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Ken WilberKen Wilber
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Ken WilberKen Wilber
A Brief History of Everything 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition
by Ken Wilber (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (546)
“A clarion call for seeing the world as a whole,” this philosophical bestseller takes readers through history, from the Big Bang through the 21st century—now featuring an afterword with the writer-director of the Matrix franchise (San Francisco Chronicle)
Join one of the greatest contemporary philosophers on a breathtaking tour of time and the Cosmos—from the Big Bang right up to the eve of the twenty-first century. This accessible and entertaining summary of Ken Wilber’s great ideas has been expanding minds now for two decades, providing a unified field theory of the universe. Along the way, Wilber talks on a host of issues related to that universe, from gender roles, to multiculturalism, environmentalism, and even the meaning of the Internet.
This special anniversary edition contains an afterword, a dialogue between the author and Lana Wachowski—the award-winning writer-director of the Matrix film trilogy—in which we’re offered an intimate glimpse into the evolution of Ken’s thinking and where he stands today. A Brief History of Everything may well be the best introduction to the thought of this man who has been called the “Einstein of Consciousness” (John White).
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Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology, Therapy
Ken Wilber
4.7 out of 5 stars 229
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"In this 20th-anniversary edition of the bestselling work, Wilber takes readers on a journey from the Big Bang to the future, impressively synthesizing multiple fields of study. He organizes his material to fit its evolutionary nature, feeding off of what came before in order to provide a transformational 'unified theory' of history. Readers will gain new perspective on what they know, or think they know, about every possible discipline."--Publishers Weekly
"Ken Wilber is a national treasure. No one is working at the integration of Eastern and Western wisdom literature with such depth or breadth of mind and heart as he." --Robert Kegan, Professor of Education, Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and author of In Over Our Heads
"When Ken Wilber's thought walks through your mind, the door to the next higher level becomes visible. Anyone seeking to update the wisdom traditions of their lineage needs his reality and consciousness maps. The kabbalah of the future will lean on Ken's work." --Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
"Ken Wilber is today's greatest philosopher and both critic and friend to authentic religion, a true postmodern Thomas Aquinas." --Father Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation
"In the ambitiously titled A Brief History of Everything, Wilber continues his search for the primary patterns that manifest in all realms of existence. Like Hegel in the West and Aurobindo in the East, Wilber is a thinker in the grand systematic tradition, an intellectual adventurer concerned with nothing less than the whole course of evolution, life's ultimate trajectory--in a word, everything. . . . Combining spiritual sensitivity with enormous intellectual understanding and a style of elegance and clarity, A Brief History of Everything is a clarion call for seeing the world as a whole, much at odds with the depressing reductionism of trendy Foucault-derivative academic philosophy. "--San Francisco Chronicle
About the Author
KEN WILBER is the founder of Integral Institute and the cofounder of Integral Life. He is an internationally acknowledged leader and the preeminent scholar of the Integral stage of human development. He is the author of more than twenty books, includingIntegral Meditation,A Theory of Everything,Integral Spirituality,No Boundary,Grace and Grit, andSex, Ecology, Spirituality.
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A Brief History of Everything
byKen Wilber
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From AustraliaI have no yet finished it yet but so far I am Impressed withKen Wilbur's ability to express clearly in reasonably simple prose some difficult scientific concepts. I think that his Q and A format is a part of his secret.
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Abdulqadir Al-Emad
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in India on 2 December 2016
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Ken Wilber is great!
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Mercure
5.0 out of 5 stars OutstandingReviewed in France on 1 May 2016
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Among the several thousands books I have read over the past 36 years, NONE have as much clarity of writing, span and depth of reflexion.
This book makes a unique synthesis of philosophical and spiritual approaches, in which everything finds its right place and the whole looks utterly meaningful.
I believe it holds major keys, if not THE keys, to solving the problems mankind is faced with today.
2 people found this helpfulReport
Lorena Orive
5.0 out of 5 stars Ken Wilber es maravilloso, recomiendo ampliamente todos sus librosReviewed in Mexico on 6 April 2020
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Este es un excelente libro para comenzar a leer a Ken Wilber.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Leitura Interessante e ActualReviewed in Spain on 31 May 2023
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Livro com muito interesse, para uma prospecção futura.
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Roger Curley
5.0 out of 5 stars Raise your consciousness to new and aspiring levels, help raise the collective world view to one of harmony & peaceReviewed in the United States on 14 December 2014
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A must read for anyone that seeks enlightenment & is curiously frustrated with the 'average common denominator' ever so slow ability to 'Get it', He explains mans struggle to evolve over the entire history of man, also explains what factors needed to be in place before true transcendence to more 'adequate world views' could allow man to evolve to higher & wider levels of consciousness .
