Book Description

Cited by the L.A. Weekly as "the culture's foremost spokesman for the psychedelic experience," Terrence McKenna is an underground legend as a brilliant raconteur, adventurer, and expert on the experiential use of mind-altering plants.

In these essays, interviews, and narrative adventures, McKenna takes us on a mesmerizing journey deep into the Amazon as well as into the hidden recesses of the human psyche and the outer limits of our culture, giving us startling visions of the past and future.

Customer Reviews (21)

Thank you McKenna!
Oh, man. With music as our spirit's guide, we ate some mushrooms and journeyed inward throuhout the galaxy. The human body/mind is a spaceship designed for interstellar space travel.Thats the secret hidden power of human beings which others are trying so hard to conceal.Enlightenment is only a few grams of shrooms away, combined with the right music and setting, the surest way to transform into and experience God.To experience The Other within us, to go to a place so far beyond yet so close, to experience whats been felt by so many others throughout the Aeons, words cannot describe. Our physical bodies and Earthly affairs are obsolete. Many ancient civilizations understood this, thus they have no need to be here.They took death as something beautiful. Life here is only temporary.McKenna's book speaks mostly on these topics and much more. First class info from one of the worlds greatest thinkers!

An Interesting Collection of "Far Out" Ideas.
_The Archaic Revival:Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History_ by ethnobotanist Terrence McKenna is a rather interesting collection of essays and interviews revealing McKenna's often rambling thoughts on the various subjects mentioned in the title.McKenna's basic theme seems to be that the hallucinogenic plants have beneficial effects and can result in mind expansion which ultimately will aid society and bring about a utopia.Oddly however, the book rather hypocritically begins with a warning in which the publisher and author note the harmful effects of these substances and their illegality.Whatever one's personal beliefs are about the justice behind so-called drug laws, the fact remains that the hallucinogenic substances and plant products mentioned by McKenna in this book are illegal and possibly dangerous and that ingestion of these substances can result in possible difficulties with the law as well as potentially harmful side effects.

These essays and interviews show McKenna at both his best and worst.On the one hand he argues for an "archaic revival" and a restoration of the principles of shamanism based on his inherent belief that the indigenous peoples of the earth have something to offer modern civilization.However, I disagree with him when he turns to feminist political correctness and rails against Western civilization and Christianity (monotheism).McKenna's central argument is that the hallucinogenic mushroom has co-evolved with man in a symbiotic relationship.Echoing the theories of maverick psychologist Julian Jaynes, McKenna argues that primitive man was not fully conscious (did not possess self-awareness) until he underwent an appropriate transformation.This transformation involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms.McKenna then goes off on a tangent in which he suggests the rather bizarre idea that the spores of these mushrooms are in fact interstellar travelers.Here, he mentions the pan-spermia theory of Cyril Ponnamperuma and Francis Crick (co-discoverer of DNA) that life originated in outer space and traveled to earth that way in the form of prebiotic molecules.In much the same way, McKenna suggests that the mushrooms constitute "intelligent organisms" and that they too are interstellar travelers.McKenna's theories developed over time as he traveled the world beginning with India (where he grew discontented over disagreements with the caste system) and eventually turning to the primitive shamanism (Bon-Po) of Tibet.McKenna eventually made his way to the Amazon where he experienced the use of hallucinogenic substances among the shamans there.Indeed, he discusses both the role of ayahuasca and the hallucinogenic psilocybe mushrooms.McKenna also has some rather strange theories on UFOs, regarding them as a sign of the coming world crisis.His theories on UFOs may owe a debt to the famous Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung whose depth psychology serves as the foundation for much of McKenna's theories and who observed the UFO phenomenon as a coming indication of changing world conditions.McKenna attempts to link the UFO and the extraterrestrial to the hallucinogenic mushrooms and hallucinogenic substances in general.He argues that after smoking DMT he experienced a unique phenomenon which he believed involved making contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence.Indeed, the phenomenon of alien abduction and ultimately the allegation of sexual encounters with aliens offers a unique embellishment of the UFO myth and a reverberation in the collective unconscious.McKenna also discusses what he believes constitutes the "end of history" in 2012, the ending date of the Mayan calendar.McKenna believes that with the help of the psychedelics the history of the planet will undergo drastic changes possibly allowing for an aversion of the coming ecological catastrophe.Other essays focus on the Voynich manuscript, perhaps composed by Elizabethan magus John Dee and its links to Rosicrucianism, virtual reality and the role of the virtual in the coming transformation of man's consciousness, and the history of the hallucinogenic mushroom in literature before R. Gordon Wasson discovered it, including references to the works of Lewis Caroll, H. G. Wells, and John Uri Lloyd (writer of the bizarre novel _Etidorhpa_, Aphrodite backwards).McKenna argues for a coming archaic revival brought about by renewed interests in the psychedelics which he believes will usher in a utopia.

While McKenna's theories are certainly bizarre and interesting at the same time, they are also naïve in certain respects.For example, McKenna's ultimate faith in the transformative powers of the hallucinogenic plants must be questioned.Whether or not these substances provide access to altered mind states, I believe it is rather naïve to attribute to them the powers of a panacea which will eliminate all social ills.McKenna's theories on virtual reality are equally interesting given the promise of these new technologies; however, again I believe he is somewhat naïve in believing they will truly transform mankind.Nevertheless despite these criticisms, this book did provide much food for thought on the various topics mentioned in the title.

