What do you think?
Rate this book
The Daemon
In The Daemon, Peake expands on the proposition that all consciously aware beings consist of not one but two separate consciousnesses - everyday consciousness and that of the Daemon, a higher being that seems to possess knowledge of future events. This book includes the stories of many famous artists, politicians, musicians, and scientists who have felt a force outside themselves including Winston Churchill, Byron, Goethe, Jean Cocteau, and many others.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2008
108 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 27, 2011
An interesting and original take on the age old idea of the personal Daemon. It treads a curious path between spirituality and science with impressive supporting arguments drawn from the fields of neuroscience, quantum physics, religion and philosophy. The basic tenet is that we have an inner self - our Daemon, a personal and purely psychical entity, who observes our life as we live it. In Peake's theory, we live just once in physical reality, but at the moment of death, time, relative to our own perception, collapses, so we don't actually reach the point of death at all but enter a new state of being in which we relive our former life, this time as a kind of super-real virtual reality re-run. Once in this super real virtual state, we repeat our virtual lives over and over again. However, since the Daemon has been this way before - possibly many times, it can prompt us, unconsciously, to make changes so that our lives are not an exact copy of the one(s) that went before. This means we can change things for the better, and even avoid the disasters that befell us in previous lives. The theory goes a long way towards explaining things like precognition.
I enjoyed the book for its discussion of some extraordinary ideas and I'd say it's worthwhile reading for anyone interested in this kind of thing. However, though I'm quite open to the notion of a personal Daemon, or some other kind of "big mind", I do have reservations about the basic workings of the overall theory, as presented here. I'm always cautious when I read works where "cutting edge" science is used to explain metaphysical concepts - because science, "cutting edge" or otherwise always strikes me as being something of an unsubtle instrument, and when it's not debunking the paranormal, it just ends up making an ass of itself.
The notion of iterative reincarnation described here, chimes very closely with a short story I put out a few years ago called "The Choices" which involved exactly this kind of thing - playing out your life over and over, while each time searching for the one thing that would guide you to a better end, changing your life path for one that's progressively nearer to your originally intended purpose.
However, what I don't get is why it's necessary for us to experience an initial incarnation in "physical" reality at all, since the virtual re-runs are virtually indistinguishable, and to all intents and purposes "real" anyway. Personally, I think the idea of an initial physical reality can be dispensed with, and then what you get is a reworking of the Buddist concept of Maya, which is as old as the hills, but perfectly serviceable for modern times. Nor do I get what the implications are for our relationships with other people in these virtual re-runs. Are they real people or imaginary self-created super-real phantasms?
To me the people we meet in life (virtual or otherwise) have to be real and therefore as in my story "The Choices", the virtual space time continuum is one that we all share, that our separate realities are coincident. There are some parallels here with the idea of conscious creation - the belief that we each create our own universe, and in which it's tempting to treat the others we meet along the way as being included merely for our own entertainment and not as real people at all, so it doesn't matter how unpleasant we are to them. Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit and I don't mean to knock the ideas presented in The Daemon because I'm not really qualified, scientifically, spiritually, or philosophically, and clearly there's a lot of thought gone into this book.
The above reservations excepted, I highly recommend it to all you spiritual hitch-hikers, navigating your way outside of the mainstream! Even if you can't agree with everything it says, it'll get you thinking.
I enjoyed the book for its discussion of some extraordinary ideas and I'd say it's worthwhile reading for anyone interested in this kind of thing. However, though I'm quite open to the notion of a personal Daemon, or some other kind of "big mind", I do have reservations about the basic workings of the overall theory, as presented here. I'm always cautious when I read works where "cutting edge" science is used to explain metaphysical concepts - because science, "cutting edge" or otherwise always strikes me as being something of an unsubtle instrument, and when it's not debunking the paranormal, it just ends up making an ass of itself.
The notion of iterative reincarnation described here, chimes very closely with a short story I put out a few years ago called "The Choices" which involved exactly this kind of thing - playing out your life over and over, while each time searching for the one thing that would guide you to a better end, changing your life path for one that's progressively nearer to your originally intended purpose.