Explains our current resistance to previously Dominating social hierarchies like the mid Evil churches, which spowns sayings like 'question authority', & don't tell ME what to do or think.
As we slowly get beyound these mythical based dominating theologies & more toward mans new major Human Epoch - the Imformation age', this book helps identify the basic paths to the basic 'Truths' that will lead us all (in our own way) towards human Enlightenment....
But Don't worry, it's not going to happen with any instant hocus pocus...Sorry to those who feel that the only factor that holds us all back currently is Saturns position in the cosmos....:-O scary...
But it's all rather simple, you see...
"Man will get along Inteligently...ONce he's tried EVERY OTHER WAY :-o
Read this book & all of Ken Wilber works, you'll soon understand the common sense ways towards increasing Your consciousness, and at least have an understanding why so many struggle or are simply oblivious to the idea of evolving, transcending ...
6 people found this helpfulReport
Nick Waldenmaier
5.0 out of 5 stars Attempting to encompass everythingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2019
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In Wilber’s ontology, the building blocks of reality are holons: wholes that themselves form part of greater wholes, all the way up and down. So for instance, atoms form molecules, which in turn make up cells, which constitute organisms, and so on – thus creating holarchies (hierarchies of holons). The emergence of consciousness, for Wilber, is not a particular problem, as he deems it already present in elementary particles, though much less so than in holons with greater “depth”: humans, for example. Moreover, holons have an inside and an outside, as well as an individual and collective aspect: thus one arrives at four quadrants, each with its own type of holarchy, or growth hierarchy – “I”, “We”, “It”, “Its”; with their respective lines of personal, cultural and scientific development. Spirit, which manifests as all four quadrants, is both the highest, all-encompassing stage as well as the very ground and being of everything. To grow beyond a given stage is to first differentiate from it, then to transcend and include it; if not, things are either stuck or take on a pathological form. It is central to Wilber’s “Integral Theory” that development needs to proceed in all quadrants and along all lines apace if real and healthy progress is to be made.
Wilber is a great categoriser and systematiser, and the explanatory power of his conceptual map does indeed prove itself in the illuminating way he analyses various pathologies that have arisen along the way, be it scientific materialism (the denial of the interior dimension), eco-romanticism (the reduction of the spiritual to mere exterior nature), or postmodern relativism and multiculturalism (the denial of growth hierarchies). Outlining the history of both cultural and individual growth, he throws in (among other things) superb summaries of the philosophies of Plotinus and Schelling, all along the way to the Nondual realisation.
To offer anything resembling an adequate critique of Wilber’s system would go entirely beyond this brief review, and I will not do so here. Just a few points: The distinction between interior and exterior, for example, does not in itself answer the deep philosophical question as to why reality is such as to motivate the distinction - it states it but does not explain it. As for the relationship between interior and exterior – between, for example, having a certain emotion and a certain brain state – Wilber says that they are “correlated”, but does not sufficiently explain how this is to be understood. His “integral vision” is meant to integrate at a higher level (“transcend and include”) what modernity differentiated but could not pull together: aesthetics, morals and science. But what that level would look like remains somewhat nebulous: “The general idea is simply that we need to exercise body, mind, soul, and spirit – and do so in self, culture and nature.” (p. 311) To be sure, he has written more on how this is to be done in later works; nevertheless, his vision seems to me to be more a promise so far than a reality.
Despite his relative fame, Ken Wilber has perhaps not been given the credit he deserves: Spiritual seekers tend to regard him as too obsessively focussed on theorising, while hard-headed theoreticians are suspicious of his spiritual outlook. And yet his achievement is precisely that he has pulled spiritual theory and practice together. He has dedicated a lifetime to sifting through, organising and synthesising vast amounts of material, from both East and West, and the result is a conceptual map which in its combination of clarity and comprehensiveness is probably unmatched by any other. Certainly I have benefited a great deal in clarifying my own thinking by reference especially to his various states and stages, to their characterisations and to the principles and pitfalls that govern the transitions between them – things that had been quite muddled in my mind.
Above all, whether he is quite right or not, he has surely made a significant contribution to pointing out the way towards the realisation of much higher potentials than we typically live up to, a challenge for us to get serious and grow up if we are not to destroy our planet and ourselves. I therefore think that anyone who strives for higher things would do well to be familiar, at least in outline, with Wilber’s thought, both as a fruitful theoretical framework and for its very practical implications. This book, a distillation of most of his system, is as good a starting place as any to becoming acquainted with it.
15 people found this helpfulReport
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in Canada on 31 December 2016
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Arrived in time in perfect condition and was exactly what I wanted at a good price.