A New Trip Down an Old Rabbit Hole
I just recently finished this book, and i can say it has been one of the most profound pieces of literature i've ever had the pleasure of reading. The topics explored in the book (which are, i might add, VERY extensively explored) ask the reader to look outside of the narrow field of spiritual and philosophical vision that constitutes our cultural typic, and question things one might not have ever thought of questioning. McKenna seems very frank and straightforward through the whole book, not dancing around subjects or refraining from certain phrases that some would be self-concious to use (ie. get loaded).
Instead of seeming to be written exclusively for futuristic scientists with an affinity for psychedelic drugs, the book seems to be aimed at the much wider crowd of anyone with an open mind and a vocabulary. The ideas described vary in topic from UFO abductions to a 15th century manuscript, and everything in between. most of the chapters have some common thread connecting them, the only exception being "The Voynich Manuscript." im not really sure where he was going with this chapter in relation to the rest of the book, but its interesting nonetheless. anyway, the book is nothing but a collection of speeches, essays, interviews, etc conducted by him over the years, and is really meant to be an introduction to his philosophy. His other books: The I Ching, and Food of the Gods, though i havent' read them, have been reviewed to be much more technically worded, hard to read, and aimed at students of mathematics and anthropology/ethnobotany. The Archaic Revival is more or less easy to comprehend, but he does use some terms over and over again that the average person wouldn't know (ie. phenomenology, entelechy, gnosis), so have a dictionary close by if you want to get the most out of the material as possible.
Terrence McKenna has some very bizzarre ideas for sure, and not everyone will relate to all of the ideas expressed in his writings, but i think that most ppl can find something about it they find interesting, and for the psychedelic crowd, McKenna's ideas sound like solaces from beyond, as he so easily verbalizes concepts that otherwise seem impossible to explain. His ideas of social reform and reverting to imitating plants as the role models of human life and civilzation, rather than animals, are so insane that they make more sense than anything i've ever heard. As far as his idea of the end of human history and the transcendence of physical existence into cyber-spiritual entities, all happening by the year 2012, i think he was a little off with the exact figures of time, as im writing this on Oct. 30, 2005 and it doesn't look like the world is going through a historical apocalypse in the next 6 yrs., but oh well--when you're dealing with the entirety of history, you can give or take a couple thousand years w/out compromising the legitimacy of your idea. plus, who knows, maybe on Jan. 1, 2012, we'll all be sitting around watching our bodies dissapear and our souls externalize.
I would reccommend this book to just about everyone, although i imagine it would be very hard for a 13 yr old to read, but im sure there are some very intelligent 13 yr olds out there who could comprehend it. for the open-minded, the book should be fascinating and engaging in its freshness, and for the rigid western thinkers--it should at least crack the shell and expose the possibilities of what's really out there. if anything, i'd say this is a book of non-denominational hope, derived and reported back from the past, and in McKenna's case--the future.

Some people would like all copies of this book burnt
I enjoyed this book, as it is so much easier to read than McKenna's other works (some of which are as dry and technical as scientific journals) -- if you are interested in hearing what Mister McKenna has to say, definitely start with this one.The chapters mostly consist of essays which had been published in various new age magazines, as well as transcripts of several interviews with the author, so it all flows rather nicely.Terrence McKenna is widely acknowledged to be one of the world's foremost authorities on the shamanic use of botanical hallucinogens, and unlike Leary and Castenada, he is a true scholar, who apparently is speaking in earnest about a topic he feels is very important.Probably the most significant argument McKenna makes is that the Church and State have colluded in suppressing, penalizing, and attempting to actually eradicate anyone who proposes that the altered perception which occurs upon the ingestion of these alkaloids is, in fact, essential to understanding the true nature of the universe.He states that the Church does not want the average person to have direct access to "God", nor does the State want the average person to be shook out of their complacency and begin to ask difficult questions.These alkaloids are a catalyst which is clearly dangerous to the dominant power structure of our society -- thus they are prohibited.He makes a number of other amusing statements and observations as well.However, several times throughout this book, McKenna started to get rather bizarre (understandable), like when he was presenting computer generated graphs which purported to show exactly when the world would end (and we would all be "transformed into energy beings" or some such), and when he began singing the praises of DMT -- about the effects of which I've heard some rather horrible things (imagine being trapped in a H. R. Geiger painting).If you are serious about studying the multidimensional aspects of the world around you, check out this book, which states that the universe within one's mind is just as interesting, and perhaps even more accessible.

You were......and still are....Ahead by a Century
first I would like to quote Tim Leary from his skymaster speech "Terence Mckenna means a great deal to me, he's deffinently one of the 5, 6 most impotant people on the planet......I can't even think of any others....lol....(short term memory loss)...by the way the role Terence is playing right now takes not only vision but it also takes f***ing courage!"

Terence Mckenna is not just a scientist, philosopher, theorist, new age thinker, and shamman, he is someone who took it upon himself, at the cost of his own life, to teach humankind the truth, or something that came closer to truth than any other intellectual or prophet in human history.No one else of the 60's generation will likely go down in history as infamously as Terence will in the changing times we live in and will continue to change.Through the use of psychedelics, Mckenna has delved into the deepest levels of human consciousness and with the rigour and skepticism of a scientist.Deffinently a chalengeto those who think mind altering drugs dullen or stupify the intellect. Terence Mckennas intellect and thought processing speed capacity appear to have been accelerated by his use of DMT and psylocybin if you listen to him on interviews.Here is a person came into the world, underwhent formal schooling and academic training and managed to decondition himself evolving into genuine spiritual domains; surpassing the academic minds and spiritual models of his time and culture.Time-Wave Zero was his project, Novelty Theory his lifes work.Archaic Revival touches upon the ideas of novelty theory in relation to shammanism and extratterestrials, psychedelics and human cultural evolution into the surreal dimensions of hyperspace-spirituality.This is our future, our destiny as a species of absolute evolving consciousness.

Novelty theory is based on the immediate experience we have with reality in which all things in history and science seem to coincide in ways that not only defy explanation, but continuously addapt to their own conservatives.Terence believed novlety was a universal and necessary constant of not only all living beings consciousness but also a binding and cohesive principle of material/physical nature.Cosmological and evolutionary processes occur in accordance to novelties, physical laws and the behaviour of atoms, cells, populations and genetics behave and abide the way they do because it is the most novel thing to do.Simillar to Leibniz conception of this world as the best of all possible worlds, novelty states that this is not necessarily the best nor the only world but it is possible and exists because it is the most novel world.Another one of Terences discoveries was that self-reflective human consciousness evolved from language that the brain facilitated and expanded from the primate because of their consumption of psychedelic mushrooms.In this less popular model, conspiracies of alien intervention and genetic tampering of "reptilian" with "homonid" DNA to form human speciel consciousness is an intervention not by immediate technology from ET's but by evolving biological implantations of psychedelic chemicals into nature.Aliens do not fly arround in spacecraft as suggested by the modern myth, or as vampires, or as any other ancient view of shammanism, primitvism, religion, etc. rather these beings are products of collective collapse of human consciousness.The upright reptilians of millions of years ago, the dinosaurs, we now know only recently, were wipped out by a comet from outer space ("spacecraft"). An instantaneous annihilation through radiation (also a mutanogen) of a reptilian, upright species of intelligent small-brained but fully utillized neocortex had the effect to the disincarnate catastrophe of their energy.That dinosaur energy had to go somewhere, what better way than to evolve through millions of years, psychedelics, and homonids; and eventually upright sentient human bodies for their incarnation to us the proper phylogeny structure (upright soul-body complex).As outlandish as these novel theories sound they will no doubt become the cutting edge models to describe reality and of our evolution if the wars of today do not annilate us first (radiation). And yet another reflection of the Middle Eastern warfare we face today is no longer a search for language, craddles of man, or Messiahs, but that very fossil fuel (oil) that was their energy now embodied as a complexly knotted perturbation of human consciousness.

