Email to the Universe and Other Alterations of Consciousness

by Robert Anton Wilson

Original version of this book.

The range of Robert Anton Wilson's expertise is always astonishing. In email to the universe he tackles a dazzling array of subjects including: The Passion of the Antichrist; The Celtic Roots of Quantum Theory; Paranoia; Black Magick & Curses; LSD, Dogs & Me; Left and Right: A Non-Euclidean Perspective; Sexual Alchemy; Cheerful Reflections on Death and Dying; The Relativity of "Reality" and a whole bunch more. Bob's description of his campaign to become governor of California (as the candidate of the Guns & Dope party, no less) will have you rolling on the floor.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Alethea Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

RAW's last book. This was sort of pasted together out of unpublished poetry, interviews and previously published essays. Still it is a treasure if you are a fan of this writer. If you're not already a fan, this probably isn't a good place to start.

[tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe not the most gripping book of his I've read, but this is Robert Anton Wilson nonetheless. Perhaps a collection of lost bits and loose ends; some jolting, all entertaining. With every encounter I have with his mind, I believe in belief less and laugh at life more. Truly one of the greatest agnostic mystics and libertarian anarchists of our time.

[Richard Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a compilation of essays - of varied type, length and quality, so not, as a whole, the best of RAW's output. But it's got some gems in and no lover of the dear old lasagne is going to want to be without it.

[Darren-lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays and excerpts doesn't deliver the same wonder as a coherent trip through Wilson's multiverse.

[Christoph · Rating 3 out of 5]

RAW was a werido, miscreant, inchoate force who still was able to focus his ravage into words. This collection of shorts put out a few years before they had the decency to bury the man (his final wish couldnt have been achieved since he beat out Falwell to stay alive the longest) is a nice little peak into the day-to-day workings of RAWs mind. On the surface, his perspective doesnt always jive with me, but if you bother to think about his work, which is not forced on you and so is where the slippery-slope arguments can start with him, there are some truly amazing insights into this conspiracy we call life. The shorts are filled with the typical bits of non-sequitur, hyperbole, and satire that make RAW, RAW; so, although there were some thoughts in here that made my wiring short-circuit here and there, I couldnt stop laughing the whole way through.

RAW exposes himself in his final days to be what he always proclaimed to be. An extremist pragmatist who loved freedom more than freedom-loving normals. Unfortunately, the wackos in said bunch could read him at face-value and think his was talking to them. That is, those that either didnt bother to think about his work or thought about it a bit too much might be duped into re-enforcing their perspective which he clearly disdains but still seems to use his language to speak to. It must be accepted as the beauty and danger with the man who has finally fulfilled his wish: extra-planetary travel.

Miss you much RAW.

[Jonnythrombosis · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am halfway through this on my second reading - first read it when it was first published before uncle bob left this world - there is so much in here that i probably missed first time through & so much that is pertinent to the times we are living in "we live in interesting times" for sure - bob was a visonary on many levels - i first read him about 12 years back & have read probably 2/3s of everything in print - the very first time i read his work it resonanted with my own inner feelings & has contined to do so whilst awakening me to so many possibilities that i would probably never have come across otherwise - here he sums up lots of his ideas - its a great primer & a great final
love letter to the universe - covers various topics - quantum physics, philosophy, maths, economics, logic, politics, semantics, neuroscience & does so in his inimitable accessible, entertaining & humourous manner - i loved bob from the first time i read a page of his work to the last page of the chapter in this book i just read this morning - bob you live on in your work & lets hope many more readers will come to love & appreciate your contribution to the evolution of the human mind

[Ray Welt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is among the books by Wilson that I like the least. It's primarily a collection of various articles and pieces written over a span of decades. Most were published before, although when or where are sometimes in dispute. As a collection of pieces, it doesn't really hold to any particular theme or concept. Those who read RAW closely know that this is more unusual than it might seem to the casual reader. Those parts not written previously were written after his wife's death, during the George W. Bush administration, and when his post-polio was getting more and more severe. The pieces reflect what his mental state was probably like, and his trademark humor is noticeably lacking in some areas, with an extra helping of bitterness filling that void. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good in this book, but if you're new to Robert Anton Wilson, you probably want to look elsewhere. Save this one for when you've become a fan and can indulge in something put together more for the publishers and less for Uncle Bob.

[Anton Kroogozor]

Андрей Костенко из "Софии" объяснил, что эту книгу не стали издавать, потому что русскоязычному читателю не будут интересны многочисленные подробности из американской истории. На мой взгляд, объяснение ещё проще: эта книга по сути для фанов РАУ, поэтому продать будет проблематичнее, чем например его "Прометея восставшего", изданного под названием "Психология эволюции".

Жду Kindle edition или хоть что, pdf-ку видел посредственную, по ней могу точно сказать, что книга интересная, да.

[Joseph Inzirillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of his later works and it makes my brain go in every direction like all of his other books. To say that Bob gets your wheels turning would be an understatement.

From the Guns and Dope Party to his random Haiku, everything makes you think twice about what you think reality might be.

Every book of his qualifies as a must read and this one is no different.

[Johann Liebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read from Wilson, though not a crowning achievement. A collection of essays and interviews that were never published, or only published in obscure places, there are some very insightful pieces within that offer more insight into Old Bob himself

[keys · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great RAW book. the most recent of his books i have read, it was great to read him referencing things that i could remember in my lifetime. there are some writings that were done in the 60s which he has updated and some have notes about the changes, this was put together in 2004.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good...a mixture of different left-over bits from the man's mind. Nothing particularly illuminating/ground-breaking, but RAW's intellectual sense of humor and wit is alive and well on each page.

[Nora]

So far, a bit over my head, but really fascinating and well written.

[Rasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read after RAW's Cosmic Trigger and Prometheus rising, or before.