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Darryl TADMI
3.0 out of 5 stars An oriented bookReviewed in France on 3 November 2014
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The book is pretty well written but lacks objectivity and though the concepts are really interesting and worth writing about, the approach isn't scientific enough for my taste!
2 people found this helpfulReport
Andrew MD
5.0 out of 5 stars AmazingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2022
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It might surpassed one day but not in my lifetime. Incredible, the closest record we have of what the hell is going on….. if we had even 1000 people at this level, the world would change.
One person found this helpfulReport
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From other countries
Table_for_5
5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding!Reviewed in the United States on 29 October 2007
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This book brings transcendentalism into its proper perspective. Ken's creation of the 4 Quandrants brings enlightenment to the very concept of enlightenment, making way for a clear mind to identify the all-inclusive reality of transceding the ego and returning back into the oneness of Spirit WHILE living healthily, honestly, and with understanding in this world of form. ALL who have seen the light of their true being, even if only a glimpse, MUST read this book. It not only serves as the proverbial "finger pointing to the moon," but it also points to the science behind the moon and the steps that must occur before one can get to the moon, plus what the moon is NOT. Spirit is not merely consciousness, but it also manifests as birds, rocks, water, hair, teeth, and hands: spirit is the source of all, seen and unseen. Ken brings this to light in a most enlightening way, and gives you a few chuckles in the process. He also demonstrates the dichotemy of truth and fallacy that many Eco-based transcendentalists' and Ego-based transcendentalists' philosophies and beliefs hold.
Buddhists, Taoist, Unitarians, Gnostic Christians, Spiritualists, Hindus, Sufis, Kabbalahists (more so you guys with the K than the Q) and a whole host of others will greatly appreciate Ken's years of research and practice that have culminated in this work. In short, READ THIS BOOK!
21 people found this helpfulReport
Tiffany Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars An Eloquent and Insightful Argument for a New and Necessary VisionReviewed in the United States on 7 January 2013
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it built upon an influential essay I once read by Richard Tarnas entitled "The Great Initiation," who has written on similar topics. I find Wilber's ability to stream together an integral vision fascinating. His research, understanding, and interpretation of historical figures, epochs, and philosophical thought is quite intriguing ... especially having taken several Religious Studies courses as an undergraduate. Overall, Wilber's ability to frame seemingly opposing ideas into a coherent and conceivable format is very convincing. While at first I was put off by the Q&A format, I quickly adjusted to the style as the book flowed well. While the book may be a thick read for some, this level of depth is the type of reading I most enjoy. Furthermore, I felt there were many takeaways from the book despite whether or not you agreed with the central message based on the lovely language coupled with the book's level of complexity. Wilber is undoubtedly one of the more brilliant minds in existence today, and highly worth the read. I look forward to reading more books from him in the future.
6 people found this helpfulReport
Akaash Rishi
4.0 out of 5 stars Hood and the mentality of the BlingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2022
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Andrew Cohen had done this man some work that we have not found out yet. It would be good to get those Pundit and Guru claims for Indian title and land reviewed so that Oxford can track their test of nature and they nest eggs again.
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Tina B. Tessina
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing philosophyReviewed in the United States on 10 March 2003
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For any thinking person who's struggling with the schism between science, psychology and faith, this book has the answer. Mr. Wilber has an amazing mind, and in this book he simplifies his theoretical framework to make his brilliant thought easier to grasp. I disagree with the reader who complained about lack of references -- all the footnotes are available in his other works. This is the synthesis of his thought for those who want to understand, not those who want to nit-pick.
For me, it's a life-changing book, showing the way to order my own thoughts and experiences. Wilber is the only writer I've come across, other than James Hillman, who helps me reconcile all my disparate reading and experience.
In this book, he perfectly and succinctly outlines the growth process I see in my clients who are struggling to overcome dysfunction, find meaning in life and transcend their pasts.
I am grateful for this book's influence in my thought, and in my work as a therapist.
38 people found this helpfulReport
David Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2017
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how to put the world into prespective
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Rasha Shaheen
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 January 2015
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what I asked for - great
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Laura Granville
5.0 out of 5 stars I ate it up!Reviewed in the United States on 1 March 2013
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Ken Wilber speaks to my mind and soul! It isn't light reading, but it is amazingly intellectual. I was a Liberal Studies major in college. I had a pulse on the essence, the truth of what he proposes, and explains. I am delighted to discover his works and ideas. They really speak truths that resonate with me. This was the first Ken Wilber book I have read. At the advice of a friend who turned me on to Ken I had listened to two of his books before reading this. It was excellent advice. Wade in the the pool before attempting to learn to swim. I listened to The Marriage of Sense and Soul and The One, Two Three of God before reading this. Now I am onto reading A Simple feeling of Being and listening to Kosmic Contagiousness. I must say 3 months ago I never read his stuff, but now if you ask me "who is the one person dead or alive you would like to meet and spend a day with? I would say make it a week and it is Ken Wilber!" A day just wouldn't be enough.