I recommend all members of the human species to read this book and also purchase Terences Alien Dream Time CD with electronica by Space-Time Continuum. To get the whole scope of these ideas I would also reccomend reading Terences friends; Rupert Sheldrake on morphogenesis, Michael Talbot in Holographic Universe and David Bohm on the Implicate Order. ... Read more

Book Description
A thoroughly revised edition of the much-sought-after early work by Terence and Dennis McKenna that looks at shamanism, altered states of consciousness, and the organic unity of the King Wen sequence of the I Ching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Nice!
The beggining of this book is too technical and sometimes hard to understand for people who doesnt know much about neuroscience,etnobiology and chemistry.However,the rest of the book is very interesting,specially the part about therelation between the Tao The Ching and time.

MYSTICISM STRUCTURALLY DEMONSTRATED
the book is a true gem of cognitive philosophy.there is an energy and excitment in its reading.the mckennas demonstrate a tour de force of the lucid mind(mond).

"laborious theory".
Ploughing through "the Invisible Landscape" was quite a chore. I can appreciate the effort they went to with this but has little appeal for me. I should probably have started with one of their other works. I am not sure I want to do a lengthy review. The long and short of it is it has three parts:::
First part covers the nature of memory, and the accessing of it in terms of human brain chemistry. That psychedelics might amplify its ability to access memory, reaching beyond that of day-to-day; to yester-year, to pre-natal, to previous incarnation even...?
Second part really briefly covers the brothers experience in the Amazon with some psychedelics - I found this contribution seriously lacking - like perhaps they were embarrassed to mention it even.
Third part delves into the I-Ching, the conversion of it into a time-wave, which indicates with its dips and peaks the impact of events in terms of "novelty". This culminates in the most novel event coinciding with an end of time per the Mayan calendar?
Um. Yeah. The whole book in six lines. The emphasis is in spelling out in seriously uninteresting terms how the conclusions were arrived at in parts one and three. Because these conclusions would be quite hard to pin down normally, the detail involved in explaining how they were arrived at is quite, um, what's a nice word for it; lengthy? The book does flirt with Shamanism, which is a pity really - I think the read would have proven more worthwhile if the ideas in it were translated into where they impact/ have impacted in this and other practices/ traditions...
I guess it is a good book in terms of explaining how the "far-reaching" ideas were arrived at, but I for one would have appreciated it being punted more as laborious theory and not as a must read...

pseudo-science for seared minds
The authors present some interesting theories here, but fail to answer the most important question underlying the propagation of any new theory: 'so what?' In other words, why should we care if the universe is holographic, and more importantly, why should we care if it's all going to end one day? Few people today, including even fundamentalist Christians, believe either we or the universe will last forever. The discovery of the existence of dinosaurs in the early 19th century put an end to all notions of the permanence of species, and toppled religion from its cosmological place of primacy. Impermanence of our earth and the human race is now accepted by both secularists and the religiously inclined alike.

As a piece of very baroque art, this is an interesting read. If the authors could have stepped back and created a frame of relevance for the whole, this might have become a truly influential book.

As it turns out, it has merely become an entertainment for those who enjoy the recreational use of psychedelics. Judging from the number of spelling and grammar errors in the rave Amazon reviews for this book here, one wonders just how critically such readers can evaluate McKenna's theories.

McKenna's 'time wave zero' theory was so complex no one could understand it but him, which left him high and dry with anyone skeptical of the theory, and left him surrounded by all followers and no questioners: a recipe for the negation of real inquiry in the end.

CYBERETHNOPHARMACOLOGICALLY FLAWLESS!
This book is in short, in my opinion is the best book to read if your interested in the more technical aspect of hallucinogens, hard to grapple with theories of reality, and mathematical bliss on subjects which have no previous advent to! Terence and Dennis Mckenna are the foremost spokesmen's on the Psychedelic experience, Terence Mckenna being more philosophical in his understandings, and Dennis Mckenna, being a ethnobotanist, and neurobiologist, presents work on models of drug activity that should be redefining this field! They Thoroughly cover Psychedelic's in the shamanic sense, cover their trip to the amazon and the understanding that came out of that applied to these hard to conceive theories such as the King Wen Sequence as a Quantified Modular Hierarchy, and Temporal Hierarchy and Cosmology (I-Ching) Which leads me to my second rave, Terence's Timewave Zero Theory, coinsiding with the mayan calander endate, with all the mathematics in order to support his theory, its compelling what's come out of that since. Dennis and Terence are artists with complex words and ideas, presenting them into painfully easy forms of causation

"The total unity of an event can only be understood with reference to the totality of process, that is, to the whole of nature. Thus, in this view a way is cleared not only for the implicit reference to past events to be found in the formulation of scientific laws but for our own psychological unity of memory, immediate realization, and anticipation"

In a way not imposing change, but merely the vantage point on science, is that science has polarities and dogmas inherient in their own practices, and terence skillfully shows these with ease. This book perhaps to complex in chemistry, math and radical yet supported ideas for the average reader, yet i think a must read for those who have an interest in either the Mind, Hallucinogens, I Ching, Science, Mathematics, Temporal Resonance, Epistomolgy, Quantum Physics, and many others realting to these! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Not your grandfather's history
Spirit

This book is a clear and cogent discussion around the most amazing substances ever to be found on our planet: many plants contain molecules that interact with human consciousness in marvelous, magical ways that cannot be described, but nevertheless have a lifelong impact on our sense of who we are, how we feel, and what we think.McKenna has for years been a consistent voice in the maelstrom of disinformation and hysteria that has occurred in the aftermath of the collapse of the drug culture of the 1960s. The popular press has overlooked the fact that for many of the pioneers of the psychedelic drug experience, taking drugs was a part of a legitimate spiritual quest. McKenna reminds us that this use of psychedelic drugs for increasing spritual awareness has been a part of the human experience since before the dawn of history.

