What do you think?
Rate this book
Cosmic Trigger #3
Cosmic Trigger Volume III: My Life After Death
Alternate version to this book.
This, the long-awaited third volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy, includes Wilson's witty and humorous observations about the widely spread (and, happily, premature) announcement of his demise. And, of course, what Wilson masterpiece would be complete without synchronicities, religious fanatics, UFOs, crop circles, paranoia, pompous scientists, secret societies, high tech, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes (real and fake), Orson Welles, James Joyce, Carl Sagan, Madonna and The Vagina of Nuit.
This, the long-awaited third volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy, includes Wilson's witty and humorous observations about the widely spread (and, happily, premature) announcement of his demise. And, of course, what Wilson masterpiece would be complete without synchronicities, religious fanatics, UFOs, crop circles, paranoia, pompous scientists, secret societies, high tech, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes (real and fake), Orson Welles, James Joyce, Carl Sagan, Madonna and The Vagina of Nuit.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
25 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
About the author
Robert Anton Wilson
115 books1,690 followersRobert Anton Wilson was an American author, futurist, psychologist, and self-described agnostic mystic. Recognized within Discordianism as an Episkopos, pope and saint, Wilson helped publicize Discordianism through his writings and interviews. In 1999 he described his work as an "attempt to break down conditioned associations, to look at the world in a new way, with many models recognized as models or maps, and no one model elevated to the truth". Wilson's goal was "to try to get people into a state of generalized agnosticism, not agnosticism about God alone but agnosticism about everything."
In addition to writing several science-fiction novels, Wilson also wrote non-fiction books on extrasensory perception, mental telepathy, metaphysics, paranormal experiences, conspiracy theory, sex, drugs, and what Wilson called "quantum psychology".
Following a career in journalism and as an editor, notably for Playboy, Wilson emerged as a major countercultural figure in the mid-1970s, comparable to one of his coauthors, Timothy Leary, as well as Terence McKenna.
In addition to writing several science-fiction novels, Wilson also wrote non-fiction books on extrasensory perception, mental telepathy, metaphysics, paranormal experiences, conspiracy theory, sex, drugs, and what Wilson called "quantum psychology".
Following a career in journalism and as an editor, notably for Playboy, Wilson emerged as a major countercultural figure in the mid-1970s, comparable to one of his coauthors, Timothy Leary, as well as Terence McKenna.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 23, 2018
Robert Anton Wilson is a hero of mine. He always makes me laugh whilst gently unraveling knots in my mind and occasionally blowing it wide open. This is why I have been looking for a copy of this book for years, it appears to be out of print and I very much enjoyed the first two volumes (particularly the first). When a copy finally crossed my path I devoured the thing over a couple of days, finding it difficult to put it down.
The book, although written in the mid-90s, seems bizarrely relevant to the late 2010s. Many chapters are written using Radical Feminists (of the "all men are pigs", "all sex is rape" Feminazi persuasion, popularized in the 90s and sadly gaining prominence again 25 years later) and Politically Correct Fundamentalists as subjects of Wilson's critical wit. Although he also analyses many other groups and people who speak with dogmatic certainty about well ... anything.
In this sense he is building upon his ouvré. He gives many lessons (and made me look at myself and my own opinions which verge of certainty) about using maybe-logic rather than Aristotelian either-or logic, in which much of his work has centered over the years. This book in particular explores the age old philosophical question of "What is real? ... and what is fake?" after rumours of his own death circulated the early internet of the 90s. To grapple with these questions he uses various bits of fascinating triva, explores modern art, surrealism, post-modernism and outlines some new and interesting mysteries to puzzle over. The book builds towards a kind of grand finish (or perhaps punchline?) in which the final chapters are the funniest, most mind-bending and generally interesting whilst building on the themes he has sprinkled throughout the book.
Read the first two volumes first.
Oh wow, I just realised that I finished reading this book on the 23rd!
The book, although written in the mid-90s, seems bizarrely relevant to the late 2010s. Many chapters are written using Radical Feminists (of the "all men are pigs", "all sex is rape" Feminazi persuasion, popularized in the 90s and sadly gaining prominence again 25 years later) and Politically Correct Fundamentalists as subjects of Wilson's critical wit. Although he also analyses many other groups and people who speak with dogmatic certainty about well ... anything.
