Customer Reviews

Prometheus Rising

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First off, I have ALL of RAWilson's major books. They were entertaining to read and pretty interesting, but if you think this book, or any other of his books are filled with the ANSWERS you've been seeking, you're an easy person to lead. Seriously. In theory, and especially riddled with the William Burroughs-esque cut-and-paste style of Discordianism (complete with idiotic childlike illustrations on every other page), all these ideas sound quite brilliant and possibly very likely! However, in practice, it all shows itself to be the nonsense it is. (...I still haven't found any quarters, for one thing!)

As Wilson says in this book: "What the thinker thinks, the prover proves." You can prove ANYTHING (to yourself ) and that's the foundation of this book... and when you start off with a premise like that, you know you're in trouble.

This book is not perfect. It tries to appeal to every type of person, and in doing so it does lose something.

However if you read it carefully, you will have your point of view changed forever. I noticed that another reviewer called the book "irrelevant" "bull", and that was my original opinion some years ago when I first saw the book. But it did, nevertheless, leave some ideas in my head that grew into a real understanding of what he was trying to say, once I went back and read it again a few months ago.

I think that digesting the ideas in this book, which are decently distilled from many many sources, is essential for developing a balanced world view.

And in these troubled times, I think we can all use an owners manual for the brain. I'd also reccommend "Society of Mind" for a more scholarly and "macro" treatise on The Mind.

Mind that these are only books. But books are the best tools we have for self enlightment.

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Wilson can be amusing and his first four circuits are acceptable. Outside of that, the book is complete rubbish. His circuits include a circuit which lets you "see" the history of your DNA and ancestors, and he gives quotes from Finnegans Wake and Beethoven's music as evidence. Riiiiight. Another circuit is one where you feel high. This is just being high, it is not a circuit of your brain just for that purpose. There is nothing scientific about this book, and the psychology is incredibly outdated. If you like astrology, and other new age "science" which are completely un-supported by any evidence and have nothing scientific about them, you might like this book. It amazes me that so many people gave this book a good review; it shows how many people in our society are unable to think critically and have no knowledge of the scientific method or way of thinking.

This book has changed my life. It's one of the most influencial books that I've read. It sums up and explains the most profound thinkers, philosophies, and mind opening, soul freeing ideas in very simple and practical ways. It can lead you to many things if you explore what's offered. I believe it would change the world if everyone read it, and considered it seriously, and it's fun to read! Open your mind, read the book, do the work, and be free.

The underground accolades I had caught about this book made it imperitive that I read, so I went out of my way to find a copy.

Was it worth it?
Mostly.

For someone with as little experience with cognitive neuropsychology as I, this book was certainly enlightening and intriguing. And I will say that Wilson makes a lot of good points.

Unfortunately, I think he loses me in the latter half of the book. Those who read this book will most likely find the first four 'neuro-circuit' theories likely, or at least allegorical to whatever the yet-to-be-pinned down truth of the matter is.

But some of the later chapters become a bit tough to swallow. Wilson's optimism is applaudable, and his explanation of the subjectivity of said optimism confers an adequete explanation of his more extra-ordinary views.

Even still, some of Wilson's ideas jump some mightly large rational gaps, and seem correct only in the context of the book, not reality.

But the book has changed the way I think of personality, and it will most likely do that for you as well. As 'self-help' goes, one will most likely need a bit more of Wilson's work to become what they want (if they agree with Wilson) but this is a great plank from which to dive in.

This book explains human experience in terms of biological circuits and imprints. It is one "model" of the experience and as such it is interesting and it is valid. Together with the outline and explanation of different imprints and how they are formed, Wilson provides exercises so that the reader can come to his own conclusions through his own experience. After all, the only way to truly understand something is through experience - the rest will remain mere theory and speculation.

I have conducted number of the experiments from this book, even before I picked up this book and can attest to their validity. Some were spontaneous discoveries due to my life-long interest of experimenting with influence of one's mind, beliefs and expectations upon the experiences in one's life; other experiments were inspired by reading numerous other books and wanting to find out what happens if I do this or that.

The exercises provided in this book are only a starting point, but a very good one.

It is entirely true that a person who has been meditating for years, will have certain realizations and will be able to intentionally do things which are still considered impossible to those who have not activated certain neuro-biological circuits.

And as far as the coin experiment goes - I have friends who have found few hundred dollars lying on the street, or rather, in the subway, not ony one coin.

As the popular motto in quantum physics goes: "the expectations of the Observer determine the outcome of the experiment."

The grandfather of all secret teaching writers! (if you call them secrets of course!)
This book is totally awesome! One of my most favorite books I have ever read. This book has a lot to do with the human psychology and rethinking how we precieve are world. Explains how we are victims are own minds. How our enviroments and cultures "creates lenses in how we view reality and others" How to break those barries within are selves. Prometheus is written very well. Prometheus is a joy to read and funny, but serious at the same time! The book has a bunch of exercises at the end of each chapter that are fun to experiment with. Explains wide rage of secret teachings of the occult also...all in one book..!

I bought this book after hearing many good things about it. I mainly expected to read a book regarding sociology and psychology, written by a very well-liked author. This was the first Robert Anton Wilson book I ever read, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
This book did not meet my expectations, it far exceeded them. Never before has a book produced such change in my way of thinking. My brain was literally completely reprogrammed after reading Prometheus rising. Every facet of thought that goes through my mind is different. I treat people differently. This is because I genuinely feel that I understand others, and myself much better now.
I could not reccomend any book more highly than this. Also reccomended is the sequal, Quantum Psychology.

If you liked the first Cosmic Trigger, this is the next RAW book to buy. It contains several exercises for achieving the "brain change" talked about in Cosmic Trigger.

If you liked his other stuff, this is typical RAW...great stuff!

Looking for a book on magick or occultism without the mythological baggage, moral dogma, or out dated ritual? Get this book, read it, and DO THE EXCERCISES. The info in this book is that same stuff that "gurus" and cults founded by sci-fi writers charge members thousands of dollars for.