I can only hope that with our increasing understanding of the role of consciousness, mind, and spirit in the unfolding of the universe, reason will return to our conversations and decisions about mind-expanding drugs. "Food of the Gods" is a look at humanity's ancient and ongoing involvement with psychedelic plants, and a thoughtful discussion of what we have next to do in order to partner with these plants in discovering our true relatedness with the rest of this planet and its organisms.

Good but "Stoned apes" needs more research
I enjoyed this book a lot when I read it. His stoned apes theory is a bit much to swallow, however the message is an important one. I do believe the psychedelic experience is of immense value to the individual.

It is the type of experience that, if nothing else, is of therapeutic value. I do believe there is more research which supports psychedelic therapy. There is a phenomenon called "ego death" which happens when mushrooms are ingested in higher doses. This is a very peculiar and transforming experience. It can take the most overconfident jock and reduce him to a scared little puppy. This is the type of stuff that has the potential to change society for the better. I do believe we would greatly benefit as a society if we not only ended the ban, but also accepted it as a means of experiencing spirituality in a society whose spirituality has been destroyed by organized religion.

His stoned apes theory is not implausible, seeing the world from this new perspective could have helped start our characteristic model building, an idea Richard Dawkins expounds upon with his "Necker Cube" example. Eating mushrooms and getting horny could have a Darwinian advantage for obvious reasons. A psychedelically enlightened population may be more altruistic than one which is not. It is certainly more plausible than any creation theory I've heard. It is just lacking in conclusive evidence.

It is sad that moving forward into the 21st century there are no outspoken spokesmen of the psychedelic experience. Perhaps now more than ever our society is starved for a more profound understanding of the world. This book is like looking through a window into the psychedelic experience; it's neat to look at, but to really be effected by it you have to experience it for yourself. That being said: Just Say No to drugs, because drugs are bad, and so is breaking the law.

Interesting Perspective
I can't give 5 stars to this book because I know the history of Terence McKenna and his drug use. That said the book does pose interesting answers to age old questions.

"What was the fruit in the garden of Eden?"

"Why did our brains grow larger in ratio to our body weight than any animals in a relatively short amount of time?"

"Why is caffeine an acceptable drug to use daily? Should it be?"

I think people who read this should know it's an opinion given with historical facts to make his opinion seem like scientific and historical fact.

For instance he references what drugs were in use in certain cultures at what times then equates their overall temperament in historical events to the widespread use of those drugs. His claims may or may not have merit, we'll never know but it is an opinion none the less.

That said it is a very interesting read that is hard to put down. Attention keeping, he has one of a kind theories on lesser known early civilizations that could use a second look.

I was sorry to hear his library and personal notes burned up in a fire in early 2007, adding just more mystery to this one of a kind author.

Stoned Apes
I seriously was astounded by this book.Great historical knowledge on all sorts of drug and plant use from primates to Bush administration.McKenna really goes in depth about the evolution of language and consciousness.His theory that primates found psilocybin containing mushrooms growing in cow dung in the grasslands of Africa. Is represented quite well. He believes we may have literally "eaten our way to a higher conscious".McKenna really makes the war on drugs look like an absolute joke.He is subtly condescending of close minded politics yet brilliant and charming in informing readers of the power and potential of consciousness expanding drugs if taken properly.

Great Book
This book is very good if you are into evolution, shamanism, and the human life. I recommend everyone should read this book. You might get a new insight about life. ... Read more

Book Description
'I thought you'd do what the common run of slaves normally do, cheating and tricking me because my son's having an affair.'Terence's comedies have provided plots and characters for comic drama from classical times to the present; the outstanding comic playwright of his generation at Rome, he has influenced authors fromMoliereand Wycherley to P. G. Wodehouse. Scheming slaves, parasites, prostitutes, pimps, and boastful soldiers populate his plays, which show love triumphing over obstacles of various kinds, and the problems that arise from ignorance, misunderstanding, and prejudice. Although they reflect contemporary tensions in Roman society, their insights into human nature and experience make them timeless in their appeal.Peter Brown's lively new translation does full justice to Terence's style and skill as a dramatist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Hey, join the party!
Terence is the guy who said "I'm human; nothing human is alien to me." I think that's the most concise and eloquent expression ever of humanistic empathy and tolerance (San Francisco values!). But then, Terence was also reputed to be Nero's favorite dramatist. Go figure! At any rate, I'm glad to see so many other reviewers getting a kick out of Latin literature.If you still remember any high school Latin, you'll find P. Terenti Afri in print, ISBN 0-19-814636-1.

hilarious
Wow. I've read plenty of dramas, but this was my first ancient comedy. My girlfriend and I read this together, and neither one of us expected to enjoy it very much. But to our surprise, within 2 pages we were laughing constantly. We usually pause to talk frequently when we read something together, but this one we read very quickly because the plots and situations engrossed us so much.

If you are looking to read and enjoy something truly classical, I suppose there's no better place to start than this.

I imagine the translator was not too strict, but she did a good job in the spirit that I imagine Terence would want: not too literal, but very enjoyable.

Comedic
This book is one of my favorite textbooks ever.The storylines are interesting, though perhaps not hilarious from a modern standpoint.They do however make excellent fodder for research papers and for a deeper understanding of the ancient world!

timeless classic comedy
Terence's character development is superb.He takes stock characters of past Greek plays and turns them around so that the reader sees that people are not black or white.They are rather gray with good and bad qualities.His stories develop around his characters and in each comedy there is a message that is as timesless as the dialogue and interaction between characters in his plays.I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the mastery with which Terence took Greek plays and adapted them for his Roman audience.The editing was good, and I think that there is a little something for all readers in the comedies of Terence.They are timeless classics that draw a quiet smile from the reader rather than an outright laugh. ... Read more

Book Description
Three of the most original thinkers of our time explore issues that call into question our current views of reality, morality, and the nature of life.

A wide-ranging investigation of the ecology of inner and outer space, the role of chaos theory in the dynamics of human creation, and the rediscovery of traditional wisdom.