However, what I don't get is why it's necessary for us to experience an initial incarnation in "physical" reality at all, since the virtual re-runs are virtually indistinguishable, and to all intents and purposes "real" anyway. Personally, I think the idea of an initial physical reality can be dispensed with, and then what you get is a reworking of the Buddist concept of Maya, which is as old as the hills, but perfectly serviceable for modern times. Nor do I get what the implications are for our relationships with other people in these virtual re-runs. Are they real people or imaginary self-created super-real phantasms?
To me the people we meet in life (virtual or otherwise) have to be real and therefore as in my story "The Choices", the virtual space time continuum is one that we all share, that our separate realities are coincident. There are some parallels here with the idea of conscious creation - the belief that we each create our own universe, and in which it's tempting to treat the others we meet along the way as being included merely for our own entertainment and not as real people at all, so it doesn't matter how unpleasant we are to them. Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit and I don't mean to knock the ideas presented in The Daemon because I'm not really qualified, scientifically, spiritually, or philosophically, and clearly there's a lot of thought gone into this book.
The above reservations excepted, I highly recommend it to all you spiritual hitch-hikers, navigating your way outside of the mainstream! Even if you can't agree with everything it says, it'll get you thinking.
January 16, 2013
One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, Anthony Peake.
Peake has theorized that within each of us resides a second, secret self which shares our existence and which contains a shocking secret for the individual at death.
Drawing from classical literature, philosophy, cognitive psychology, neuro-science, brain studies, near death and out of body experience research, and quantum physics, Peake weaves a tapestry full of surprises and expansions of consciousness.
As a binary mind theorist, Peake is unbeatable: He fuses Nietzsche's Eternal Recurrence with the later theories of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Nicoll, and Collin to form a 21st century masterpiece on consciousness.
Highly recommended, along with his other texts.
Peake has theorized that within each of us resides a second, secret self which shares our existence and which contains a shocking secret for the individual at death.
Drawing from classical literature, philosophy, cognitive psychology, neuro-science, brain studies, near death and out of body experience research, and quantum physics, Peake weaves a tapestry full of surprises and expansions of consciousness.
As a binary mind theorist, Peake is unbeatable: He fuses Nietzsche's Eternal Recurrence with the later theories of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Nicoll, and Collin to form a 21st century masterpiece on consciousness.
Highly recommended, along with his other texts.
January 29, 2024
Well explained take on the relationship with our higher Self, seems viable enough and is clearly thoroughly researched.
October 8, 2013
Keys for Unlocking our Doors of Perception
Excellent! There is so much interesting information in this book, on subjects that are important to everyone’s spiritual growth. The Daemon itself and its role in our creativity, growth and awareness, the action of our biochemistry, the brain and afflictions, such as migraines, related to the brain and nervous system, and the significance of that to us as complete human-beings. Peake has an excellent understanding of consciousness and the things that touch our lives and how they fit together. As well as extensive research he draws on his own personal experiences giving him integrity in speaking on this subject.
His ‘Scale of Transcendence’ is epic. This makes so much sense! For people, like myself, who suffer from migraines it explains so many of the ‘unusual’ experiences we have and how they might aid in our spiritual growth or the raising of consciousness. His explanation of our Daemon is excellent and made me see my own encounters in a different light. Personally he filled in many of the blanks in my life aiding me to make more sense of my experiences and what significance these experiences had in the bigger picture.
This is the first of Peake’s books that I have read but I would definitely like to read more!
Excellent! There is so much interesting information in this book, on subjects that are important to everyone’s spiritual growth. The Daemon itself and its role in our creativity, growth and awareness, the action of our biochemistry, the brain and afflictions, such as migraines, related to the brain and nervous system, and the significance of that to us as complete human-beings. Peake has an excellent understanding of consciousness and the things that touch our lives and how they fit together. As well as extensive research he draws on his own personal experiences giving him integrity in speaking on this subject.
His ‘Scale of Transcendence’ is epic. This makes so much sense! For people, like myself, who suffer from migraines it explains so many of the ‘unusual’ experiences we have and how they might aid in our spiritual growth or the raising of consciousness. His explanation of our Daemon is excellent and made me see my own encounters in a different light. Personally he filled in many of the blanks in my life aiding me to make more sense of my experiences and what significance these experiences had in the bigger picture.
This is the first of Peake’s books that I have read but I would definitely like to read more!
January 7, 2023
This thing hit me like a truck.