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Gary Moreau, Author
3.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps "Everything" is a bit too ambitiousReviewed in the United States on 17 April 2021
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Ken Wilber is a famous American philosopher known for his work in Integral Theory. And what does this theory integrate? Well, judging from this book, virtually everything. Mind and nature, man and woman, virtually all periods of history since the Big Bang, Eastern and Western spirituality, religion and empiricism, ascension and descension. All of it.
He accomplishes this feat through the use of a four-quadrant mapping of everything from morals and integrity to data and science. On the left are the things we can’t touch (or locate), like integrity, and on the right are the things we can, like empirical data. The quadrants evolve vertically, each step in the evolution incorporating and transcending the prior. Ultimately, however, it is represented by the Big Three: “I”, “we”, and “it”.
Wilber is obviously a brilliant philosopher. It’s beyond my comprehension that one person could conceive of such an all-encompassing system of philosophy. And it encompasses not only everything, but everyone. His knowledge of all of the great philosophers of history is beyond compare in my admittedly limited armchair experience.
The problem, as I see it, is that the objective is just too ambitious. Everything, philosophically speaking, may be just too much. It is where we exist, but it is not where we live our lives. To tie a bow around it all requires a language that is both too jargonistic and too nuanced, leading to the philosophical equivalent of the proverbial split hair.
It’s not an easy read by any definition. “This is a profound integration of Ego and Eco, of Ascent and Descent, of transcendence and immanence, of Spirit descending into even the lowest state and ascending back to itself, but with Spirit nonetheless fully present at each and every stage as the process of its own self-realization, a divine play of Spirit present in every single movement of the Kosmos, yet finding more and more of itself as its own Play proceeds, dancing fully and divine in every gesture of the universe, never really lost and never really found, but present from the start and all along, a wink and a nod from the radiant Abyss.”
To be fair, not all of the prose is so exhausting. And there is a lot of good common sense, in common language, which I fully agree with. “So all meaning is context dependent, and contexts are boundless.” That truth alone may not explain everything, but it explains an awful lot.
I agree completely with his criticism of science as we currently think about it. And he’s spot on in his attribution of many of the problems of the modern world to the rise of the “it” to the near total exclusion of the “we” and the “I”. Said differently, things like morality and integrity, or even goodwill, are being obliterated by the quest for power using false truths dressed up as empirical fact and forever subverting the means of “we” to the end of shameless and exclusive self-interest.
Which is why he makes this extremely valid point about the internet. “What computer technology (and the Information Age) means is that the techno-base can support a worldcentric perspectivism, a global consciousness, but does not in any way guarantee it.” He goes on, “A great number of the Infobahn males are digital predators—egocentric computer warriors that couldn’t care less about intersubjective cooperation and mutual recognition.” And the reason: “Most people, alas, are still at preconventional and conventional modes of awareness, egocentric and ethnocentric.” As a result, “When worldcentric means are presented to less-than-worldcentric individuals, those means are simply used (and abused) to further the agenda of the less-than-worldcentric individual.” I get it and I fully agree.
In the end, perhaps my problem with this book is a problem inherent in my own worldview. I am intensely curious and truly enjoy philosophy, but I have long ago stopped trying to figure “everything” out. I don’t believe we will ever figure it all out, at least not in terms we can express through language. And I am confident that machines will never get as far as our own feeble minds will. I sincerely think of mathematics as beautiful, but I don’t believe it holds the keys to the universe. Patterns are everywhere, but they are only patterns: truth, which is valid, but not Truth, which is valid and complete.
I tip my hat to the author for his ambition. And I stand in awe of his brilliance. In the end, however, this book wasn’t for me. Perhaps me is the problem. I have no delusions of brilliance. I love books that make me think. But I like to come away from a book with a thoughtful melody I can hum. “Everything” may be beautiful philosophy, but you can’t hum it.
41 people found this helpfulReport
Jay D. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy-to-read intro to Integral TheoryReviewed in the United States on 14 December 2018
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If you need an introduction to Ken Wilber’s work on Integral Theory, this, for me, seems the place to start. Though it goes into some necessary detail explaining the four quadrants and different levels, this book is more than just a summary, showing how evolution works in the quadrants of the individual (I and it) and the collective (us and its) in dealing with both exterior and interior states (stages) of evolution within social structures, communities, cultures and individualistic ideas and thoughts. I’ve not read a more comprehensive understanding of the “why” of our growth and progress as individuals and collective humanity. It answered a lot of questions I had regarding how a person or group can seemingly be at one stage of development within their belief systems and yet maintain a different stage of development in perspective or ideological system when they are often juxtaposed. I’m on to “Sex, Ecology, Spirituality” next. Thanks, Ken, for writing and for your work. I know I’ve barely scratched the tip of the iceberg.
