bookshelf

[anemos]

I thought to open a thread about books we all encounter and feel like recommending . The shelf is empty , waiting for your suggestions .

 

[anemos]

I just finished this one

Fascinating book !!! its not technical at all and even if the subject is not your cup of tea , there is an interesting journey the writer invites the reader and you have the chance to follow simple yet brilliant questions and search together for answers. The Questions , as a matter of fact, and the detective-like approach he incorporates , his humor and humility makes it an interesting book. There is a reason Rama uses some quotations from Sherlock Holmes

I just read the last page and enjoyed it immensely . Highly recommended !

 

[Tohpol]

A cautionary exploration into the world of Spirit, yet at the same time a deeply spiritual book from the late Joe Fisher.

The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts: A Riveting Investigation Into Channeling and Spirit Guides

"Mediumship dates back to the Greek Oracles and beyond, but millennia later nobody yet knows for certain what transpires when a medium enters a deep trance. Today, the practice of channeling spirit guides through hypnotized mediums is hotly debated. This strange phenomenon is either dismissed as a dubious parlor trick, or regarded as a form of communication between this world and the next. Many view "the guides" as a source of love and wisdom…but are they?

For five years, best-selling author and journalist Joe Fisher painstakingly investigated the claims of channelers and the mysterious voices that speak through them. The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts is his gripping journey into a realm of darkness and deception. This revised edition includes a new foreword by Colin Wilson, and an epilogue that updates events since the book was first published in the U.K. a decade ago.

The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts is not a skeptic's dismissal of channeling. Deeply convinced of the reality of reincarnation after writing The Case For Reincarnation and Life Between Life, Joe Fisher ventured into the world of mediumship with every expectation of writing the definitive book on how to contact spirit guides. But what he encountered, while remarkable in many ways, turned his emotions inside out and left him questioning the faith of New Age believers. This book is required reading for anyone who has ever visited, or considered visiting, a deep-trance channeler."

REVIEWS:
"Fisher is a superb writer whose subject matter, outrageous as it must seem to many, is offered up with just the right tone of frankness, disbelief and wonder." --Patricia Job, Toronto Sunday Sun

"...a riveting detective story full of blind alleys, misplaced trust, deceit, and duplicity, all made doubly inspiring by the fact that none of the 'suspects' are of this world." --Christopher Loudon, Quill & Quire

". . .part confessional, part romance, part detective story... No matter what your response, one thing is certain: you won't go away from this one unaffected." --Barbara Gunn, Vancouver Sun

"If Wilde's fox-hunter is the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable, the psychic investigator in his earthly manifestation as Joe Fisher is the undauntable in search of the unprovable." --Peter James, The London Evening Standard

"I finished Hungry Ghosts as fascinated by my own strong reactions to it...as by the phenomena described. Any book that can engender such powerful emotions surely merits laying aside a few long-held assumptions." --Adam Lively, The London Sunday Times

"...a discerning book in a field tragically short of objective investigation. Read it, and don't get fooled again." --Russ Bravo, Derby Evening Telegraph

"Absorbing." Brenda Denzler, Journal of Scientific Exploration

 

[svenrus]

http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Ching-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321182936&sr=1-1

 

[bradford]

http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Ching-...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321182936&sr=1-1

This one is very much worth acquiring.

 

[svenrus]

This one is very much worth acquiring.

.... I've only found one failure in this book, which I mean rather being a printingdrop than intented from the author. So if anyone buy this book go to Part II, section 'the visual sequence' (p. 50 in the 1970'ed.) and correct the hexagram #28 to #29 and underneath hex. #29 to #30 (p. 51). Well it's not a serious printdrop - just irritating.

 

[Trojina]

http://www.amazon.com/When-Oracles-Speak-Dianne-Skafte/dp/0835607917


a book I had for a long time that I like

Luckily there are 4 reviews of the book via the amazon link.....since I have not said much about it

 

[blue_angel]

Thanks to Trojina for pointing out this thread. I thought it would be good to bump it to the top. Here's a few books I have enjoyed.