In this book of "trialogues," the late psychedelic visionary and shamanologist Terence McKenna, acclaimed biologist and originator of the morphogenetic fields theory Rupert Sheldrake, and mathematician and chaos theory scientist Ralph Abraham explore the relationships between chaos and creativity and their connection to cosmic consciousness. Their observations call into question our current views of reality, morality, and the nature of life in the universe. The authors challenge the reader to the deepest levels of thought with wide-ranging investigations of the ecology of inner and outer space, the role of chaos in the dynamics of human creation, and the resacralization of the world. Among the provocative questions the authors raise are: Is Armageddon a self-fulfilling prophecy? Are we humans the imaginers or the imagined? Are the eternal laws of nature still evolving? What is the connection between physical light and the light of consciousness?

Part ceremony, part old-fashioned intellectual discussion, these trialogues are an invitation to a new understanding of what Jean Houston calls "the dreamscapes of our everyday waking life."

Customer Reviews (8)

Mind blowing
I have read McKenna's other books, The Archaic Revival and The Invisible Landscape, True Hallucinations, and to me, this seems even better! Perhaps McKenna's best book! By page 10 I was flipping out, and it only got better. If you like McKenna, hallucinogens, metaphysics, forward type thinking, if you have ever pondered the mysteries of the universe, you will love this book. Dont mess around! Buy it now! Thank cosmos later.

New Age Pseudoscolarly Psychobabble
The chapters in this book are transcripts of three academics rambling on and on as they speculate about "cosmic consciousness" and how it touches upon existence, science, history, religion, etc.

An example of their fare:
"The chaos revolution now taking place throughout the sciences is a major setback for the forces of law and order, control and dominance.Scientists, the high priests of Marduk, must now accept chaos and replace Tiamat on her rightful throne.This is why I say that chaos is the biggest thing since the wheel.Imagination, creativity and inspiration are all on the upswing.Chaos, Gaia, Eros-arise!"

If you find meaning in statements like this, you will probably love this book.This material reminds me of listening to late-night frat house bull sessions, or someone who's stoned and thinks that his random navel-gazing is actually providing profound insights.It's reminiscient of the psychedelic froth of the 1960's.

I didn't find this worth the time spent reading it.

Lofty-sounding but vacuous
A more appropriate title for this book would be "Three Pretentious Fools Talking About Things They Know Nothing About."The book is composed entirely of vacuous but lofty-sounding rhetoric and New-Age style cosmic speculations, and is remarkable for its almost complete lack of intellectual content.It reminds me of the kind of pseudo-intellectual discussions I used to have in the dorm with my college buddies after we'd each had several beers.

holy trinity?
Three of the most intriguing and revolutionary minds of our time together at last.If you can find the video in which this book is transcribed,it's definitely worth watching as well.it's called Metamorphasis.

Entertaining and Enlightening, Intellectual 60s style
I read this book while on jury duty.Because I ran out of reading materials, I went back over it and decided to write down some of my favorite quotes.Here is one example, by Ralph Abraham."I find the whole idea that the world's soul is confined in a space/time continuum of four or ten dimensions extremely claustrophobic."So, you all get the idea.This was not a book to summarize, so I kept writing down quotes and buzz words.What gave me a lot of chuckles were the interspersed references to psychedelic drugs and various qualities of mushrooms, and the use of mushroom examples and so forth.I don't know much about mushrooms, but it helps date these guys, even while they are talking about ten dimensions being claustrophobic.I will say this-- they must have had some good trips.

I don't pretend to understand a lot of their references, mushrooms aside, but it is an easy book to read as long as one doesn't feel the need to follow up every lead and reference.Their approaches seem to be kind of cutting edge, but dated, if there is such a combination.I am particularly interested in Sheldrake's morphogenetic fields, which is what led me to the book.My attention span tends to be a little short, so I wanted a kind of breezy overview.Although I enjoyed the book a lot, I don't think I got much out of the morphic fields discussion. So I will look elsewhere for that.

I lent this book to my daughter, who is enthralled by it, particularly since she just took a bunch of final exams, some having to do with statistics and econometrics, so their discussions of modeling were most interesting to her.

And who wouldn't go for the idea of creativity coming out of chaos?Aren't our lives in chaos most of the time anyway?There must be a purpose for it.That's it.I get more creative after every chaotic event!!The discussions about beginnings, endings, various attractors, etc. were really fun to read. Not sure which ones came from their imaginitive minds (resulting from chaos), or their super intelligent brains,and which ones were from the mushrooms.

Oh, here's another Abraham quote I absolutely loved. "As the waves pass the rock, their shape is changed.There is a hologram of the rock within the wave that comes forward and crashes on the beach, then there's a reflected wave back."

Ok, that was cool!!All things considered,if you have some extra time (either on the beach, or on jury duty) read this book.They weaved in references from all aspects of experience-- mythology, mushrooms, science, waves, psychology, philosophy, history, etc.I love that!!I consider a book a success for me if I get one good idea from it.And I got more than that from this one, although I am not any more inclined to take psychedelics than I was prior to reading the book. ... Read more

Book Description

This mesmerizing, surreal account of the bizarre adventures of Terence McKenna, his brother Dennis, and a small band of their friends, is a wild ride of exotic experience and scientific inquiry. Exploring the Amazon Basin in search of mythical shamanic hallucinogens, they encounter a host of unusual characters -- including a mushroom, a flying saucer, pirate Mantids from outer space, an appearance by James and Nora Joyce in the guise of poultry, and translinguistic matter -- and discover the missing link in the development of human consciousness and language.

Customer Reviews (18)

Even Better as an Audio Book!
Hands down--Terence McKenna is the best storyteller that I've ever encountered, and True Hallucinations is one of my very favorite books of all-time. Terence's masterfully-crafted language simply holds me spellbound. A lot of people aren't aware that the book True Hallucinations is actually based upon a nine CD audio set of Terence telling the tale of his extraordinary adventures in the Amazon. As incredible as this book is, it simply pales by comparison next to the original "talking book." Terence was a master of language, and hearing him tell this story in his own voice is an incomparable experience. The True Hallucinations Talking Book was published by Sound Photosynthesis in Mill Valley, California.

Expedition to the Amazon--an encounter with the magic mushroom in the presence of the "Other"
Someone first getting acquainted with Terence McKenna probably has listened to some of his theories on novelty, time, and psychedelics and would like to dive deeper into his ideas by exploring his written works.In that case, the books "The Invisible Landscape", "Food of the Gods", and "The Archaic Revival" would be the most direct path.