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RK
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking in some ways, but undertone of discomfortReviewed in the United States on 27 October 2003
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This is the first Ken Wilber book i have read. I read it because i had read somewhere else that this book espoused a viewpoint of how religions, societies, political systems, etc evolved. In fact, he does that. It is an interesting explaination. I get the sense however as i read this stuff that he is manufacturing this system. I almost feel that he is making up his own vocabulary, which generally gets in the way, to explain this.
When i was much younger, i read quite a bit in the existential and sociological works area. This refreshed my memory of that exercise. You have to really dig down and spend some time thinking about this stuff to have a chance at grasping it. The question becomes whether it is worth it? Is there a benefit from spending a great deal of time reading this guy's works? I do not have simple answer. I know very little about the man himself. I guess the first question would be whether he himself has risen to some higher level of conciousness as a result of his deep thinking here? I do see some applications of thinking about various social, societal, inter-personal interactions. I just am not sure yet whether i buy into this framework of thought.
31 people found this helpfulReport
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Alexei Tsvetkov
1.0 out of 5 stars Snake oil philosophyReviewed in the United States on 2 January 2002
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No, this is not philosophy as it is understood by the grown-ups, although it surely is a dumbed down strand of Hegelianism (what else could it be with such a cute title?). This is a kind of New Age chirping for people who prefer not to strain their brains excessively and to feel well with the least mental expense. How does one earn a reputation in these circles? Easy: by preaching ignorance to the ignorant.
Here are a few examples that should serve as a caution to everyone who might otherwise be taken for a ride, as I surely was. If you are a Hegelian, at some point you must introduce the �Spirit�. Wilber does it pretty early by discussing evolution. The wing, according to him, is useful only when fully developed � a half-wing is no good. Such a sophisticated instrument could only have evolved with the help of a supreme agency. This is an argument from a Jehovah Witnesses tract: the real science points out that even a quarter-wing (as well as a quarter-eye) is usually better than none if it gives the animal the slightest edge over the wingless. And it does: somebody should have shown Wilber a flying squirrel.
Introducing his theory of �holons� Wilber states that matter is infinitely divisible (and compounded). The real science, of course, has discovered otherwise: the string is the smallest element of matter.
The discussion of the Big Bang and of what could have �preceded� it is altogether laughable. What is missing throughout the book is an awareness that every proposition is worthless unless provable.
When mentioning the Axial Age with its saints and prophets, Wilber studiously omits every name connected with the Judeo-Christian tradition. One feels an agenda, but it is never stated explicitly. Sneaky.
Last but not least: the whole book is written in the form of a dialog, but the only purpose of the questioner is to suck up to the answerer; he never advances any intelligent objection, never mentions any contrarian authority with the exception of some feminists. This must be the easiest way of philosophical discourse.
I must confess that I picked up this book because its main thesis, the poverty of the reductionism, is close to my heart. But I would rather stay with the reductionists as long as they respect my intelligence.
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Aleatory
4.0 out of 5 stars Deeply important subject matterReviewed in the United States on 6 January 2016
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As the first book I've read by the author, I found the subject matter extremely fascinating, but the delivery somewhat repetitive. In an era that is profoundly stricken by the dissociative dichotomy that exists between the logical/rational and the emotional/intuitive, Wilber's willingness to embrace a more unified and holistic perspective is both revolutionary and desperately needed. In my initial readings, I was somewhat shocked to find that this book had been published at the outset of the 90s. It seems that its time has yet to fully bloom in the collective mind, but to me, makes the content all the more important now.
Overall, this left me feeling like I understood the gist of Wilber's Integral Theory well enough to go back to explore his many other publications or leave them be while I took the time to more deeply integrate what I had read. By this, I mean there's just enough explanation to make sense of things without feeling too lost (at least having some prior exposure to Eastern spirituality, philosophy, psychology, etc.).
5 people found this helpfulReport
P. Gruhn
3.0 out of 5 stars I want to like this guy -- but I am not sure I canReviewed in the United States on 29 July 2023
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So, Ken Wilbur takes everything there is in the world of philosophy and theology and world religions and mixes them all up to create a framework and a new set of labels to make a one size fits all set of beliefs ... I have not finished reading the book yet ... I get excited about some of the ideas he presents - but them I am turned off by who he is as a person -- seems like he had a following - but isn't as relevant any more - I need to finish the book and see what parts stick.
