of a problem. Since finding Anthony William and the Medical Medium books 6 months ago, I’ve had thousands of “Aha!” moments, moments when I both realized the accurate root cause of a health struggle or repeated symptom, and exactly what I can do to heal it myself, and in the most efficient way possible. Since finding these books, I’ve experienced better and better health every month. I haven’t finished it yet, so I’ll update the review soon, but already this book has masive amounts of new empowering, clear, and accurate information on the why and how of so many symptoms/illnesses, and what the heck to do for outstanding health and freedom from disease and health challenges. It also has more in-depth healing protocols (with new 90-day healing plans), it addresses how to adjust if you are sensitive to detoxing too fast, and wonderful recipes for making delicious healing foods for the whole family."
"There was a unique ignition of my soul that happened when I suddenly encountered illness- a dormant part of me started waking up. It takes a LOT of courage to follow what you feel in your heart is the right thing, despite the opinions/beliefs of all we have been spoon-fed about “health”. I guess I share all this because I hope everyone takes advantage of the gift that is being given to us on this planet right now."
Best Human-Computer Interaction
An inventive blend of autobiography, science writing, philosophy and advice, this book tells the wild story of his personal and professional life as a scientist, from his childhood in the UFO territory of New Mexico, to the loss of his mother, the founding of the first start-up, and finally becoming a world-renowned technological guru. His style is wonderfully discursive, reflecting his wide range of interests and experiences.”. ―Emily Parker, The Washington Post. “ Dawn of the New Everything spirits us back to a time when a plurality of ideas about what the Internet could be were still in play . “Jaron Lanier is both cheerleader and doomsayer in a highly personal story of virtual reality . a studied and nuanced interrogation of VR’s potential, as well as a gentle critique of what he sees as a failure of imagination when it comes to the medium’s current proponents.”. ― The Guardian. Integrating memoir, science writing, philosophical reflection, and down-to-earth advice, he reveals that virtual reality can clarify how the brain and the body connect to the world, giving us a deeper understanding of what it means to be human . This culturally significant title with its compelling personal narrative proves yet again that Lanier is a thinker whose work should be read and contemplated.”. ― Booklist. “Perhaps surprisingly for a book about the birth of virtual reality, this is a deeply human, highly personal, and beautifully told story .”. ―Dave Eggers, author of The Circle. It’s entirely unexpected and disarming to read about these concepts from an unabashedly subjective point of view. Not just for entertainment, but because Mr. Lanier has thoroughly convinced me that it’s the beginning of an enormous paradigm shift in the very way humans relate and communicate.”. ―Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor and director. “The author is an evangelist for the good side of VR, which now offers insights into human perception and cognition that are forcing a radical re-evaluation of who we are. A spirited exploration of tech by a devotee who holds out the hope that bright things are just around the corner.”. ― Kirkus Reviews.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"(focused on digital networks) and You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto (focused on Web 2.0), this book lacks a focused narrative arc and is decidedly retrospective. Earlier works focused on challenging inherent assumptions and cautioned about potential consequences; this book, however, is a somewhat nostalgic take on the development of concepts of VR and has much more autobiographical tone (Lanier points out that most chapters begin from his boyhood and end around 1992; he does reference to many more developments since then, but the narrative arc is not a linear one nor complete, limiting a reader's ability to extrapolate). Interspersed with the 52 or so definitions of VR (some of which are just snarky, others filled with references that may be obscure for the casual reader), Lanier gives a autobiographical account of his growing up, learning to experiment with gadgets, and the general fascination of VR and mixed reality concepts."
"I have been waiting for this book to come out since I first started working in VR, and heard Jaron give a spellbinding talk in 1999."
"This is something a little different from Lanier's other writings."
"The book presents a biography as well as non-fiction texts – the life of a pioneer in the field of virtual reality, and ideas about this technology."
"Like: His views on AI and social media are an compelling and insightful, and worth reading."
"His appendix on Phenotriopic Programming was especially exciting."
"I'm not a techie and didn't have any particular desire to learn about the history of VR, yet I found myself pulled into the book and Mr. Lanier's world."
"Reality from the source of VR."