1. The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle here's a link http://www.mapsphotos.net/ThePowerofNow.pdf

2. The secret by RHONDA BYRNE here's a link http://thesecret.tv/The-Secret-Press-Kit.pdf

3. Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable, and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson here's a link http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Ann-Lawson/e/B001KECQXY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

4. The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R Ward here's a link http://www.jrward.com/bdb/ This series however, is different from the ones above. It is a fictional read. Has nothing to do with enlightenment nor self improvement. It is an acquired taste. The material is definitely for adults only, but if you enjoy a good fantasy, you may or may not find these books fun.

 

[Tohpol]

The Field By Lynne McTaggert

"A book which gives scientific proof of the paranormal. Psychic activity, remote viewing, the power of prayer and homeopathy are all discussed in this book which The Ecologist called ‘one of the most thought-provoking reads of the year’, and which has already gained a almost cult following.

Sales Handles:
• A highly readable scientific detective story which reveals how ‘the Field’ a vast cobweb of energy connecting everything in the universe, past and present, is responsible for many of the most profound human mysteries

How psychics can read the future and the past; how remote viewing works – and how such techniques have been used by the CIA; how energy healing works; why homeopathy works and all sorts of other mysteries are explored by the frontier scientists Lynne McTaggart has interviewed."

Surprisingly good.

Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All BY Tom Atlee

"With compelling real-life stories, innovative ideas and hands-on guidance, this book shows how to engage the combined wisdom of citizens to solve complex social problems. It describes how powerful new forms of dialogue and deliberation enable diverse ordinary citizens to work together developing sophisticated public policy recommendations - even on technical issues. Demonstrating that groups, communities and whole societies can be more intelligent and wise collectively than most brilliant individuals, Tom Atlee shows how 'collective intelligence' could revolutionise politics and governance, bringing wise common sense to every issue - from city budgets to terrorism to global warming. Readers will find descriptions and links to over a hundred proven approaches to this new form of democracy - organisations, participatory practices, innovations, books and more. The most powerful innovations - citizen deliberative councils - have been used hundreds of times around the world - from Denmark to India, from Brazil to the US. The 2500-year-old Tao Te Ching says that leaders should govern so the people say "We did it ourselves". "The Tao of Democracy" shows how."

 

[bradford]

But it's more than a little silly to say this is based on scientific proof. I wonder how many of these new age writers who cite quantum physics can even do high school algebra.

 

[Tohpol]

I have a lot of sympathy for that view in general - which is why I was surprised. At first look it falls into the category you highlight but don't be put off by the marketing. If you read between the lines and there are some very interesting hypotheses and connections to a variety of "fields." To be sure, there's certainly more science in it than I imagined - at least, in as much as there can be when conducting this type of research.

 

[cjgait]

How about Goodreads? It's a good way to share what you are reading with friends and the newer generation Kindles even automate the process of connecting to it in tandem with your Facebook account.

 

[Tohpol]

Just finished this one over the last few days, on train journeys mostly. It's a dense read but a fascinating insight into statistics, the human mind and what he terms system 1. (intuition) and system 2. (rational thinking) and how they operate in our business, military and daily life. One to go back to.

Thinking fast and slow By Daniel Kahneman

The New York Times Bestseller, acclaimed by author such as Freakonomics co-author Steven D. Levitt, Black Swan author Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Nudge co-author Richard Thaler, Thinking Fast and Slow offers a whole new look at the way our minds work, and how we make decisions.

Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face?

Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch?

"Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent?

The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. This book reveals how our minds are tripped up by error and prejudice (even when we think we are being logical), and gives you practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking. It will enable to you make better decisions at work, at home, and in everything you do."

 

[anemos]

Just finished this one over the last few days, on train journeys mostly. It's a dense read but a fascinating insight into statistics, the human mind and what he terms system 1. (intuition) and system 2. (rational thinking) and how they operate in our business, military and daily life. One to go back to.

Thinking fast and slow By Daniel Kahneman

you won't believe it but was going to post the same book !!!!