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P. Leuenberger
3.0 out of 5 stars Take it with a grain of saltReviewed in the United States on 24 September 2010
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Yes, this book is interesting. Wilber introduces some interesting concepts and ideas, and does a good job at explaining and describing them.
However, it's also clear that despite his confident writing style, despite his broad knowledge about anything that may be related to personality and spirituality, he hasn't experienced all of these. So he writes as someone that read a book on skiing and he athletic enough to get an idea of how it must feel and what joy it must bring. But he doesn't know how it actually feels. And so, he writes in this manner about topics that I actually have experience with, and the way he writes shows clearly that it's not a difference of opinion that we are talking about here, but simply that he hasn't experienced it and as such, does not get it fully. The danger here is that he speaks as if he is an expert. Expert comes from experience, and that I can tell you he does not have on all the topics he writes.
So a good book to introduce many different concepts and show all the levels of complexity that makes the human mind. But no, Ken is not a genius. He is just a guy, very educated on many topics.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars DENSE but enlighteningReviewed in the United States on 8 August 2018
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This was my introduction to the author. Packed with an enlightening theme, a really expansive way of looking at the world. This book forced/challenged my materialist rooted perspective and definitely makes me more curious about the spiritual side of things. While repetitive at times, I actually began to appreciate it because I found the ideas so dense, it was necessary to hear the ideas presented again in a slightly different way. It’s hard to read this book in electronic format and follow the diagrams. I’m probably going to have to read again and check out his other works, probably in paper form. Overall appreciated this work.
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J. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Abstractionist and pattern-finder extraordinaireReviewed in the United States on 17 January 2003
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Regarding Ken Wilber's A Theory of Everything, and A Brief History of Everything. Wilber's books are very interesting, in his synthesis of latest thinking from all over the spectrum of knowledge--evolutionary biology, economics, psychology, history, physics, etc., to name a few--and his building a unified framework or world view that is profoundly inclusive of ideas from all of these fields. He is a "mapmaker" of sorts, an abstractionist and pattern-finder, plotting out how things relate in the various spheres of knowledge, and hanging them together in a single richly-textured fabric--of categories, structures, hierarchies and relationships. Everything from religion to evolution to particle physics are fit within the framework. I have some questions about the validity of some of the premises on which he hangs some of his notions, but the quadrant system he presents--and the common patterns he observes in all of these various spheres of knowledge--is quite amazing. It is interesting and thought provoking reading, if you are interested in a synthesis of the latest ideas on how "everything" hangs together (the "theory") and how it has come to be this way (the "history").
14 people found this helpfulReport
Curlybird
5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent SpiritualityReviewed in the United States on 5 November 2004
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In this work of incredible insight and brilliance, Ken Wilber lays out the basis for the development of all systems and how so many systems have become stunted in their growth by negating or omitting important developmental stages in the expansion to the higher levels of wholeness leaving them in the evolutionary dust of flatland. He speaks out fervently against the concretization of thought in the form of dogma of any type as, in essence, the lazy way out. His work challenges us all to use these wonderful minds in an ever expanding search for higher truth rather than relying on the trite, sound-bite phraseology of the tiny mind. He is very understandable in his descriptions of the growth processes and makes his key points both releveant and clear, however I suggest a basic comprehension of evolving systems theory, some knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and an understanding of history in addition to an open, questioning mind to assist in the absorption of this material. Then again, if you are ready and willing, read on.
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tpferguson
4.0 out of 5 stars New vocabularyReviewed in the United States on 3 May 2023
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The author creates new words and categories for the reader. He is also very convoluted in his explanations.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great condensation of the essential WilberReviewed in the United States on 29 March 2015
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Kibler's renown is unlikely and amazing, and this book is responsible for much of it. The self-interview style makes me wince sometimes -- no one can accuse Wilber of lacking confident self-regard -- but it does make for less dense prose. Do stay in the forest even if some of its specific trees, like the discussions of men and women contrasted, initially or even perpetually offend. This is a helpful, thought-provoking and very accessible book even if you only get the concept, and not the particulars, of his four quadrants. It's a very clear condensation of his work, and he is an engaging character (see "Grace & Grit," "One Taste").
8 people found this helpfulReport
Emmanuel
2.0 out of 5 stars DisappointingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2024
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I am not convinced by the book:
- It is more a sequence of statement rather than a demonstration by reason
- it is very anthropo-centered, one dogma is that human existence is not due to hazard
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Greg Skyles
4.0 out of 5 stars A good overview of Integral philosophyReviewed in the United States on 21 March 2015
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This was a very readable, concise introduction to Ken Wilber's work. And amazingly, it is without footnotes/endnotes! I'd recommend it to the person who is wondering, "What is all that Integral stuff about, anyway?"
