(Why do most of the books I read lately have covers that make them look like second-rate Science Fiction books? It's the content that matters, I promise!)
This book was introduced to me by Guitar Güero with the following note:
“Here's the crazy book that helped define my unique world views”.
With such an intriguing description and a recommendation coming from such a source, I knew I had to read it.
After finishing the first chapter, called “The Thinker And The Prover”, I knew I was onto something. It talks about synchronicity – how that once you start looking into something it feels as if the universe all of a sudden throws related information at you from unexpected places and sources. The approach Wilson takes is not the typical wishy-washy New Agey discourse that is so fashionable these days: that we modify the universe with our thoughts, and that the universe is greatly preoccupied with helping you make your dreams come true, which just seems like some sort of pseudo-religious wishful thinking. What Wilson suggests is modeling our personal universe by changing our perception of what is already out there, around us. And in his books he provides a very helpful “starter kit” to understand how your mind has shaped the world you lived in –the one that you built almost without noticing based in your patterns, culture and preconceptions– from a psychological point of view.
"Whatever the Thinker thinks, the Prover will prove. And if the Thinker thinks passionately enough, the Prover will prove the thought so conclusively that you will never talk a person out of such a belief, even if it is something as remarkable as the notion that there is a gaseous vertebrate of astronomical heft ("GOD") who will spend all eternity torturing people who do not believe in his religion.
- Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising
Prometheus first goes through a lengthy dismantling and explaining of all the different circuits that are either hardwired in our brains as a result of evolutionary mechanisms, or acquired throughout our lives depending on our personal circumstances and background – the eight-circuit model of consciousness described previously by Timothy Leary. By reading these chapters, one starts getting interesting insights taking a closer observation of other people’s biological and social imprints; the truly interesting part, however, is using these prompts to observe one self and do some self-study discovering what patterns, ideas and notions have taken firm hold on us, and why. One can learn to observe our own reactions and emotions by distancing ourselves from them, and it becomes really interesting and illuminating, although it is also a very humbling experience.
"Yet is neurologically obvious that no two brains have the same genetically-programmed hard wiring, the same imprints, the same conditioning, the same learning experiences. We are all living in separate realities. That is why communication fails so often, and misunderstandings and resentments are so common. I say "meow" and you say "Bow-wow," and each of us is convinced the other is a bit dumb."
- Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising
A very powerful outcome of reading Prometheus Rising was that it made people a lot less intimidating for me, especially those in positions of authority. Suddenly, I could understand much better why they did and said certain things, and in many cases I could see right through their motivations behind maneuvers and actions that previously used to mystify me. In fact, it suddenly became very easy to picture most people as kids, or better yet, to see the kid in them still intact, under layers of pretense “adulthood” and power play. It also helped me to become more understanding, empathic and compassionate towards others, and I have been noticing that these days I am more aware of the similarities between myself and other people than our perceived differences.
One of the most interesting chapters in Prometheus Rising.
Another aspect I liked about this book is the originality of its format. Perhaps I had been reading the wrong books, but I had never encountered a book like this; full of candid caricatures and informal drawings and diagrams, and sprinkled with quotes and high-impact messages printed in capital letters. In addition, each chapter offers a series of activities or “Exerzises” –some of which are quite interesting and fun– to experiment and gain some insight on different mental and physiological processes, as well as to help the reader identify their own preconceptions and step out of their frame of mind to observe and analyze themselves in a more impartial way. The aim of all these exercises is to help you become “less-robotized” and more of a true free thinker, liberating yourself from detrimental and useless preconceptions and hardened limiting beliefs.
"We are all giants, raised by pygmies, who have learned to walk with a perpetual mental crouch."
- Robert Anton Wilson
The author takes occasional plunges into the pool of mysticism and the occult, but only when it’s relevant. A. Wilson makes a good effort by comparing and incorporating common knowledge about the workings of human mind from diverse sources, from G.I. Gurdjieff and Aleister Crowley to Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. There are lots of strange experiments and works quoted in there that made my skeptical red-flag alarm go off a few times, though. So, as usual, one must apply some criteria and do some additional research to clarify some points when necessary – an attitude that, if practiced by everyone, would significantly reduce the amount of misinformation regarding already-confusing topics like the essence of consciousness and the way it works.
An example of the kind of exercises suggested at the end of each chapter of Prometheus Rising.
Finally, a strong point of Prometheus Rising is that its intention is not only to provide a grim and cynical deconstruction of human behavior, pointing out all the deficiencies, potential pitfalls and deformations of the individual and collective mind. While Wilson does a good job humorously exposing just how much of an irrational and stupid species humans can be, he also offers some light and hope on the improvement of the human condition. Perhaps over-optimistic at times, Wilson speaks passionately about the unique times that we live in now, with the unlimited flow of information and resources setting the stage for a new revolution of the mind, the next step on the evolution of human consciousness. He also makes interesting propositions and offers intelligent arguments that prompt the reader to re-evaluate the way they perceive reality and their life situation. Robert Anton Wilson is so enthusiastic about the possibilities at our grasp for self-actualization and development that it’s difficult not to feel inspired by it.
"It may be no exaggeration to say that stupidity has killed more people than all the diseases known to medicine and psychiatry. Intelligence is the capacity to receive, decode and transmit information efficiently. Stupidity is blockage of this process at any point. Bigotry, ideologies etc. block the ability to receive; robotic reality-tunnels block the ability to decode or integrate new signals; censorship blocks transmission."
- Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising.
In the end, we could say that he is a passionate advocate for a happier, more fulfilling way of living by putting the knowledge available to us to good use, to free us and inspire us. Count me in for that! Prometheus Rising is a very recommendable book to challenge your worldview and a swift read full of fascinating ideas.
"This is what the Hindus call Shiva-darshana, or the divine dance. You are still in life, or life is in you, but since there are infinite aspects to everything, especially to the "you" who is observing/creating all these muddles and models, there are no limits.The only sensible goal, then, is to try to build a reality-tunnel for next week that is bigger, funnier, sexier, more optimistic and generally less boring than any previous reality-tunnel."
- Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising.
Thank you for reading!