It might not do the same for you, mind you, but when I read it, it was like some sort of magical divination - the universe directly answering my queries via this book. It builds up a kinda scary variation of the eternal return theory that I invented independently and never heard anyone else talk about before. Then it summarizes cutting-edge neuroscientific research connecting Bohm, Seth, and Metzinger - basically, everything I have read the last year - and builds an esoteric case on top of that that explains psi phenomena, deja vu, and synchronicities... Needless to say, synchronicities haunted me all the way through, it was uncanny. Even my wife was slightly creeped out. Is this the hitchhiker effect? I have no idea. It was scary and enlightening and weird and creepy and wise and hopeful.
My mind was totally blown.
It might not do the same for you, mind you, but when I read it, it was like some sort of magical divination - the universe directly answering my queries via this book. It builds up a kinda scary variation of the eternal return theory that I invented independently and never heard anyone else talk about before. Then it summarizes cutting-edge neuroscientific research connecting Bohm, Seth, and Metzinger - basically, everything I have read the last year - and builds an esoteric case on top of that that explains psi phenomena, deja vu, and synchronicities... Needless to say, synchronicities haunted me all the way through, it was uncanny. Even my wife was slightly creeped out. Is this the hitchhiker effect? I have no idea. It was scary and enlightening and weird and creepy and wise and hopeful.
My mind was totally blown.
February 6, 2018
Peake's "Daemon" is definitely an interesting read and well researched. He has covered much of the same terrain as do in mine. The major difference is his position, in my mind, that we have a higher self, who has lived our life before and knows our future, residing in our right hemisphere. I totally agree that the left / right cerebral divide is crucial to understanding the brain's functioning. However, my thesis is that certain people, traumatized in youth, and / or genetically predisposed to mental disorders because of atypical right-dominant lateralization, will have more artistically creative abilities and precognitive powers. I would not say that it's a daemon in our right hemisphere; rather, it's our own enhanced functioning that allows for this. A dissociative "other" created in the right hemisphere often does seem to have knowledge we would otherwise be unaware of. Again, dissociation is a response to childhood trauma and can become a very useful defense mechanism.
I purchased Peake's book because of the chapter on Joan of Arc's voices, my current research interest. Yes, she may well have been epileptic, shown in her sensitivity to the ringing of church bells and seeing a light while perceiving her angels; and she did seem to have precognitive powers. Perhaps if we just substituted "dissociative other" for "daemon," his theory would work just fine for me.
I purchased Peake's book because of the chapter on Joan of Arc's voices, my current research interest. Yes, she may well have been epileptic, shown in her sensitivity to the ringing of church bells and seeing a light while perceiving her angels; and she did seem to have precognitive powers. Perhaps if we just substituted "dissociative other" for "daemon," his theory would work just fine for me.
May 19, 2020
Subtitled A Guide To Your Extraordinary Secret Self, Anthony Peake’s fascinating book examines the theory that we all have not one but two separate consciousnesses – our every day mind and that of The Daemon, a separate ‘self’ if you will, or a higher consciousness that guides us, and occasionally breaks through into our day-to-day existence. An all-knowing passenger.
The concept of The Daemon goes back to the ancient Greeks, and Philip Pullman put another slant on it in His Dark Materials, but the idea of the silent partner guiding us has surfaced in accounts of odd experiences by many people across the centuries. Peake quotes Byron, Cocteau, Goethe and particularly Philip K Dick among several others as he presents his case.
The book takes the reader on a wide-ranging journey through neuroscience, mysticism, theology, cutting edge physics, dreams and altered states, and communicates it in an easily-understandable manner. Gnosticism, Socrates, Jung, Einstein…plenty to get your teeth into.
If he’s right, this opens up endless possibilities and may well make you look at events in your life in a completely different way.
The concept of The Daemon goes back to the ancient Greeks, and Philip Pullman put another slant on it in His Dark Materials, but the idea of the silent partner guiding us has surfaced in accounts of odd experiences by many people across the centuries. Peake quotes Byron, Cocteau, Goethe and particularly Philip K Dick among several others as he presents his case.
The book takes the reader on a wide-ranging journey through neuroscience, mysticism, theology, cutting edge physics, dreams and altered states, and communicates it in an easily-understandable manner. Gnosticism, Socrates, Jung, Einstein…plenty to get your teeth into.