Have read in the past papers of him and Amos and now reading the book !!! I think is a must read, especially for us Yijingers and for everyone.

What I like so far- half way- is the question/small experiments he offer, make reading the book an experience.

curious , Topal, have you connect his thoughts about statistical thinking with Yi ? Im on that part now and that thought is continuously in my mind.

 

[Tohpol]

A-Ha! We both had this book in our minds during our recent discussion!

Yes, it's a great book. I found his wonderful system 2 mind a real treat to behold. I wonder how the para-physical domain and anomalous phenomena feature in his worldview? Although he puts great stock in system 1 I suspect his field of vision is very much fixed in the material world. No matter. It is as you say, a must read and a very salutary experience for not trusting statistical analysis and the judgments and impulsive conclusions we come to everyday. I also liked the summaries after each chapter which helped consolidate the information, since there were many technical phrases from his field notwithstanding prospect theory as a whole.

As to the I Ching. Well, it certainly came to mind many times. I need to reflect on it much more in a Yi context and see how and if such specific methodologies can assist in Yi analysis.

What do you think?

 

[Liselle]

I missed this thread when you started it - just saw it today. Thanks, Anemos .

 

[anemos]

A-Ha! We both had this book in our minds during our recent discussion!

Yes, it's a great book. I found his wonderful system 2 mind a real treat to behold. I wonder how the para-physical domain and anomalous phenomena feature in his worldview? Although he puts great stock in system 1 I suspect his field of vision is very much fixed in the material world. No matter. It is as you say, a must read and a very salutary experience for not trusting statistical analysis and the judgments and impulsive conclusions we come to everyday. I also liked the summaries after each chapter which helped consolidate the information, since there were many technical phrases from his field notwithstanding prospect theory as a whole.

As to the I Ching. Well, it certainly came to mind many times. I need to reflect on it much more in a Yi context and see how and if such specific methodologies can assist in Yi analysis.

What do you think?

Haha, yes. We were both talking about those insights.

Substitute questions, priming and random results that we have difficulties to "see" it as random is what mostly bring yi in mind. Loss aversion, the good/ bad Check we do continuously, are some others.

Need to finish fist the book because his last parts seems to wrap everything and then we can continue this discussion. Meanwhile, if you find something that oppose his ideas let me know.

Btw, Dan Ariely deals with similar ideas. You might enjoy reading him.

Well, yes you are right. He deals, like most of scientists with not only the material world but what can be proven and published. However, I feel that those worlds are connected and dare to say, understanding how our mind works it's not irrelevant with spiritual matters. I can see attention, perception and other issues, in ancient texts, I see biology in Yi... all interconnected

 

[Tohpol]

Haha, yes. We were both talking about those insights.

Substitute questions, priming and random results that we have difficulties to "see" it as random is what mostly bring yi in mind. Loss aversion, the good/ bad Check we do continuously, are some others.

Need to finish fist the book because his last parts seems to wrap everything and then we can continue this discussion. Meanwhile, if you find something that oppose his ideas let me know.

Btw, Dan Ariely deals with similar ideas. You might enjoy reading him.

Well, yes you are right. He deals, like most of scientists with not only the material world but what can be proven and published. However, I feel that those worlds are connected and dare to say, understanding how our mind works it's not irrelevant with spiritual matters. I can see attention, perception and other issues, in ancient texts, I see biology in Yi... all interconnected

Dan Ariely...Hmm that rings a bell. I'll look him up, thank you.

Yes, finish the book and we'll come back to it. I'll be flicking through it many times over the coming months since it's so rich.

And yes, I think it will add a lot to ones understanding of the Yi process. In fact, all knowledge which leads to understanding and which can be applied in the real world is entirely relevant. (Come to that nothing is outside metaphysics anyway in one sense...)

I've recently read a collection of books over the last six months so I'll be posting some of those later for the resident book worms.