He illustrates a lot of his concepts with examples from history along the way which helps make this less of a dry academic treatise and more of an enjoyable read. I also liked that he explains the varying conflicts of different schools of science, religion, philosophy, politics, ecology, etc., very clearly and simply inside the Integral framework. This made a whole lot more sense than any history course I ever took.
25 people found this helpfulReport
Trailwulf
5.0 out of 5 stars ExquisiteReviewed in the United States on 10 May 2014
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My colleagues quote Wilber often, so I finally succumbed and got a copy. To put it simply, this is one of the ten books I would try to save if there was a fire in my library. It is down to earth plain talk about the profound immensity of life. It posits the evolutionary nature of the universe and how that operates from the sub-atomic to the macro-whole of the cosmos. It helps one understand that evolutionary unfolding that has produced the self and the challenge that places on one's choice of life and vocational endeavor. You don't want to be guilty of ending your life without reading this book.
7 people found this helpfulReport
Mike "Spike" Behn
4.0 out of 5 stars Wilber in a NutshellReviewed in the United States on 1 November 2007
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This CD set exposes one to Wilber's ideas and theories in an understandable manner, in a relatively small package (6 CDs). Unlike "Kosmic Consciousness", it is not Wilber speaking (and he is quite the speaker!) and is a bit brief for such a complicated subject. If you want a real feel for Integral Theory and Wilber, highly recommend "Kosmic Consciousness", unabbridged. Otherwise, this is an excellent way to get your feet wet in a painless manner. Only reason for (4) stars and not (5) is that I liked "KC" SO much better.
2 people found this helpfulReport
Hector Lasala
5.0 out of 5 stars amazed at wilber's ability to turn the dense lucidReviewed in the United States on 18 June 2008
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wilber is worth all the hype:
he is a true pioneer of
the emerging phase of planetary evolution.
this book is a great primer.
here he masterfully weaves multiple threads
from hugely diverse sources;
from science to mysticism,
from history to philosophy.
the result is stunningly precise thoughts
yet infused with moments of poetical flares,
and a myriad of insights!
at every page i found myself
amazed at his ability
to turn the dense lucid.
his writings lure us
into the sway of the mystic-
but this is a mysticism that is very earthy
yet always transcending our grasp.
8 people found this helpfulReport
dvegan28
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for clear world visionReviewed in the United States on 1 August 2021
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This book changed my world view to understanding and peace with cycles and cohesiveness of society providing inspiration for visions of greater collective consciousness it’s a must read for every twenty something learning about the world or every late adult lost
3 people found this helpfulReport
Peter C. Mead
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing overview of the basic considerations we need to consider ...Reviewed in the United States on 16 September 2016
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Amazing overview of the basic considerations we need to move forward with our understanding of consciousness, nature and the process of evolution. This isn't the whole picture but attempts to rope in the vastness of human experience and make sense of where it is leading us. Even if you disagree with parts of this, it will sharpen your focus in working out your differences. I know this sounds vague and general, but it is hard to say anything briefly on this subject..
2 people found this helpfulReport
Utah Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great, difficult book.Reviewed in the United States on 14 March 2016
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This is not an easy read. I found myself going back and forth to fully grasp what he is talking about. But, having said that, isn't everything in learning difficult especially when it comes to finding our true self and meaning? My Ego is resisting this process of self learning and self experiencing to the hilt. The Ego wants total control and this book is helping me to find a unity with Self and Ego. External and Internal.
2 people found this helpfulReport
pinkygirl10
5.0 out of 5 stars OMG A great findReviewed in the United States on 26 September 2018
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Talk about big things coming in small packages! It's a great read. A little high brow in places but the author balances it out by being more relaxed, even playful, in other parts. This books truly is a brief history of everything...hold on and get ready for a cerebral, probably more spiritual, ride!
7 people found this helpfulReport
Anthony Q
5.0 out of 5 stars What a joy!Reviewed in the United States on 3 January 2014
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Ken Wilber makes a wonderful point in describing our situation as a result of our inability to think outside "the group". Simple, heh? If we can't see outside our own personal point of view with empathy, how can we evolve in a positive way?
We like to complicate and confuse issues to maintain supposed control. Thank you Ken Wilber for attempting to simplify such an important and uplifting message! We are all one!
One person found this helpfulReport
dr. j. lee jones
4.0 out of 5 stars ... would have given this 5 stars for Ken Wilber's brilliant scholarship, but since I could only follow it ...Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2015
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I would have given this 5 stars for Ken Wilber's brilliant scholarship, but since I could only follow it at the three star level...I made it a four!
This is a once in a generation mind...if you want to dive into the deep end of the pool of intelligentsia!