In this sense he is building upon his ouvré. He gives many lessons (and made me look at myself and my own opinions which verge of certainty) about using maybe-logic rather than Aristotelian either-or logic, in which much of his work has centered over the years. This book in particular explores the age old philosophical question of "What is real? ... and what is fake?" after rumours of his own death circulated the early internet of the 90s. To grapple with these questions he uses various bits of fascinating triva, explores modern art, surrealism, post-modernism and outlines some new and interesting mysteries to puzzle over. The book builds towards a kind of grand finish (or perhaps punchline?) in which the final chapters are the funniest, most mind-bending and generally interesting whilst building on the themes he has sprinkled throughout the book.
Read the first two volumes first.
Oh wow, I just realised that I finished reading this book on the 23rd!
December 6, 2014
First off, it's not as good as the first two, only because its autobiographical parts are few and far between. These are what made the first two books so good.
The autobiographical parts in Vol3 that are present here are wonderful, but when I think back on the book, the first thing I recall is that most of seemed to be about Orson Welles and Elmyr. These are both interesting topics, especially through the eyes of RAW, but without actually seeing the work of Welles in particular, it might leave you a bit ambivalent.
There are also a couple chapters that I personally wasn't into, namely RAW's polemic against Carl Sagan. It's partly because I've never watched anything with the man, but also because RAW came across as much more sarcastic and spiteful than usual in my opinion. It didn't fit that agnostic laughing buddha that I normally sense in RAW's writing.
That being said, there are some chapters that are just wonderful and really bring that enlightened perspective to the forefront, particularly the last few chapters where RAW sums up all his thoughts with beautiful eloquence.
Ultimately, this is a book for RAW fans. If you're not familiar with his work, you're never going to pick up something with "Volume III" in the title. Perhaps RAW was aware of that and felt he could be more chaotic in his topic choices than normal. But seeing as it's one of the few books he tried to write completely in E-Prime, those familiar with his work will definitely want to read it to see how well it holds up to his beliefs about this language variant.
The autobiographical parts in Vol3 that are present here are wonderful, but when I think back on the book, the first thing I recall is that most of seemed to be about Orson Welles and Elmyr. These are both interesting topics, especially through the eyes of RAW, but without actually seeing the work of Welles in particular, it might leave you a bit ambivalent.
There are also a couple chapters that I personally wasn't into, namely RAW's polemic against Carl Sagan. It's partly because I've never watched anything with the man, but also because RAW came across as much more sarcastic and spiteful than usual in my opinion. It didn't fit that agnostic laughing buddha that I normally sense in RAW's writing.
That being said, there are some chapters that are just wonderful and really bring that enlightened perspective to the forefront, particularly the last few chapters where RAW sums up all his thoughts with beautiful eloquence.
Ultimately, this is a book for RAW fans. If you're not familiar with his work, you're never going to pick up something with "Volume III" in the title. Perhaps RAW was aware of that and felt he could be more chaotic in his topic choices than normal. But seeing as it's one of the few books he tried to write completely in E-Prime, those familiar with his work will definitely want to read it to see how well it holds up to his beliefs about this language variant.
May 1, 2024
RAW comes across as a cranky old man in this third part of the series. Disappointing
July 16, 2020
I liked it, but if I'm 100% honest, I wanted more aliens from Sirius in it. But RAW always expands my mind and sets me journaling furiously.
One particular tidbit: I can't decide about his reveal regarding the "real god" of Christianity/Judaism as kept secret by the Priory of Sion, which is the primary secret society he focuses on this book. On the one hand, he scoffs and giggles about the silliness of it (and the belief in gods, in general). On the other hand, he spends several chapters previously, describing the predominant behavior in our society, which matches the arena of this particular god. And previous to THAT, he talks a bunch about Orson Welles, and others, whose trickery he admires.
I can tell you for certain which god I associate with RAW: Mercury, the trickster, who I'm coming to appreciate more the older and less rigid I get.
Now I need to read everything written by Philip K. Dick.
I'm sad this series is over.
One particular tidbit: I can't decide about his reveal regarding the "real god" of Christianity/Judaism as kept secret by the Priory of Sion, which is the primary secret society he focuses on this book. On the one hand, he scoffs and giggles about the silliness of it (and the belief in gods, in general). On the other hand, he spends several chapters previously, describing the predominant behavior in our society, which matches the arena of this particular god. And previous to THAT, he talks a bunch about Orson Welles, and others, whose trickery he admires.