However if you have a place in your heart for Terence then it would eventually be necessary to read "True Hallucinations".This is the true story of his journeys to the Amazon jungle in 1971, an expedition which started out in search of the shamanic brew ayahuasca.The travelers, Terence, his brother Dennis, and three friends, are quickly taken in a different direction--the mushrooms.

The mushrooms are a constant presence in the rest of the story.Not only are there fresh specimens scattered plentifully across the jungle floor, but the group appears to be in the presence of what Terence calls "an Other".He and Dennis go into a frenzied state of figuring out what the hell it could be and how they might try to understand more about it.Of course this means lots more mushrooms, and they also use harmine for a combinatory effect.This culminates in "the experiment at La Correra", after which Dennis appears to depart from reality for two solid weeks.

Terence gives the details on how he got his ideas on novelty and time, which came to him by hints from the "Other" after what appeared to be an encounter with a flying saucer.The body of ideas that he developed during this time resulted in novelty theory and the Timewave construction out of the King Wen sequence of I Ching hexagrams.Terence eventually came back from the Amazon and wrote "The Invisible Landscape" with Dennis in 1975.

Another important story that is told in this book is how Terence and Dennis developed a successful technique of home-cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms.This resulted in the first step-by-step guide in 1976, "Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide", which started the underground industry.This work has been carried on with a tribute to the McKenna's contributions to the study of mushroom cultivation in the book "Psilocybin: Mushroom Handbook" by Nichols and Ogame.

I really enjoyed this book because it is a good example of how someone's view of the world and reality and ultimately their path in life can change dramatically if consciousness suddenly raises to very high levels.I know personally what this can be like, so for me this was an amazing story.This last aspect puts "True Hallucinations" into a rare class of books which tell a story of personal transcendence, this one being historically and philosophically similar to Robert Anton Wilson's "Cosmic Trigger" and Philip K. Dick's "Valis/Exegesis".

Great read for any fan of psyconauts
I found this to be a very good read and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It gives some great seeds to new thoughts.

I like the McKenna brothers
The work they've done, the lectures, the books, Dr. Dennis's research, etc - it's all good. This text IMHO should have been edited much more thoroughly before being published.

An historical review of his trip
Well basically there is not much you will learn with this book. This is a great tale, that the author didn't want to be forgotten, so he wrote this book.

Take a look at http://deoxy.org/t_weeke1.htm to know his ideas more deeply. ... Read more

Book Description
Abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is only the beginning of sobriety.It's the ticket to get into the theater, not the movie we are going to see." -- Passages through Recovery One of the most important things we learn in recovery is that there really is a way out of all the misery -- if we know which way to go.But abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is just the beginning of our journey, not our destination.And, that journey can be a rough one if we don't know what lies ahead.Based on the experiences of thousands of recovering men and women, Passages through Recovery presents an action plan for preventing relapse, on that can help us understand how recovery works and what is needed to move from active addiction to sobriety.Gorski's pioneering work describes six stages of recovery from chemical dependency and offers sound advice for working through the challenges of each stage -- challenges that can create frustration and lead to relapse.Passages through Recovery clearly demonstrates that sobriety is more than just healing the damage. "It's a way of thinking, acting, and relating to others, "Gorky writes, "That promotes continued physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health.The skills necessary for long-term sobriety are all directed at finding meaning and purpose in life." Use this book as a compass in your recovery to help you stay on course.About the Author: Terence T.Gorky, M.A., C.A.C., is a nationally recognized lecturer, an acknowledged leader in the chemical dependency and codependency fields, and a workshop facilitator specializing in relapse prevention, intimacy in recovery, and treating chemically dependent adult children of alcoholics.From his more than 25 years of clinical experience and research, Gorski has developed a comprehensive approach to recovery that is revolutionizing the field of relapse prevention. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

By far the best!
If you work in the field of addiction run out and get every book Terry has written.He is simply the best.I would recommend his work to lay people who have substance abuse or recovery issues also.this book, as are all of his books, is indispensable if you run chemical dependency, family, PC 100 or CDIOP groups.There is a wealth of practical usable information.Also, this is the first book of it's kind that I have found that deals with the specific issues common to long term sobriety.Most books I come across deal with the first 2 years which is understandable.But how wonderful to find a book that specifically has a section on double digit (those with decades) sobriety.I can't recommend it enough.

Good
I recieved this book in a timely fashion and in good conditon.
I would purchase from this seller again.

Sobriety is More than just Healing the Damage
Abstinence from alcohol and other drugs is only the beginning of sobriety. It's the ticket to get into the theater, not the movie we are going to see." -- Passages through Recovery

One of the most important thingswe learn in recovery is that there really is a way out of all the misery --if we know which way to go. But abstinence from alcohol and other drugs isjust the beginning of our journey, not our destination. And, that journeycan be a rough one if we don't know what lies ahead.

Passages throughRecovery clearly demonstrates that sobriety is more than just healing thedamage. "It's a way of thinking, acting, and relating to others,"Gorski writes, "That promotes continued physical, psychological,social, and spiritual health. The skills necessary for long-term sobrietyare all directed at finding meaning and purpose in life."

Use thisbook as a compass in your recovery to help you stay on course. ... Read more

Book Description

Stimulating and often startling discussions between three friends, all highly original thinkers: Rupert Sheldrake, controversial biologist, Terence McKenna , psychedelic visionary, and Ralph Abraham , chaos mathematician. Their passion is to break out of paradigms that retard our evolution and to explore new possibilities. Through challenge and synergy they venture where few have gone before, leading their readers on an exciting journey of discovery. Their discussions focus on the evolution of the mind, the role of psychedelics, skepticism, the psychic powers of animals, the structure of time, the life of the heavens, the nature of God, and transformations of consciousness.

Customer Reviews (3)

Evolutionary Mind - Profound! - Thank You
I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read, truly mind-expanding, profoundly important in every way. The breadth of knowledge brought to the subjects through the trialogues was awesome. I was first attracted to the book by Terence McKenna, who I love; this was my first exposure to Rupert and Ralph (the combo is great!). For any McKenna fan this book is essential to your collection, full of new material not found in his other works.

Not To Worry...
I had been waiting for someone to come along and put a note up about this recently released book and comment on whether it was essentially just "Chaos, Creativity and Cosmic Consciousness" repackaged.