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From other countries
Bokata
5.0 out of 5 stars Still trying to peel myself off the ceiling!Reviewed in the United States on 11 April 1999
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As a doctoral student in psychology, I can say in a clarion voice that Wilber is perhaps the most original thinker of the day. The book reveals a profound grasp of the broad sweep of philosophy - both East and West. The author also has and impressive, in-depth grasp of science and history as well. Aside from that, the book is engaging and highly entertaining. Having never heard of Ken Wilber prior to first reading his work in the last six months, I can say that he ranks among the foremost thinkers in the world today. I say this with more than a passing knowledge of philosophy. Rarely, since my first reading of Carl Jung, have I ever been so excited about someone's work. Read and find yourself on the ceiling!
12 people found this helpfulReport
Charles Geiger
2.0 out of 5 stars Das Audible-Hörbuch stimmt nicht mit dem derzeit verkauften Text übereinReviewed in Germany on 4 December 2021
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Das Audible-Hörbuch ist zwar gut verständlich und wegen dem Frage- und Antwortmodus des Buches auch von 2 Personen gesprochen, aber es scheint auf einer anderen Auflage zu basieren. Es fehlen einzelne Absätze. Wenn man das Hörbuch separat hört, nicht weiter ein Problem. Liest man aber den Text gleichzeitig mit dem Hörbuch dann IST das ein Problem. Deshalb nur 2 Sterne für die Audible-Version. Ich habe sie zurückgegeben.
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Jan Duran
4.0 out of 5 stars Deeply analyticalReviewed in the United States on 14 February 2014
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This is a book for a person who doesn't mind pulling out a dictionary once in a while to check the terms of various verbiage. Deeply intriguing and layered with intense insights, this book will keep you pondering life's mysteries and reevaluating your own place within its system.
4 people found this helpfulReport
Gudjon Bergmann
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Readable WilberReviewed in the United States on 6 October 2010
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In this book Ken Wilber covers the topics of Sex, Ecology and Spirituality, in a conversational and very readable manner. If you have been trying to read through some of the heavier Wilber material and would rather have a down to earth conversation with the author, read this book. I also recommend his audio program, Kosmic Consciousness, for the same purpose.
Gudjon Bergmann, author of Living in the Spirit of Yoga (2010) and The Seven Human Needs (2006)
One person found this helpfulReport
Thomas Neilson
5.0 out of 5 stars An accessible book by one of the greatest integrative thinkersReviewed in the United States on 29 May 2011
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Ken Wilber possesses an gift for integrative thinking that is unmatched in modern times. This book is a more accessible re-write of "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality", which is his magnum opus. He brings together an astounding mix of philosophy, science, psychology, and spirituality in a way that makes a great deal of sense and can be profoundly useful. This is a remarkable book, and worth reading if you are philosophically inclined.
2 people found this helpfulReport
Teri Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my lifeReviewed in the United States on 13 January 2013
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Wilber's big picture is bigger than any other I know. I first read "Brief History" at a time when I was drawn to two spiritual communities with opposite values: one New Thought and the other Fundamentalist with great music (as detailed in my book, "The Bishop and the Seeker). Wilber showed me that I was not backsliding but integrating, and my life has been juicier ever since.
4 people found this helpfulReport
elliot c pinkney
5.0 out of 5 stars vital information!Reviewed in the United States on 6 October 2010
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This book is nothing short of incredible. There is so much stuff here that I think every one should know. This is an amazing read, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for some higher learning. A good friend of mine, Doc Barham, a Los Angeles Life Coach also known as Coach Hollywood, persisted that I read this vital information. This book has changed my way of thinking. Great Read, Enjoy!
One person found this helpfulReport
Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Shifted My RealityReviewed in the United States on 19 March 2014
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Left/right, all four quadrants, ascending, descending, physiosphere, biosphere, noosphere, body, mind, soul, spirit, value/science, contemplation/community, flatland, levels of consciousness, horticulture to agrarian, enlightenment, industrialization, modern, post modern, informational etc. I got more from this reading than I am willing to take my time recount. Want to move on to my next Ken Wilber book.
One person found this helpfulReport
James A. Dalinis
5.0 out of 5 stars GreatReviewed in the United States on 30 January 2023
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Great
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Steve Robbins
5.0 out of 5 stars Just go ahead and read itReviewed in the United States on 28 November 2013
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Mr. Wiber offers us an updated map of the Kosmos. Expect exteremely windy roads and severely steep grades. Backing up and starting over will be required in several locations. Yet, if you have that nagging aspiration toward upward and ahead this is probably your best bet. I hate to sound melodramatic but I think perhaps our survival depends upon it.
2 people found this helpfulReport
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