I can tell you for certain which god I associate with RAW: Mercury, the trickster, who I'm coming to appreciate more the older and less rigid I get.
Now I need to read everything written by Philip K. Dick.
I'm sad this series is over.
March 13, 2022
As always with RAW, there are lots of interesting ideas in here. However, he really lets himself down by failing to follow his own logic as strictly as he claims to. Once again he argues the case for E-Prime, language without the use of 'is' or 'are', but this time he has whole chapters where he makes the most gross generalisations about what all Political Correctness or Radical Feminists 'is/are' like. I was expecting it to be a setup for a great reveal at the end where he acknowledges how much 'isness' he's attributed to them, but that rabbit was left in the hat. It's a shame because elsewhere he's just as fluent, informative and charismatic as we expect from his other books.
September 23, 2022
The concluding book of the trilogy offers less autobiography and more on the topics that were preoccupying RAW late in life. The cultural touchstones of Rodney King and OJ Simpson being recent memory, as well as his disdain for HW Bush, gives you a sense of where this stands on the timeline. Some events like the Reich saga are gone from public consciousness, but a lot of the discussion around social topics hasn't moved an inch in 30 years. Wilson would undoubtedly have continued morphing his opinions had there been more entries.
December 28, 2024
Seinen Ruf als Kultautor hat sich RAW mit Illuminatus!, Prometheus Rising oder dem Lexikon der Verschwörungstheorien erarbeitet. Dieser dritte Teil zum verworrenen, aber in den 80ern äußerst unterhaltsamenen Cosmic Trigger hätte dafür nicht gereicht. RAW tritt auf der Stelle, nörgelt opahaft und der Aha-Erlebnisse sind wenig (E-Prime z.B). Dazu kommt eine holperige Übersetzung, die klingt als hätte Google sie vorgenommen, was beim Erscheinen 1996 wohl nicht der Fall war. Aber nervt trotzdem.
September 15, 2021
Yikes. Lots of great ideas in here mixed in with a few extremely problematic ones. Men's rights. Straight Pride parades. Comparing a ranking of the relative intelligence of dog breeds to a ranking of IQs of different races. I guess I should have taken him at his word when he called himself a Libertarian.
May 15, 2024
Another fascinating book from RAW. Unlike the previous two volumes in the Cosmic Trigger series, this volume seems less concerned with RAW's life. Instead, this volume continues his pursuit of insight on the natures of reality and the masks that resemble reality. Much of the grist for the discussion stems from occult topics.
June 29, 2018
Doesn’t sparkle like the first in the trilogy, but provides the R.A.W initiate with lots more titles to read and people to research. A few problematic ideas when viewed from 2018, but always issues of sensitivity rather than morality, at the least.
April 7, 2023
In which the author finally loses the thread, in chapter 23 ironically, which entitled “Abdrophobia”. Maybe it’s a gag that he explains later in the book. Someone let me know. I’m done. Alas and alack.
February 27, 2018
More of the same.
October 14, 2018
What can I say. Wilson, one of my all time heroes. Still miss him a lot.
June 12, 2024
proszę pana, ma pan bardzo fascynujący mózg (ale myli on troche definicje feminizmu)
December 21, 2024
Schließt sich der Band 2 Rezension nahtlos an. Wilson packt immer noch etwas auf den Tisch, was einen Staunen lässt....
December 3, 2009
Real vs. Fake. Genuine vs. Counterfeit. Hoaxes. Experts. Art Forgers. The Federal Reserve. Radical Feminism. Political correctness. Postmodernism. Scientific absolutism. Wilhelm Reich. Philip K. Dick. The Priory of Sion. All forms of the verb "to be".
Bob plays with all these ingredients in this, the final installment of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy. Alas, compared to the first two volumes, this book left me relatively cold. It's not that there weren't lots of brilliant points scattered throughout. It's that there were lots of brilliant points scattered throughout, instead of the whole book comprising one extended, interwoven, brilliant exploration of the crazy world in which we find ourselves. The fact that I can find the brilliant points in this book by citing a particular page is what makes it different from its predecessors, both of which were seamless, integrated. It also felt like this one was written to fulfill a contractual obligation. Sadly Wilson's attacks on "Political Correctness" seemed as shallow as most of the other attacks on that vaguely defined concept, and while I often expect Wilson to be glib, I never expect him to be shallow.