 

[anemos]

He has an interesting personal story that led him to engage get himself into behavioral economics and intuition.  <br><br>Yes, would be interest to further discuss the ideas of the book. The idea that is in the back of my mind is Yi it's appealing  for system but also, I feel  of only engage system 2, but training our statistical thinking. <br>... more later... it's a slow read

 

[moss elk]

Recently read this.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brief_Wondrous_Life_of_Oscar_Wao
Liked it.

Want to read this:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Voyage_to_Arcturus

 

[anemos]

Finished it and the first thing I heard myself sayin was " everything, in essence, it's neutral". It's the yin-yang symbol of intuition, rational thinking, doubt, confidence. .etc...etc.

I still believe that all those technical , scientific approaches are also " spiritual" readings.



There are so many topics worth discussion, imo. Maybe we could open another thread

 

[Tohpol]

Yes, I agree. After all authentic metaphysical teachings from the ancient past up to the present day appear to reaffirm that point.

Thread opened below this thread...

 

[Tohpol]

The Soul Genome By Paul Von Ward

"Much thought-provoking evidence suggests that the way you look, think, react to life events, and interact with other people may be predisposed by the experiences of one or more human beings who lived in the past. Even if you don't know who they were, you may find what appears to be their "soulprints" in the person you are today and the manner in which you live.

The Soul Genome: Science and Reincarnation explores these ideas, focusing on verifiable information that can be tested by objective means. The detailed, robust case studies presented here not only suggest that reincarnation is more than just a metaphysical concept, but also indicate that it is a valid subject of scientific inquiry."

​

 

[Tohpol]

Social Intelligence: The New Science of Social Relationships

Social Intelligence: The New Science of Social Relationships (2006) by Daniel Goleman

From Amazon:

"[Goleman] uses the emerging science of neuro-sociology to show how priming our brains for meaningful connectivity with others can make the world a better place... Fascinating" (Sunday Telegraph)

"Daniel Goleman understands people. He has a keen appreciation for the scientific basis of why we are the way we are - why some of us are natural flirts while others of us have a hard time getting a second date; why some of us are wired to make a great first impression at a job interview while others are useless at navigating office politics." (Financial Times)

"A rich compendium of recent developments in developmental and social psychology and the burgeoning field of social neuroscience... There is a great deal in Goleman's book to interest and inform the general reader who may still think Freud is the last word on the science of human relationships." (New Scientist)

"An easy and enjoyable read... An easy introduction to all sorts of new areas in psychology. It should improve your dinner-party conversational skills and provide useful snippets for any presentation." (Management Today)

If you liked his last book Emotional Intelligence then this will probably be even more interesting.

I found it a fantastic read. It beautifully complements Thinking Fast and Slow in that Goleman uses the "high road" and "low road" to describe Kahneman's concept of "system 1" and "system 2" influences. I prefer Goleman's perspective and style of writing. It is also slightly less dry with a minimum of statistics/number crunching that was so much a part of Kahneman (being a statistician) which although a great book I found my right brain orientation struggling sometimes. Goleman offers a greater emphasis on the dynamics of neuroscience/psychology peppered with fascinating examples as well as a sensitivity and compassion that radiates.

I wish I'd come across it earlier as it has deservedly become a classic in popular social/neuroscience. Read it!

(I have a glut of books from the Christmas period to recommend which I'll post over the coming couple of weeks).

 

[anemos]

needed some food for my right brain too . Reading Damasio now
days.
http://www.amazon.com/Descartes-Error-Emotion-Reason-Human/dp/014303622X

Goleman's books are in my list.

 

[Tohpol]

If you're interested in history and the mechanics of Empire (and you can plough through the 900+ pages) it is a fantastic read on Bonie.

Napoleon the Great

"AWARDED THE PRIX DU JURY DES GRANDS PRIX DE LA FONDATION NAPOLÉON 2014 From Andrew Roberts, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Storm of War, this is the definitive modern biography of Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte lived one of the most extraordinary of all human lives. In the space of just twenty years, from October 1795 when as a young artillery captain he cleared the streets of Paris of insurrectionists, to his final defeat at the (horribly mismanaged) battle of Waterloo in June 1815, Napoleon transformed France and Europe. After seizing power in a coup d'état he ended the corruption and incompetence into which the Revolution had descended. In a series of dazzling battles he reinvented the art of warfare; in peace, he completely remade the laws of France, modernised her systems of education and administration, and presided over a flourishing of the beautiful 'Empire style' in the arts.

