The Eye of Spirit: An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad by Ken Wilber

The Eye of Spirit: An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad Reviews

• 
  David Teachout

  There are some books that enter your life and have an isolated shifting of your world, then others are complete paradigm shifters. This is most assuredly the latter. The depth of Wilber's thinking and his ability to string together disparate disciplines while keeping to critical speculation is exemplary. While at times Wilber will repeat himself and get very nearly lost in the minutiae of his theory, even there can be seen the complete joy and wonder of a man who has suffered and still loves life. This is not something to read, get the point and walk away from. This is a worldview that must be pondered, considered and let seep into the depths of your vision.
• 
  Ietrio

  Maybe a blog would have been a more honest approach to this sort of preaching.
• 
  Willa

  Great collection of Wilber's essays, period Wilber 3/4. The fact that he treats many different subjects makes it easy reading, and there are very interesting cultural critiques as well as helpful explanations of his core theory.
• 
  Elizabeth Gillingham

  meh. I have a friend who worships Ken Wilbur. I have a hard time getting into this stuff. It always seems like "Well, duh..." revelations to me...
• 
  Jan

  Picture a synthesis of all empirical, intellectual and spiritual knowledge. Nothing less than this is what Ken is trying to do.
  
  At first this results in a rather exiting inclusive history of thinking. Ken has knowledge on the basic epistemological frameworks of thought. He divides these modi of thinking in internal and external, and individual and social, i.e. Hermeneutics is an internal-social study, because it is searching for internal meaning from social frameworks (history, referents, language games etc). Empirical science is external and individual because it looks at external events in there single causes.
  
  Kens proposition is that all these frameworks are right and that we should search for an inclusive way of thinking. Nice! that sounds challenging and exciting!
  
  However after the first two chapters Ken falls into some traps. First he repeats himself a lot without saying something new. Secondly, his solution is not inclusive but prefers a transcendental modi. That means that the highest spiritual experience tops all other explanations.
  
  In example, he talks about knowledge as acceptable when we are able to 'do' it. To solve the discrepancy between wholeness and multitude he brings in the practice of Satori. This seems to me as a vulgar way of argumentation. To show multitude I could as well be practicing trowing vases to the floor. This proves nothing. The problem with oneness and multitude is exactly that we 'do' (experience) both.
  
  This book is a kind of philosophizing that should be done mor. However Ken is to eager to archive his goals. He loses the ability to look at the counter arguments. To bad.
• 
  Moon Captain

  Seems like the author had a ton of fun writing this book. Good info, and mostly entertaining to read, but none of it was really news to me. Mixed in with the essays, he often references his other books and critiques he has received. I haven't read any other Wilber and probably won't.
  
  The introductory chapter, wherein Wilber lays out all the concepts he will cover, is worth a look if you are on the fence about it.
• 
  Augustine Okpara

  He writes well [the author]. Just started the book though, hope to finish it soon. And I also pray it's illuminating and informative.
• 
  Kimberly Carlson

  It's really great, so great I cannot seem to finish it. This book comes in and out of my life as if on an orbit of concentric rings with my own spiritual path. I swear I will pick it back up again and open to the bookmark, start in on a paragraph and almost immediately exclaim 'aha, yes exactly!'
  
  If I had not put it down for a bit, or longer, those words would hang familiar and yet meaningless in the background of my heart. Got to live it to know it, if you know what I mean.
  
  In fact, the next time I pick it up I will be sure and share whatever newly experienced discoveries it is mirroring below...
• 
  Neelesh Marik

  Captures the quadrant/ level/ line/ type/ state descriptions in minute detail again. A very thought-provoking chapter on Integral Art - which is the author claims is his favourite chapter - can understand why.
  
  A direct analysis of the psychic/ subtle/ causal/ non-dual holarchy again.
  
  And of course the blissful last chapter - 'Always Already'.
  
  I happened to be reading Adam Leonard's essay on Integral Communication while reading this book, and found a very interesting re-inforcement process working, for some of the more abstract areas.
  
  
  http://www.adambleonard.com/Integral%...
  
  
• 
  Andrea Guggenheim

  This book made so much sense, yet it goes beyond all sense. Reading this is an experiment on perspective. The framework presented by Ken Wilber seems to be the ideal container for all the theory, all the bits and pieces of knowledge found within and without. Everyone stands to benefit from the richness of The Eye of Spirit, especially those involved in the study or practice of social science. His voice is loud, and it is clear, and it is beautiful!
• 
  Eugene Pustoshkin

  Эту книгу в приятном переводе можно читать и перечитывать по много раз. Меня она неизменно оставляла в недвойственном состоянии сознания. Невероятно важная работа, которая может передать целостное ощущение от интегральной парадигмы Кена Уилбера, нашего блестящего современника. Знание, почёрпнутые из этой книги, потом разворачиваются в течение многих лет в целостные многослойные гештальты и действительно помогают разобраться в довольно серьёзно свихнувшемся мире.
• 
  Janie

  I've heard of his book 'A Brief History of Everything' but I don't really know anything about his writing. Still, the title grabbed me.
• 
  Janet

  This is a complex book, far more complex than me. A friend educated me about spiral dynamics and consciousness, which led to Ken Wilber and this book.
• 
  Andrew

  Ken Wilber uses what he calls "the great chain of being" (most simply stated as matter, body, mind, soul, and Spirit) to help our interpretation of the Kosmos to evolve.
• 
  Jake

  Ken Wilber is an incredible intellectual and author. He is a great source for those of us who enjoy exploring the crossroads between philosophy, science, and spirituality.
• 
  Grant

  This is a combination of loosely related essays by Ken Wilber. I am going to read it as a referense book.
• 
  Stefanie Ki

  Good
• 
  Savitri Mayer

  Como todo lo que escribe Ken Wilber: iluminador, esclarecedor, definitivo.