Enough grumbling, here are some of the brilliant points:
"The mathematically normal labels that idea which no actual event exemplifies." (pp. 33-4)
In reference to his use of multiple calendars:
"Kindness remains, to me, the most wonderful miracle in this incomprehensible universe." (p. 123)
On the final Orson Welles film F for Fake:
On the book Higher Superstition and the notion that science provides a meta-perspective from which to adjudicate the truth claims of all other perspectives:
On linguistic precision and neuro-semantic honesty (in the specific case of the abortion debate): "Due to the philosophy I hold at present, I currently [do/do not:] classify the fetus as a human person."
Quoting Korzybski: "Allness is an illness."
Bob plays with all these ingredients in this, the final installment of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy. Alas, compared to the first two volumes, this book left me relatively cold. It's not that there weren't lots of brilliant points scattered throughout. It's that there were lots of brilliant points scattered throughout, instead of the whole book comprising one extended, interwoven, brilliant exploration of the crazy world in which we find ourselves. The fact that I can find the brilliant points in this book by citing a particular page is what makes it different from its predecessors, both of which were seamless, integrated. It also felt like this one was written to fulfill a contractual obligation. Sadly Wilson's attacks on "Political Correctness" seemed as shallow as most of the other attacks on that vaguely defined concept, and while I often expect Wilson to be glib, I never expect him to be shallow.
Enough grumbling, here are some of the brilliant points:
"The mathematically normal labels that idea which no actual event exemplifies." (pp. 33-4)
In reference to his use of multiple calendars:
Once you have given up asking 'what day is it?' you will soon find it easy to give up asking what anything really "is." Then, in Melville's fine phrase, you can strike through the mask—pierce the veil of cultural conditioning (emic tunnel-reality) and see and hear with your own eyes and ears. (p. 109)
Personally, I don't trust mystical experiences, including my own—although I seek them and enjoy them. I think Altered Consciousness offers new ways of perceiving/conceiving and should start philosophical investigation, not stop it. (p. 113)
"Kindness remains, to me, the most wonderful miracle in this incomprehensible universe." (p. 123)
On the final Orson Welles film F for Fake:
I love this film because it forces viewers to think as I believe we must all learn to think in this post-quantum age: not in Aristotelian either/ors, but in probabilities. (p. 184)
On the book Higher Superstition and the notion that science provides a meta-perspective from which to adjudicate the truth claims of all other perspectives:
Gross and Levitt believe the current scientific model (i.e., the most popular one...) stands above all other perspectives, in the way one might claim the architects' view "stands above" the other drawings of the room. I hold to the contrary that we must at leaser partially remember, all all times, that the "absolute" or architect's blueprint has its own kind of relativity, its own "perspectivism," or else we risk going totally mad.
On linguistic precision and neuro-semantic honesty (in the specific case of the abortion debate): "Due to the philosophy I hold at present, I currently [do/do not:] classify the fetus as a human person."
Quoting Korzybski: "Allness is an illness."
We live, existentially and phenomenologically, in a universe of infinite aspects. Whether the model-universe of science, in its extensions in space-time, extends to infinity, or has infinite boundaries, of fits the Einstein model of an unbounded but finite Reimanian geometry, the sensory universe of our experience remains stubbornly infinite, in the sense that we can never exhaust the number of things we may "see" in it or the number of ways we can organize our individual perceptions into models or reality-tunnels. (p. 242)
April 21, 2017
This book dives even deeper into many of Wilson’s main topics than the prior two volumes. The title gets its name from a faked news story concerning his death that appeared on the Internet in February 1994. Even after talking to multiple credible sources and verifying his vitality, many people online still believed the announcement. Wilson’s account of his reaction to the announcement was entertaining to me, because each side believed that a conspiracy existed that was being projected from the other side. In other words, the people who thought Wilson was dead believed that the others were creating a hoax, and vice versa. He actually passed away in 2007, 13 years after his first “death.”
The main topics that Wilson includes in this volume are UFOs, crop circles, secret societies, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes and many of his literary and film heroes. These include Orson Welles, James Joyce and William Shakespeare.
A large portion of the book focuses on Elmyr, an extremely successful art forger, and the similarities of forging art and how we define authenticity. Orson Welles also shows up quite often, and Wilson analyzes the techniques that Welles used in his films to create a faked reality.