The impossibility of defeating his most persistent enemy, Great Britain, led him to make draining and ultimately fatal expeditions into Spain and Russia, where half a million Frenchmen died and his Empire began to unravel. More than any other modern biographer, Andrew Roberts conveys Napoleon's tremendous energy, both physical and intellectual, and the attractiveness of his personality, even to his enemies. He has walked 53 of Napoleon's 60 battlefields, and has absorbed the gigantic new French edition of Napoleon's letters, which allows a complete re-evaluation of this exceptional man. He overturns many received opinions, including the myth of a great romance with Josephine: she took a lover immediately after their marriage, and, as Roberts shows, he had three times as many mistresses as he acknowledged.

Of the climactic Battle of Leipzig in 1813, as the fighting closed around them, a French sergeant-major wrote, 'No-one who has not experienced it can have any idea of the enthusiasm that burst forth among the half-starved, exhausted soldiers when the Emperor was there in person. If all were demoralised and he appeared, his presence was like an electric shock. All shouted "Vive l'Empereur!" and everyone charged blindly into the fire.' The reader of this biography will understand why this was so. Andrew Roberts is a biographer and historian of international renown whose books include Salisbury: Victorian Titan (winner, the Wolfson Prize for History); Masters and Commanders; and The Storm of War, which reached No. 2 on the Sunday Times bestseller list. [...]

 

[Tohpol]

needed some food for my right brain too . Reading Damasio now
days. http://www.amazon.com/Descartes-Error-Emotion-Reason-Human/dp/014303622X
Goleman's books are in my list.

So how was it? I'm just thinking of reading it next...

Latest recommended read:

Earth Changes and the Human Cosmic Connection By Pierre Lauscadron:

"Jet Stream meanderings, Gulf Stream slow-downs, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, meteor fireballs, tornadoes, deluges, sinkholes, and noctilucent clouds have been on the rise since the turn of the century. Have proponents of man-made global warming been proven correct, or is something else, something much bigger, happening on our planet?

While mainstream science depicts these Earth changes as unrelated, Pierre Lescaudron applies findings from the Electric Universe paradigm and plasma physics to suggest that they might in fact be intimately related, and stem from a single common cause: the close approach of our Sun’s ‘twin’ and an accompanying cometary swarm.

Citing historical records, the author reveals a strong correlation between periods of authoritarian oppression with catastrophic and cosmically-induced natural disasters. Referencing metaphysical research and information theory, Earth Changes and the Human Cosmic Connection is a ground-breaking attempt to re-connect modern science with ancient understanding that the human mind and states of collective human experience can influence cosmic and earthly phenomena. Covering a broad range of scientific fields, and lavishly illustrated with over 250 images and 1,000 sources, Earth Changes and the Human Cosmic Connection, is presented in an accessible format for anyone seeking to understand the signs of our times."

 

[cecily80]

Thanks Svenrus, I meant to attach this note to your book suggestion.



Yes, this is a very good book. It's out of print, but you can find used copies online. There are a few errors, but my used copy already had the corrections written in the book.

Lots to learn yet on posting.

 

[anemos]

So how was it? I'm just thinking of reading it next...

It's a very interesting book about the role emotions and feelings play in reasoning and decision making. He presents in some detail phineas Cage case study, his somatic marker hypothesis and......

... you will see...

He is quite technical in some bits, but I think it worth reading it.

 

[rosada]

The Odyssey.

Better to listen to it than to read it. You can hear it on the internet at "http://www.loyalbooks.com/Top_100" . It's like a hypnotic suggestion and if you play it as you go to sleep you will have visits with the gods and heroes in your dreams...