Finally, I took the plunge and ordered it and I am happy to say that no, it is not the same book as "C, C and C."The chapters in this book feature further talks by the three thinkers at Esalen.

However, I'm pretty sure that the content in both this book and "C, C and C" were included in the original publication "Trialogues at the Edge of the West" - but since that book has been out of print for years, it's unlikely that many would have it.

if you liked 'what the bleep' you'll love this book
What a great read! like a rollorcoaster through a cosmos of meanting, these three great minds explore the dimensions oftrancendental attractors, end-time apocalyptic visions, the psychic powers of animals, the nature of time, God and a letter from the Christian mystic Father Bede Griffiths who was Sheldrake's spritual guide. These famous 'trialogues' recorded at Esalen also reveal a touching portraint of an intellectual friendship grown ripe over the years of testing each others mettle. Also, recommended is Chaos, Creativity and Consciouness by the same authors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Relapsing Alcholic's
This is an excellent foundation to understanding the complex causes of relapse and their early indentification. It gives good information on indentification of relapse warning signs and constructive ways to abort another sprial into relapse. This book is written to supplament your 12 step program and is most useful when coupled with a relapse prevention support group that is not AA. If you can find or found a relapse group this book will be invaluable and rated 5 stars. Only relapse prone alcholic's need read this.

For anyone who wants to stay sober
While I was in Inpatient Rehab I was given this book to read. It is like a bible to me now. Everything you need to know about staying clean and sober is in this book. Along with AA, sponsors, numbers, support groups, this book gives you some soild tools to stay sober. I highly suggest it!

Great Resource
This book is a great resource for understanding and working on relapse prevention.I personnally used it within my recovery as well as with clients I worked with in treatment.It includes a great overview of addiction as a disease, relapse prevention skills, post acute withdrawal syndrome, stages of recovery and much more useful and necessary information.Recommended for those in recovery from addiction and those working with the recovering population.

THESE FOLKS REALLY UNDERSTAND THE RELAPSE SYNDROME
This book is just a MUST for anyone with a chronic relapse problem. It is simply written and very straightforward. These authors have also published a workbook and manual to help with relapse prevention.These materials help one to put the principles advanced in "Staying Sober" to work. I sometimes think that I may never have finally gotten a grip on sobriety had I not discovered this book.

The Bible on Relapse and Recovery from Substance Abuse.
Until this book, the technology to treat repeated relapse into alcoholism and drug addiction did not exist at worst, and was haphazard at best. What the authors did was study relapsers and notice patterns of relapse. Thesepatterns could then be codified and used in a program to identify'triggers' or situation that lent themselves to relapse, and could thus beavoided in the future. In addition, some tools can be developed to helprecovering persons deal with unexpected triggers if and when they arose inthe future.

It is a lot of work, both for the counselor and for theclient, but the payoff is long term sobriety. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Quintessential Bathroom Style book
This magnificent book will help you formulate what you want, from a personal style perspective.Truly brilliant and at the very top of the design world - typical of Terence Conran!

Great Book!
I would give this book 10 stars if I could. We're in the process of building our home, and trying to complete 3 stylish, functional bathrooms on a very tight budget. This book arrived just in time for us. "Just Add Water" is jam-packed with practical ideas that cover a wide range of styles, bathroom sizes and budgets. It's important, however, to read the text in this book and not just look at the beautiful coffee table-worthy photographs - otherwise, you may come away with the impression that the bathrooms shown in the book are only for those with very deep pockets. With a little imagination, it's possible to translate the practical ideas in this book to solutions that work in your own home. ... Read more

Book Description
The ultimate garden design book: a visual delight covering all aspects of working and living in your garden--stunning photographs of gardens from around the world.

The contemporary garden carries a profound connection both to the environment and to the range of activities--relaxing, entertaining, working--that characterize today's lifestyle. A collaboration between a distinguished style setter and a noted garden designer, Outdoors presents the principles of imaginative and innovative landscape design, providing readers with useful knowledge and also with inspiration from diverse sources: history, media, fashion, architecture.

Thematic chapters present a wide variety of successful gardens developed for specific purposes. Formal urban gardens on rooftops are explored, as are free-form rural landscapes, backyards devised to encourage children's imaginations, and spaces planned primarily for al fresco entertaining. Extensively illustrated case studies demonstrate inventive design on a grand scale as well as the creative detailing that sets one garden apart from another. In these sections, professionally designed gardens are explored methodically to reveal techniques behind planning and layout, planting choices, intended uses, and relation to the larger landscape. A special focus on conservation philosophies addresses wildlife, recycling, and water-wise gardening. Also included are a step-by-step guide to planning a garden, advice on selecting and working with a garden designer, and an extensive catalog of plants, with scientific names, foliage and bloom descriptions, and planting suggestions.
The authors engage in a lively dialogue, discussing their personal insight into the early and main influences on their work, how garden design has evolved, its current place in design as a whole, and the journey that it will take throughout the century. Their very different styles provide readers with both practical knowledge and confidence to seek inspiration for their gardens. ... Read more

Book Description

In English translations that achieve a lively readability without sacrificing the dramatic and comic impact of the original Latin, this volume presents all six comedies: The Girl from Andros (Andria), The Self-Tormentor (Heautontimorumenos), The Eunuch (Eunouchus), Phormios, The Brothers (Adelphoe), and Her Husband's Mother (Hecyra).

"Terence's comedies sparkle and delight."--Tina Howe.

"In the gifted hands of these translators, Roman comedy turns to English comedy of the finest."--Robert Fagles, Princeton University.

Customer Reviews (1)

Terence- the poor man's Plautus
Although I do appreciate the trash-talk found in his introductions, I think Terence is really a poor substitute for Plautus. While they're both very similar in many ways, a major difference between the two that will continue to be the main distinction is that, while Plautus is hysterically funny, Terence fails to elicit more than a chuckle.

This is a good translation and I have no problems with this edition- I just don't much care for Terence. ... Read more

Book Description

A world-renowned design authority shows how to make the most of every square foot.

Whether motivated by soaring energy costs, smaller families or the desire to live more simply, homeowners are abandoning "McMansions" for smaller housing. In How to Live in Small Spaces, Terence Conran explains that what's paramount to livability is not square footage, but how the space is divided.

In this comprehensive, full color book, Conran tackles the many challenges posed by small spaces. Chapters cover storage, bedrooms, children's rooms, lighting, extension and much more. "Assessing your needs" checklists and "points to consider" sidebars add valuable ideas. The six case studies that conclude the book provide excellent examples of great designs.

The author offers practical advice on exploiting every inch of space through:

• Using fold-down and pull-out features
• Buying slimline appliances
• Installing indoor portholes and windows
• Lessening the impact of furniture
• Using scale and proportion to advantage
• Manipulating color, texture and pattern
• Using screens, partitions and platforms
• Improving circulation paths.

Terence Conran never forgets the challenges posed by small spaces or the ingenuity and compromises required. He shows how easy it is to create a home whose comfort is not dependent on size, but on efficiency and integrity.

Customer Reviews (3)

How to live in small spaces
This book has some very valuable information on getting your life ready to live in a smaller more efficent space. It also shows some very good examples to inspire you.

Great Basic Color Education
Though I am not color blind, one would be hard to believe that when it comes to color choices I have made in the past.I knew nothing about color and how colors work with one another.
The first part of this book outlines basic color theory - the primary colors, secondary and tertiary colors and how they work together.The book then goes into how to use color to set different moods or support different themes - for example, what colors to use for an Asian or Mediterreanan look.
I learned a lot - and finally got it through my head that paint is not permanent - if you don't like it - paint it over.With this book in hand, I won't be afraid to try different color combos.This is a great book with lots of ideas!

Like the book
Well organized,liked the pictures and ideas.A little light on actual hard core information, but a nice intro to the ideas that are useful to consider when contemplating a small space remodel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Personal Favorite
This is one of the best OT theologies I have read. This is an excellent articulation of what it means to connect with the vocation of being human. This rises above so much of what is assumed about God within the status quo of Christian faith. Our redemption is so much more than getting the answers right in order to access the secret club of heaven. Fretheim unpacks redemption with depth and inspiration. ... Read more

Book Description
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN HOW TO LOVE

When you fall in love you may be repeating bad relationship habits that you learned growing up or in a previous unhealthy relationship. No matter what your history, Getting Love Right can explain how to build and maintain healthy intimacy, including:

* How to recognize if you are in a compulsive, apathetic, or healthy relationship

* How to become a person who is capable of healthy intimacy

* How to choose a healthy partner

If you are in a relationship or want to be in one, Terence T. Gorski will teach you that love isn't just something that happens -- love is something you can learn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent dense material that will really help you to understand how you make relationship choices
This book is NOT a popular quick fix approach to choosing a life or romantic partner.Rather, it is a tour book that explores where you have been in terms of relationships, how you got that way, the healthy and unhealthy patterns and how to correct them.While it is a book that contains many useful concepts, it also includes exercises that get at your most deeply held beliefs about relationship both healthy and unhealty.It looks at your family of origin, relationship history and shows you how to escape unhealthy patterns through deep awareness.

If you are looking for a bedside story that merely makes you feel good, then this isn't your book.If you want to understand at a deep level why you made unhealthy relationship choices in the past and are willing to do the work to change, this is a valuable roadmap, tool and companion on that journey.I do psychological work with people and I often recommend this volume to people who are serious about serious change.

An excelent way to understand my choose partner method
An esasy way to know how i relate with others and why i use this
methods.
Write with an easy language, This book must be owned and readed by anybody who wants
towork with the relationship part his/her life

The must "how to" book for relationships, great group tool.
I have nothing but praise for the content and practicality of Terrence Gorski's book.I have recently started to use his book as a tool in my weekly groups on relationships, in a residential rehab addiction facility.Terrencce Gorski gets to the heart of relationships and how to rethink oldbehaviors which have led to bad ones.The partners of my clients havebought the book once my clients start the group.They are reccomending itto their friends and family. "Getting Love Right" is changingtheir relationships and bringing families back together. I reccomend ithighly and will continue to use it as the basis of my releationship groups.

Know a good relationship when you see one.
This realistic look at any relationship is a must for everyone.As a counselor I use it as a tool for groups, and individual counselor. However, the content applies to anyone in, or begining a relationship on any level.I have bought several copies for friends and family, and probably will buymore.I recommend it highly for parents to share with their children as aguideline for revealing the components of a good or bad relationship. Notjust for those who have an addiction. Easy read, profound content. ... Read more

Product Description
Backyard Astronomer's Guide, 2nd Edition. With more than 500 color photographs and illustrations, The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is one of the most beautiful -- and user-friendly -- astronomy books ever produced. By Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Incredibly helpful
I can't overstate how useful this book is. It covers naked-eye stargazing, binoculars, the history of amateur astronomy, telescope designs,eyepieces, accessories, setting up your new scope, the sun, moon, planets, stars, deep-sky objects, astrophotography, and just about anything else an amateur astronomer might want to know about. The reviews of telescope and eyepiece brands and models are particularly useful. I love browsing through telescope catalogs, but I also want expert advice on what brands and models are worth seeking out and which to avoid. This book delivers. The full color photographs throughout are a nice touch. The heavy paper and solid binding ensure that the book will last forever, which is good, because you'll be using it a lot.

I wish _every_ hobby had an intro book this useful.

Excellent book
If you are considering buying only one book on amateur astronomy this should be it.It covers the basics of observing, available equipment with recommendations, and much more while presenting it in an easy to read and understandable format.Dickinson and Dyer should be commended for putting together this book which must have been a monumental effort.It is truly one of the premier books ever written on this topic.It definately belongs in the hands of every backyard astronomer.

The amateur Astronomer's BIBLE!!!!!!!
Search no longer, everything you need to know is right here in this book.

1. Different types of scopes
2. Must have accessories.
3. Waste of time accessories
4. Recommended scopes.
5. ect, ect, ect.

It's the book that keeps on giving! Yes I also own Dickinson's "Nightwatch" and like another reviewer said, there's some repetition , which made me skeptical about buying this book, but if you already have "Nightwatch", this book goes into waaaaaaaay more depth. this is definately a must have for people who haven't purchased a scope yet and are trying to make a decision. I know how hard that decision is when you know very little about telscopes and accessories and every review you see is praising every telescope you look at. Where do you start? You start here.

Good book for amateur astronomers
I highly recommend this book to the serious amateur astronomer wanting to get the most from the night sky.