If he’s right, this opens up endless possibilities and may well make you look at events in your life in a completely different way.
June 1, 2022
This was a surprisingly excellent book! Very thoughtful, deeply researched, and very well written. I’m impressed. I like that it brought together a number of different ideas and certainly connects with the book Time Loops as well as many of the writings by Philip K Dick.
“Each of us has a divine counterpart unfallen who can reach a hand down to us to awaken us. This other personality is the authentic waking self; the one we have now is asleep and minor. We are in fact asleep, and in the hands of a dangerous magician disguised as a good god, the deranged creator deity. The bleakness, the evil and pain in this world, the fact that it is a deterministic prison controlled by the demented creator causes us willingly to split with the reality principle early in life, and so to speak willingly fall asleep in delusion.”
-PHILIP K. DICK
I think I enjoyed it most when it was thinking big about connections to a larger universe, and liked it least when it took on a slightly debunking tone and almost seemed like it wanted to take down some of the very ideas it had built up.
I would like to read more from this author for sure!
“Each of us has a divine counterpart unfallen who can reach a hand down to us to awaken us. This other personality is the authentic waking self; the one we have now is asleep and minor. We are in fact asleep, and in the hands of a dangerous magician disguised as a good god, the deranged creator deity. The bleakness, the evil and pain in this world, the fact that it is a deterministic prison controlled by the demented creator causes us willingly to split with the reality principle early in life, and so to speak willingly fall asleep in delusion.”
-PHILIP K. DICK
I think I enjoyed it most when it was thinking big about connections to a larger universe, and liked it least when it took on a slightly debunking tone and almost seemed like it wanted to take down some of the very ideas it had built up.
I would like to read more from this author for sure!
January 27, 2021
Peake’s basic thesis is that each human being is a binary intelligence—the Daemon and the Eidolon. This isn’t a new idea. It’s mentioned in classical Pagan thought. Peake’s “take” on the Daemon and Eidolon, however, is unique. He believes that each of us has lived this life before, multiple times, and something deep within the subconscious of our younger self knows the future. Déjà vu is the proof—the feeling that you’ve lived a particular situation before.
The book strives to look at scientific evidence, stating that we have two hemispheres of the brain, and the Daemon springs from the right, non-verbal hemisphere. It communicates to the Eidolon via images or hunches. Sometimes the Daemon is heard by the person as a discarnate voice. According to Peake, the Daemon exists outside of time and knows what has happened and what will happen. I find these ideas fascinating, because they resonate with my own life experience, which is why I bought the book in the first place. I would recommend it to those interested in explorations in consciousness.
The book strives to look at scientific evidence, stating that we have two hemispheres of the brain, and the Daemon springs from the right, non-verbal hemisphere. It communicates to the Eidolon via images or hunches. Sometimes the Daemon is heard by the person as a discarnate voice. According to Peake, the Daemon exists outside of time and knows what has happened and what will happen. I find these ideas fascinating, because they resonate with my own life experience, which is why I bought the book in the first place. I would recommend it to those interested in explorations in consciousness.
June 12, 2023
Massive impact on my research on consciousness research topics, he backs up his research so you can go further in your exploration journey.
Leading you by the hand when this grips you, after reading you will branch out looking at other related topics/people with knowledge.
Followed by reading further work of Anthony's or listening to his YouTube channel of interviews which is a treasure trove to say the least!
Read his other books, find him on social media to connect.
Full disclosure he is one of a number that gave support that lead to PerceptionsToday.com live events/podcasts. Big thanks to them. He appears regularly.
Leading you by the hand when this grips you, after reading you will branch out looking at other related topics/people with knowledge.
Followed by reading further work of Anthony's or listening to his YouTube channel of interviews which is a treasure trove to say the least!
Read his other books, find him on social media to connect.
Full disclosure he is one of a number that gave support that lead to PerceptionsToday.com live events/podcasts. Big thanks to them. He appears regularly.
April 23, 2025
This took me an awful long time to finish.
Even though this isn't the first time I read about the Higher Self, nor am I an amateur in the subject, I found it extremely difficult to follow his argument.
I got tired from the back and forth and at times the writing felt amateurish, like a sophomore's attempt at a college paper.
Three stars for the attempt at a difficult subject (I'll give him that) but I didn't really get something solid that I can discuss with my peers, not something more than I already knew anyway
Even though this isn't the first time I read about the Higher Self, nor am I an amateur in the subject, I found it extremely difficult to follow his argument.
I got tired from the back and forth and at times the writing felt amateurish, like a sophomore's attempt at a college paper.
Three stars for the attempt at a difficult subject (I'll give him that) but I didn't really get something solid that I can discuss with my peers, not something more than I already knew anyway
June 20, 2025
this work of art is superb. mixing the spiritual with the scientific, Anthony Peake has created a superb analyses of different conditions coined in Western medicine and spins a different perspective whereby keys to unlocking our own personal universe are obtained - highly recommend! thank you Anthony Peake!
March 12, 2020
A worthy expansive follow up
This is. Worthy and expansive follow up to Is There Life After Death? It is enthralling how many people , including so many leaders and creatives of all kinds, know of their inner voice or guiding hand . Remarkable
This is. Worthy and expansive follow up to Is There Life After Death? It is enthralling how many people , including so many leaders and creatives of all kinds, know of their inner voice or guiding hand . Remarkable
April 24, 2022
Good research
Amazing points, in the conscious origins of our thoughts and that inner voice we random listen to. Anthony Peake knows what he is into. Was my first book from this author,and won’t be the last.
Amazing points, in the conscious origins of our thoughts and that inner voice we random listen to. Anthony Peake knows what he is into. Was my first book from this author,and won’t be the last.
June 9, 2022
Interesting companion to his speeches
Reads like he talks. Fascinating thought experiment. Includes anecdotes from the life of old and others who have had unusual experiences
Reads like he talks. Fascinating thought experiment. Includes anecdotes from the life of old and others who have had unusual experiences
September 10, 2011
reviewed on my blog:
http://pkdmemoir.blogspot.com/2009/07...
The Daemon:
A Guide to Your Extraordinary Secret Self
Arcturus Publishing Ltd., 2008
ISBN 978-1-84837-079-1
I feel obligated to begin by stating that I disagree with Anthony Peake’s theories about life after death and the sources of creativity. On the other hand, he does present his theories and the evidence for them in a clear and convincing manner. Moreover, he uses the examples of well known people to illustrate his concepts. The author draws upon cutting-edge physics, neuroscience, religion and philosophy. The most interesting aspect of this book is its study of the experiences of well-known people.
Of particular interest for the followers of this blog, is the fact that an entire chapter is devoted to Philip K. Dick. The index lists several other pages where he is mentioned.
The book chronicles Peake’s personal journey as an author and a seeker of truth. His theory about the Daemon and Eidolon explains such phenomena as déjà vu, precognition and the near death experience (NDE). He calls it Cheating the Ferryman, which is also the title of his web site.
Intuitively, it seems right that we are two persons in one body – the soul and the spirit, so to speak. In Peake’s theory, our conscious self is the Eidolon, an entity that knows nothing of any previous life. The other half of the person is the Daemon, the spirit which has lived many times before. This is not reincarnation, but rather reliving the same life over and over again, as soon as the life review begins at the moment of death.
However, I believe that it is much simpler to assign these experiences to the existence of a loving God who created us. I find it abhorrent to believe that the unfortunate people who have suffered death, torture and other forms of persecution would be forced to live that same life over and over. Consider the case of a child who dies shortly after birth – would that infant relive its few moments of life in endless repetition? And what of children who have been abused and then killed at a very young age? Do these helpless victims really want to relive that same life hundreds and thousands of times?
Let’s move on to the chapter about Philip K. Dick. Chapter 10, “Summary: One Man’s Experience”, looks at Phil’s extraordinary visions of March 1974. I won’t spoil it for you. I simply need to say a couple things. First, Phil did not have migraines – he had bad teeth that gave him pain. Second, he was not epileptic – he had multiple personalities. Third, it focuses too much on “Minority Report” and too little on UBIK.
Overall, this book is well worth reading, even for someone like me who does not buy into the theory presented in its pages. It contains a wealth of scientific data presented in a style that is easy for the lay reader to understand. It also gives us glimpses of the lives of people who saw beyond what we call reality to a more substantial universe.
~~ Tessa Dick
~~~
http://pkdmemoir.blogspot.com/2009/07...
The Daemon:
A Guide to Your Extraordinary Secret Self
Arcturus Publishing Ltd., 2008
ISBN 978-1-84837-079-1
I feel obligated to begin by stating that I disagree with Anthony Peake’s theories about life after death and the sources of creativity. On the other hand, he does present his theories and the evidence for them in a clear and convincing manner. Moreover, he uses the examples of well known people to illustrate his concepts. The author draws upon cutting-edge physics, neuroscience, religion and philosophy. The most interesting aspect of this book is its study of the experiences of well-known people.
Of particular interest for the followers of this blog, is the fact that an entire chapter is devoted to Philip K. Dick. The index lists several other pages where he is mentioned.
The book chronicles Peake’s personal journey as an author and a seeker of truth. His theory about the Daemon and Eidolon explains such phenomena as déjà vu, precognition and the near death experience (NDE). He calls it Cheating the Ferryman, which is also the title of his web site.
Intuitively, it seems right that we are two persons in one body – the soul and the spirit, so to speak. In Peake’s theory, our conscious self is the Eidolon, an entity that knows nothing of any previous life. The other half of the person is the Daemon, the spirit which has lived many times before. This is not reincarnation, but rather reliving the same life over and over again, as soon as the life review begins at the moment of death.
However, I believe that it is much simpler to assign these experiences to the existence of a loving God who created us. I find it abhorrent to believe that the unfortunate people who have suffered death, torture and other forms of persecution would be forced to live that same life over and over. Consider the case of a child who dies shortly after birth – would that infant relive its few moments of life in endless repetition? And what of children who have been abused and then killed at a very young age? Do these helpless victims really want to relive that same life hundreds and thousands of times?
Let’s move on to the chapter about Philip K. Dick. Chapter 10, “Summary: One Man’s Experience”, looks at Phil’s extraordinary visions of March 1974. I won’t spoil it for you. I simply need to say a couple things. First, Phil did not have migraines – he had bad teeth that gave him pain. Second, he was not epileptic – he had multiple personalities. Third, it focuses too much on “Minority Report” and too little on UBIK.
Overall, this book is well worth reading, even for someone like me who does not buy into the theory presented in its pages. It contains a wealth of scientific data presented in a style that is easy for the lay reader to understand. It also gives us glimpses of the lives of people who saw beyond what we call reality to a more substantial universe.
~~ Tessa Dick
~~~
May 23, 2013
I don't know if I'm going to finish this book. I'm on page 238 of 338 and... he's repeating himself an awful lot. The remaining chapters don't really seem to have any of this promised guide to this secret self that is so well informed and influencial. So, I don't see the point.
I was also hoping he'd explain what happens to the Daemon once it guides us to make new choices - don't our lives go in a completely new direction of which the current Daemon has no knowledge of, because it hasn't lived it previously? Mustn't it wait for us to "die" and then guide us again? What does it do while it's waiting with us for death? Disappear? Merge with the Eidolon? What? Once it's successfully steered us onto a better path it is no better than the Eidolon at making suggestions. Unless it changes it's function and focuses more on the super-perceptive aspect? I don't know, it's very frustrating.
The other confusing part was the summaries of each chapter talked of subjects not covered in the chapter??? Jungian dream analysis included (which was actually something I would have loved to read more about, and other ways of communicating with the Daemon).
Overall, I'm annoyed with this book. "Here, look at all these interesting things that happen in the brain and consciousness, too bad you have to suffer from epilepsy or schizophrenia, or take potentially brain damaging drugs to experience this lol good luck with your life". Gee, thanks.
I was also hoping he'd explain what happens to the Daemon once it guides us to make new choices - don't our lives go in a completely new direction of which the current Daemon has no knowledge of, because it hasn't lived it previously? Mustn't it wait for us to "die" and then guide us again? What does it do while it's waiting with us for death? Disappear? Merge with the Eidolon? What? Once it's successfully steered us onto a better path it is no better than the Eidolon at making suggestions. Unless it changes it's function and focuses more on the super-perceptive aspect? I don't know, it's very frustrating.
The other confusing part was the summaries of each chapter talked of subjects not covered in the chapter??? Jungian dream analysis included (which was actually something I would have loved to read more about, and other ways of communicating with the Daemon).