The third volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy was an interesting read, and better than the first volume, but not as satisfying as the second. If I was to suggest one of Wilson’s books to start with, it probably wouldn’t be this one. (The Illuminatus! Trilogy would be my suggestion, although it is a very long and draining book to get through. Very humorous, though!) However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in Robert Anton Wilson or any of the topics that he touches on in his works.
4/5 Stars. 247 pages. Published 1995.
The main topics that Wilson includes in this volume are UFOs, crop circles, secret societies, black magic, quantum physics, hoaxes and many of his literary and film heroes. These include Orson Welles, James Joyce and William Shakespeare.
A large portion of the book focuses on Elmyr, an extremely successful art forger, and the similarities of forging art and how we define authenticity. Orson Welles also shows up quite often, and Wilson analyzes the techniques that Welles used in his films to create a faked reality.
The third volume of the Cosmic Trigger trilogy was an interesting read, and better than the first volume, but not as satisfying as the second. If I was to suggest one of Wilson’s books to start with, it probably wouldn’t be this one. (The Illuminatus! Trilogy would be my suggestion, although it is a very long and draining book to get through. Very humorous, though!) However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in Robert Anton Wilson or any of the topics that he touches on in his works.
4/5 Stars. 247 pages. Published 1995.
September 29, 2009
As with Cosmic Trigger one and two, the third edition contains many small nuggets of synchronicity that amalgamate into a fun romp through little known aspects of our society. Through philosophical analysis, and using scientific methods and logic, Robert Anton Wilson examines a great deal of both the fringe and public information. The number 23 pops up a few times, but not nearly as much as in Cosmic Trigger 2. Broaching the "Priory of Sion" and so-called "UFO encounters" from the world over, this book does one important thing. That thing is to influence the reader into thinking about the unknown from a non-dogmatic perspective.
An excellent read, and certainly on my gift list for friends and relatives who would appreciate at least "some but not all" of it's content.
An excellent read, and certainly on my gift list for friends and relatives who would appreciate at least "some but not all" of it's content.
January 11, 2013
I love RAW's vivid style more than anything and this trilogy is my favourite of his, the third book ranking highest on my list! It was a blast to read this. One of those books I only allowed myself to read little at a time just so I could make it last as long as possible. What an amazing man he really was.
I really can't say more. I just loved it, and reading it was mind-altering; it shook me me by my roots and struck me like a lighting.
I really can't say more. I just loved it, and reading it was mind-altering; it shook me me by my roots and struck me like a lighting.
April 24, 2023
I love Wilson. Any boom that makes me think to points where my brain hurts is worth reading. The fact that Wilson does it while making me laugh is always a plus.
This book is a further trip into his brain and many other places delving into everything from the occult to conspiracies to quantum entanglement. Intelligent, witty and generally enjoyable.
This book is a further trip into his brain and many other places delving into everything from the occult to conspiracies to quantum entanglement. Intelligent, witty and generally enjoyable.
November 2, 2010
I thought this book did a good job highlighting important elements of the first two Triggers and spent more time focusing on interesting ideas (like E-prime!) than telling anecdotal tales from RAW's life.
February 7, 2014
The narrative threads in this final volume are not as concise and cohesive, but the content Wilson presents is, as always, thought provoking and insightful.
a worthwhile conclusion to the trilogy.
a worthwhile conclusion to the trilogy.
August 12, 2013
Further stories and anecdotes leading on from the previous two CT books. Not as revolutionary as the first CT book, but still contains some interesting brain food for those so inclined to RAW's style.
June 29, 2020
Another great rambling discourse
Life after death. Politics. Cynicism. More on the occult and the Illuminati. But don’t take him too literally. Reading RAW’s books make you feel smarter and more cognisant of what’s really going on. But don’t take that too literally either.
Life after death. Politics. Cynicism. More on the occult and the Illuminati. But don’t take him too literally. Reading RAW’s books make you feel smarter and more cognisant of what’s really going on. But don’t take that too literally either.
July 7, 2022
Acquired Oct 12, 2002
City Lights Book Shop, London, Ontario
City Lights Book Shop, London, Ontario
August 3, 2008
here is a man whose imagination to supplant history, and dedication to warp his mind is unparalleled by his contemporaries.
September 21, 2009
Of course I loved it. Rekindles my profound respect and astonishment towards Wilson, reminding me what genius is. Great mind-bending fun that leaves you smarter and more optmistic. )+(
Currently reading
November 8, 2009just came off vol 1 ...couldn't wait for more of RAW's zany, mind-bending antics
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews