The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
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Review
For a new generation of readers... look at this ancient philosophy from a modern counter-cultural standpoint. Alan Watts explores the subject in concrete terms, using current idioms and expressions which will also appeal to the younger reader.
--Vedanta
Offering spiritual answers to the problems of a materialistic lifestyle, alienated from the natural world, Watts is the voice of all who seek a deeper understanding of their own identity and role in the world.
--Watkins Review
Reminds us how Watts presented complex theories and views in a subtle yet straightforward fashion... Still an iconic figure... he made great breakthroughs in stretching our philosophical horizons. --Beat Scene
--Vedanta
Offering spiritual answers to the problems of a materialistic lifestyle, alienated from the natural world, Watts is the voice of all who seek a deeper understanding of their own identity and role in the world.
--Watkins Review
Reminds us how Watts presented complex theories and views in a subtle yet straightforward fashion... Still an iconic figure... he made great breakthroughs in stretching our philosophical horizons. --Beat Scene
Product Description
This book explores an unrecognised but mighty taboo our tacit conspiracy to ignore who, or what, we really are... We are therefore in urgent need of a sense of our own existence which is in accord with the physical facts and which over comes our feeling of alienation from the universe. Alan Watts asks what is the cause of the illusion that the self is a separate ego, housed in a bag of skin, and which confronts a universe of physical objects that are alien to it. Rather a person s identity (their ego) binds them to the physical universe, creating a relationship with their environment and other people. The separation of the self and the physical world leads to the misuse of technology and the attempt to violently subjugate man s natural environment, leading to its destruction. Explaining man s role in the universe as a unique expression of the total universe, and interdependent on it, Alan Watts offers a new understanding of personal identity. It reveals the mystery of existence, presenting an alternative to the feelings of alienation that is prevalent in Western society, and a vision of how we can come to understand the cosmic self that is within every living thing. Offering spiritual answers to the problems of a materialistic lifestyle, alienated from the natural world, Alan Watts is the voice of all who seek a deeper understanding of their own identity and role in the world.
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First Sentence
Just what should a young man or woman know in order to be "in the know"? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Just what should a young man or woman know in order to be "in the know"? Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is time for you to throw away all your self help books and
all the gimmicky, new wave, pop psychology junk that has been
weighing down our bookshelves as well as our minds and lose
yourself in this wonderful piece of inspired writing. A truly
mystical experience, practically evoking enlightenment by
altering or restructuring my world view. Enlightenment or cosmic
consciousness is the state whereby everything that is as bad as
can be suddenly flips to everything being as good as can be.
Stop blaming others for your misery. Happiness, peace and serenity
is an "inside" job. Alan Watts has given us this option with
warmth, compassion and humor. A book for everyone. Don't miss it!
all the gimmicky, new wave, pop psychology junk that has been
weighing down our bookshelves as well as our minds and lose
yourself in this wonderful piece of inspired writing. A truly
mystical experience, practically evoking enlightenment by
altering or restructuring my world view. Enlightenment or cosmic
consciousness is the state whereby everything that is as bad as
can be suddenly flips to everything being as good as can be.
Stop blaming others for your misery. Happiness, peace and serenity
is an "inside" job. Alan Watts has given us this option with
warmth, compassion and humor. A book for everyone. Don't miss it!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read many of the positive reviews on here and seen a few of his vids on Youtube, I thought it would be good to give this a try.
I can see the attraction of this book for atheists, for those that have not come across Eastern religion/philosophy and philosophy students. But for me, it doesn't really do anything as it hasn't really extended my knowledge.
There are some really mind provoking ideas in the book that many people would enjoy like when seeing Matrix for the first time or Ghost in the Shell and give a completely different perspective. One central theme in this is the idea there is no separate self as society always intertwine with you. I agree with this from understanding the ideas of free will and fate/Hinduism rather than through his explanations. I think his explanation is better for the layman and those unaccustomed to eastern religion.
What I don't quite like though is his style of writing/model of thinking. His concentration is on highlighting contradictions and double bind ideas when I see no contradiction at all. He is highlighting problems when I am more looking for solutions.
What I don't agree with is the idea of either having to do something for yourself, or for society, and he constantly make them seem like mutually exclusive goals when I see 'self' as the society very much including 'me' in it. They do not have to be opposing forces (working for self and working for society) and if anything the right attitude to take is to help yourself first and foremost since you can always change yourself 100% and that is a big part of you helping society. And when I say 'help', I don't mean the pursue of pleasure but to do what is right.
His writing comes across as slightly clever, mind twisters with an academic curiosity. But what I am looking more for was someone that was going to give direct, simple, lay down on the way it is.
Those that like clever books that make you think a bit e.g. philosophy students. Get this book.
Those that are militant atheists that enjoy ripping apart religion. Definitely get this book. Help to give you a solid foundation to build a 'logical' world view to have and be more constructive.
Those that know about eastern philosophy/religion - can be skipped.
Alan Watts is a good bridge to Eastern philosophy using Western ideas. Or those that are really interested can go straight to Eastern philosophy and read up 'Jnana Yoga' by Swami Vivekananda (Theory) or 'Passage Meditation' and 'Essence of the Upanishads' by Eknath Easwaran (Practice). First two books are free on the net.
I can see the attraction of this book for atheists, for those that have not come across Eastern religion/philosophy and philosophy students. But for me, it doesn't really do anything as it hasn't really extended my knowledge.
There are some really mind provoking ideas in the book that many people would enjoy like when seeing Matrix for the first time or Ghost in the Shell and give a completely different perspective. One central theme in this is the idea there is no separate self as society always intertwine with you. I agree with this from understanding the ideas of free will and fate/Hinduism rather than through his explanations. I think his explanation is better for the layman and those unaccustomed to eastern religion.
What I don't quite like though is his style of writing/model of thinking. His concentration is on highlighting contradictions and double bind ideas when I see no contradiction at all. He is highlighting problems when I am more looking for solutions.
What I don't agree with is the idea of either having to do something for yourself, or for society, and he constantly make them seem like mutually exclusive goals when I see 'self' as the society very much including 'me' in it. They do not have to be opposing forces (working for self and working for society) and if anything the right attitude to take is to help yourself first and foremost since you can always change yourself 100% and that is a big part of you helping society. And when I say 'help', I don't mean the pursue of pleasure but to do what is right.
His writing comes across as slightly clever, mind twisters with an academic curiosity. But what I am looking more for was someone that was going to give direct, simple, lay down on the way it is.
Those that like clever books that make you think a bit e.g. philosophy students. Get this book.
Those that are militant atheists that enjoy ripping apart religion. Definitely get this book. Help to give you a solid foundation to build a 'logical' world view to have and be more constructive.
Those that know about eastern philosophy/religion - can be skipped.
Alan Watts is a good bridge to Eastern philosophy using Western ideas. Or those that are really interested can go straight to Eastern philosophy and read up 'Jnana Yoga' by Swami Vivekananda (Theory) or 'Passage Meditation' and 'Essence of the Upanishads' by Eknath Easwaran (Practice). First two books are free on the net.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Very gratifying to see this book getting all-round 5-star reviews here. It's a truly unique work - among the simplest and most profound works of philosophy. Everything the 60's should be remembered for but isn't. For weeks after my first reading of it, I felt incredibly strong mystical perceptions. Very few collections of words can do this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Try it - it might just change you!
This is the sort of book that shows the value of browsing in bookshops. It was not a book I was looking for, but I came across it, was intrigued, bought it and read it. Read more
Published 3 days ago by R. Newton
Alan Watts is a rare and valuable gem.
A good friend recommended reading a book by Alan Watts years ago and insisted that he had words I can relate to. She even divinely gifted me one of his books to read. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dino
amazing
An amazing book.Very simply written.The basis being that one should enjoy the now.Just try & enjoy this moment in time
Published 3 months ago by R. Jarvis
alan watts is a master
although i have not finished this book i would advise anyone to read alan watts work he really was a master in philosophy. Read more
Published 15 months ago by purple dreamz
Reality revealed
I'm going to keep this short: Once you reject mainstream religion, having realised that you are being 'short-changed' by it and having rejected its 'magical' thinking as no longer... Read more
Published 20 months ago by G. Bancroft
Another gem from the Watts archives
I first started reading Alan Watts when I was in my late teens, around 30 years ago, and my fascination with him and sheer enjoyment of his writing has remined undimmed through the... Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by Road Dog
Cosmic Comedy
I first came across this book when my sister-in-law handed it to me with the strict injunction to be sure to give it back. That was about 15 years ago. Read more
Published on 2 April 2007 by C. L. Rowe
Part of the Vietnam crisis
This pamphlet came out at a time of unprecedented spiritual agony for a new USA generation in the late 1960s. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 1999 by rowland.morgan@virgin.net
If you like enlightenment READ THIS BOOK!!!
This book expands ones way of looking at the world. Another confirmation that we are so much more as humans and the world we live in than anyone ever talks about. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 1999
Life-altering philosophy
The most important book I have ever read. It has truly changed the way I feel about myself and the world around me.
Published on 23 Aug 1999
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