Overall, I'm annoyed with this book. "Here, look at all these interesting things that happen in the brain and consciousness, too bad you have to suffer from epilepsy or schizophrenia, or take potentially brain damaging drugs to experience this lol good luck with your life". Gee, thanks.
September 14, 2014
Interesting and stimulating study of what people could call their deeper or other self, higher self or even guardian angel. The part somewhere in our own minds that isn't really us but that does seem to have an intimite knowledge of us and at times seems to know the near future, sometimes whispering advice in our ears or giving us hunches about things.
Don't expect a how-to book with exercises but rather a studybook about the phenomenon and some theories that could explain it. It features many stories such as Joan of Arc, split-brain research, the Kahunas of Hawaii and many other anecdotes and ideas, many entertaining and interesting, some much less convincing (to me), such as the author's theory of 'cheating the ferryman' that ought to explain some parts of the phenomenon of the Daemon but to me raises more questions than it answers.
Ever since I read about the Kahunas's idea of the three selves when I was 18, I've been intrigued by that concept and this book really hits the mark for me for the most part. Occasionally I was a bit put off though by the author's tone. Had the late Colin Wilson been the author of this book, it probably would have become a longtime personal favorite. As it is, it's a very interesting read for people interested in what may be below the treshold of our own consciousness and who can take the occasional bump in the road for granted.
Don't expect a how-to book with exercises but rather a studybook about the phenomenon and some theories that could explain it. It features many stories such as Joan of Arc, split-brain research, the Kahunas of Hawaii and many other anecdotes and ideas, many entertaining and interesting, some much less convincing (to me), such as the author's theory of 'cheating the ferryman' that ought to explain some parts of the phenomenon of the Daemon but to me raises more questions than it answers.
Ever since I read about the Kahunas's idea of the three selves when I was 18, I've been intrigued by that concept and this book really hits the mark for me for the most part. Occasionally I was a bit put off though by the author's tone. Had the late Colin Wilson been the author of this book, it probably would have become a longtime personal favorite. As it is, it's a very interesting read for people interested in what may be below the treshold of our own consciousness and who can take the occasional bump in the road for granted.
March 27, 2016
An interesting read with some interesting idea
This book is definitely worth a read and a good book to get you thinking about the nature of this reality we exist in.
The author presents some interesting theories,not all of which I can bring myself to accept - like his theories on NDE versus RDE which he presents with such authority but fails to prove in my opinion. (How could he prove them really? But that doesn't stop him presenting his ideas as if they are a foregone conclusion.)
That said I did enjoy much of the book and, despite the author's need to remind us of his own brilliance just one time too many, I got a lot out of it. I suppose it helps that I've experienced some of the phenomena he speaks of in this book and felt comfortable considering them from the viewpoint of his theories.
This book is definitely worth a read and a good book to get you thinking about the nature of this reality we exist in.
The author presents some interesting theories,not all of which I can bring myself to accept - like his theories on NDE versus RDE which he presents with such authority but fails to prove in my opinion. (How could he prove them really? But that doesn't stop him presenting his ideas as if they are a foregone conclusion.)
That said I did enjoy much of the book and, despite the author's need to remind us of his own brilliance just one time too many, I got a lot out of it. I suppose it helps that I've experienced some of the phenomena he speaks of in this book and felt comfortable considering them from the viewpoint of his theories.
December 7, 2016
A very interesting read. I put this directly into my "buy" list on Amazon and bought it though I don't recall who recommended it or why. I guess it "spoke" to me. Something you might understand after reading it. I didn't agree with everything but the synchronicity and dyad both were interesting.
May 20, 2020
A fascinating theory let down by poor argument. The evidence is gripping but the presentation of it is confusing at best. At many points not only does Peake repeat himself, he actually copes and pastes entire paragraphs and pages throughout the book. This book sorely needs an editor with a good grasp of scientific argument.
Still, worth a read for a little bit of mind-expanding.
Still, worth a read for a little bit of mind-expanding.
Read
March 1, 2010A truly fascinating theory concerning the nature of human immortality. A little heavy on theory for the casual reader.
January 30, 2011
Anthony Peake brings very sound scientific ideas to his theory of the second or "higher" self. Anyone interested in paranormal research or has had moments of Déjà vu will find this book fascinating.
July 29, 2012
Some more interesting discussion in places by Peake, but on the whole a little weak.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews