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Super Consciousness: The Quest for the Peak Experience
In Super Consciousness (first published in 2009), Colin Wilson decided to succinctly summarise the ideas he had developed during years of research first as an existentialist philosopher and a psychologist, and later as an explorer of the occult.
Peak Experience – the experience of sudden overwhelming happiness – is a concept coined by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908–1970), but while Maslow believed that Peak Experience could not be induced, Wilson thought otherwise. He points out that boredom and lack of purpose are among the most destructive states we can experience, and instead emphasises the importance of acknowledging the reality of free will and actively evolving our own consciousness to find deep meaning and joy in every part of life.
In this fascinating and optimistic work, Wilson looks at what we can learn from the Peak Experiences of Yeats, Blake, Satre, Nietzsche, Robert Graves and other luminaries, revealing the process of how we too can gain incredible insight into the deepest mysteries of existence. This new edition includes a foreword by Colin Wilson's biographer, Colin Stanley.
Peak Experience – the experience of sudden overwhelming happiness – is a concept coined by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908–1970), but while Maslow believed that Peak Experience could not be induced, Wilson thought otherwise. He points out that boredom and lack of purpose are among the most destructive states we can experience, and instead emphasises the importance of acknowledging the reality of free will and actively evolving our own consciousness to find deep meaning and joy in every part of life.
In this fascinating and optimistic work, Wilson looks at what we can learn from the Peak Experiences of Yeats, Blake, Satre, Nietzsche, Robert Graves and other luminaries, revealing the process of how we too can gain incredible insight into the deepest mysteries of existence. This new edition includes a foreword by Colin Wilson's biographer, Colin Stanley.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Colin Wilson
460 books1,302 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 19, 2018
I wish I could give half stars. 2.5 would be closer to my actual opinion.
I feel like Mr. Wilson spent this entire book talking about how he is eventually going to talk about his subject.
He is certainly knowledgeable about a great many topics, and he is obviously widely read. He draws on many interesting anecdotes and quotes many literary sources in support of his opinion, but ultimately all of this causes him to hover just above the actual point, which he only manages to get to toward the very end of the book and then only barely.
Even this would probably not be as big an issue for me if it were not for the overarching generalization that I think he, like so many of the same mind, tends to make. I understand, I think, what the point of his extremely long winded dissertation was, and I don't disagree with him on the broad strokes. But I do think that he chooses to ignore a variety of factors in his exploration of why some people excel and live in a semi-permanent state of emotional orgasm while others experience what he terms "life failure."
I agree that we must try, that we must engage ourselves as fully as possible, that we must seek meaning and beauty in life, and that we must strive against whatever darkness threatens to snuff our lights. But I don't think that everyone is the same. Not everyone faces the same challenges. Not everyone is capable of surmounting them the way the titans do. Sometimes there are organic factors. Sometimes there are issues related to the way that people are raised or educated. Sometimes its societal or economic.
My point is, positive thinking is certainly a plus, and the harder we try the more likely we are to find something beautiful or meaningful to carry us through, but I doubt seriously if there is one answer, and, as Mr. Wilson never really DOES tell us how to create and sustain peak experiences - something he keeps hinting that he will do in the next few pages, if only you will keep reading - I suspect that he knew this as well.
I feel like Mr. Wilson spent this entire book talking about how he is eventually going to talk about his subject.
He is certainly knowledgeable about a great many topics, and he is obviously widely read. He draws on many interesting anecdotes and quotes many literary sources in support of his opinion, but ultimately all of this causes him to hover just above the actual point, which he only manages to get to toward the very end of the book and then only barely.
Even this would probably not be as big an issue for me if it were not for the overarching generalization that I think he, like so many of the same mind, tends to make. I understand, I think, what the point of his extremely long winded dissertation was, and I don't disagree with him on the broad strokes. But I do think that he chooses to ignore a variety of factors in his exploration of why some people excel and live in a semi-permanent state of emotional orgasm while others experience what he terms "life failure."
I agree that we must try, that we must engage ourselves as fully as possible, that we must seek meaning and beauty in life, and that we must strive against whatever darkness threatens to snuff our lights. But I don't think that everyone is the same. Not everyone faces the same challenges. Not everyone is capable of surmounting them the way the titans do. Sometimes there are organic factors. Sometimes there are issues related to the way that people are raised or educated. Sometimes its societal or economic.
My point is, positive thinking is certainly a plus, and the harder we try the more likely we are to find something beautiful or meaningful to carry us through, but I doubt seriously if there is one answer, and, as Mr. Wilson never really DOES tell us how to create and sustain peak experiences - something he keeps hinting that he will do in the next few pages, if only you will keep reading - I suspect that he knew this as well.
May 30, 2011
In my twenties I read about every book I could find of this author. I was especially thrilled about his ideas about psychology, philosophy and criminology. "Superconsciousness" is about higher states of consciousness, how people usually take their states of minds for granted because they don't realise that these states are intentional. Our gloomy or depressed moods don't necessarily overcome us - we allow them to happen, because we feel that's just the way it is and there's nothing we can do about it. As unchangeable as the weather.
In order to explain this, Wilson draws as he usually does a lot from the books, ideas and experiences of a great many writers, philosophers and thinkers. Reading Wilson always brings meetings with various interesting people, and besides that, Wilson's writing is so accessible and easy to read that even his lesser books are anything but a punishment to read.
Even though the theme of this book is one of my favorites, I don't feel "Superconsciousness" is quite one his best. He wrote of the same ideas in earlier books, and for the experienced Wilson reader there are not many new things to be found. "Frankenstein's castle" and "Access to inner worlds" are in my view much more important when it comes to the psychology of the peak experience. When reading this, it gave me the feeling that Wilson was merely reexplaining his ideas, possibly to a new audience, but without the zeal and freshness that I found in his earlier books. Interesting to read, no doubt, but hardly essential material for those who read most of his books.
In order to explain this, Wilson draws as he usually does a lot from the books, ideas and experiences of a great many writers, philosophers and thinkers. Reading Wilson always brings meetings with various interesting people, and besides that, Wilson's writing is so accessible and easy to read that even his lesser books are anything but a punishment to read.
Even though the theme of this book is one of my favorites, I don't feel "Superconsciousness" is quite one his best. He wrote of the same ideas in earlier books, and for the experienced Wilson reader there are not many new things to be found. "Frankenstein's castle" and "Access to inner worlds" are in my view much more important when it comes to the psychology of the peak experience. When reading this, it gave me the feeling that Wilson was merely reexplaining his ideas, possibly to a new audience, but without the zeal and freshness that I found in his earlier books. Interesting to read, no doubt, but hardly essential material for those who read most of his books.
August 12, 2020
Interesting but slightly repetitive after The Occult.
March 23, 2013
I've been a devoted reader of Wilson since my teen years, and recently sought his most recent book to see where his explorations into the nature of consciousness had brought him after all these decades. Recommended as an easily digestible summation of his thought and researches.
August 11, 2013
Colin Wilson is an amazing intellect. He has the ability to pull together sources from across disciplines and centuries and put them together in novel ways.
Read
January 30, 2012A DIY manual for achieving and sustaining Maslow's "peak experience."
April 26, 2021
It´s a book meant to be read pausing and reflecting. it really gets you going on how to approach your own reality...
July 3, 2019
Reading Colin Wilson's books like this one are always an interesting experience. They're thought provoking and uplifting, but at the same time I find myself laughing over imagining serious, academically-minded philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists face-palming after reading his opinions. Still? I feel Wilson has a method to his madness, so to speak. He cleverly associates mystical phenomena with tangible experiences, and breathes an air of optimism into these difficult and hypothetical subjects. I particularly enjoy his takes on historical thinkers, like Goethe, Maslow, Yeats, Jung and many others, and how their peak experiences influenced their work, which in turn influenced the artistic and spiritual values of many a soul searcher to come. I should also mention the man's humor. I smiled every time he referred to the left brain and right brain halves as "Stan" and "Ollie," (aka. Laurel and Hardy.) This book is surely not everyone's cup of tea, but if you've ever been curious about the depths of consciousness and how the intangible experiences of the mind can shape our individual realities and our outlooks on life, I'd say give this one a go. Also check out Gary Lachman's "Lost Knowledge of the Imagination."
May 24, 2020
O3,5
“A mensagem a reter é que, antes de tentarmos ver no escuro, devemos assegurar-nos de que as pilhas da lanterna estão carregadas”
A Experiência Culminante, de paz e união é uma ilusão fisiológica? Isso importa? O que é real é o que sentimos como real, o calor que sentimos naquilo que chamamos de coração? Lembrar dessas experiências é primordial, é um testemunho, é uma participação benévola no mundo, uma comunhão além palavras. É não haver mais perguntas, é puro ser. Lembrou-me uma famosa passagem do livro “O fio da navalha” de Somerset Maugham que posteriormente irei citar para aqui.
Colin crítica fortemente os niilistas porque falar em nome do Homem, de toda a humanidade, dar um juízo definitivo sobre o mundo, é um salto falacioso (em qualquer ideologia acrescentaria). No entanto, Colin está sentado numa poltrona confortável no momento em que escreve este livro, parece-me. Escreve de um lugar de luxo. Para sermos justos, podemos afirmar que os niilistas contam a verdade de uma parte da miséria humana. Pregam com pormenores a descrição do copo meio vazio. O absurdo faz sentido se for interpretado como o produto do confronto estéril entre as interpelações humanas e o “silêncio do mundo”, como diria Camus. No entanto, este niilismo pode ser rompido, acho, pela esperança. A despeito da doença, da guerra, da morte, do mais atroz acaso, perseverarmos na luta. Sermos esse Sísifo feliz, ou os heróis da "Peste”, magnífica obra de Camus. Ou simplesmente heróis das nossas pequenas vidas, nunca esquecendo da beleza e do amor mais autênticos – à distância do cão mais próximo, da mãe, pai, irmão, irmã, filhos e filhas, amigos, visão do mar, de um seixo, pássaro ou árvore - a cadeia inexprimível do amor.
No final, a ideia mais importante é tomarmos consciência dos ciclos viciosos, da bateria tão esgotada que pode nunca mais voltar a carregar, resvalando para uma doença mental. A menor atividade é milagrosa, na roda do ser, alimenta a vida, a vontade. No entanto, ao contrário de Wilson ( “Como a minha sensação de propósito seria tão profunda e o meu interesse por tudo tão grande, eu teria ultrapassado o ponto em que o retrocesso ou o desmoronamento seriam passíveis de ocorrer. Eu manter-me ia apoiado, sem correr o risco de cair, devido à pura perceção de um propósito. (...)”, sou mais apologista da asserção budista de nada ser permanente – nem o sofrimento mais fundo, nem a felicidade mais beatífica. Há estações, cá fora e cá dentro.
O sonho de Colin é também ele um sonho romântico - a permanência na experiência culminante.
Pontos fortes e conceitos-chave
Citações de ensaios e livros de William James, são brilhantes e fazem ter vontade de estudar o trabalho deste autor.
Experiências culminantes ou consciência cósmica -descrições e como alcançá-la ou potenciá-la. (De um susto que se revela falso até um alívio catártico, estar às portas da morte e de repente a vida surgir novamente, os pontos descritos por Colin parecem-me superficiais e clichés).
Pouca introdução à psicologia de Maslow e ao seu conceito de autoatualização como vontade de evolução permanente em alguns indivíduos além das necessidades mais básicas ou imediatas. A meta-consciência, ou verdadeira autoconsciência, equilibrada, integrada.
“Bateria descarregada”, “consciência quotidiana”, cuja rotina a faz esmorecer no tédio e insipidez dos hábitos sempre repetidos, este ciclo que pode esgotar um ser humano ao ponto de perder a energia e o prazer pelas coisas mais simples, é uma descrição possível de depressões modernas.
“Efeito Eclesiastes” (indigestão, excessos, mais que absorção salutar), tudo é fútil, dizem os indivíduos que tudo experimentaram sem realmente processarem, meditarem, na razão da sua fome e descontrolo - “ Fiz tudo, tal como um glutão ávido poderia dizer: “comi tudo” e depois interrogar-se sobre o porquê da sua indigestão. É esta a atitude passiva perante a experiência que provoca o efeito Eclesiastes e a incapacidade de captar o significado da expressão proferida por T. E Lawrence: “A felicidade é a absorção”.
Crítica do Niilismo e do Romantismo. Niilismo como a grande enfermidade psicológica da Pós Modernidade, a pregação da ausência de sentido incentiva a passividade e a morbidez. Colin aponta o perigo do pessimismo intelectual numa cultura, assim como o perigo do excessivo conforto e dos sonhos - sonhos despedaçados são muitas vezes produto do confronto entre um idealismo infantil e egoísta e as exigências da vida secular, laboral. O contraste termina na noção de “fracasso da vida”.
Perspetiva pássaro vs perspetiva minhoca ou o conceito de distanciamento “epoché” de Ricouer, análogo à montanha de Nietzsche, relembra-nos da importância fundamental de pensar em várias escalas e perspetivas.
Elogio da vontade de saúde, determinação, coragem, flexibilidade, Colin é indubitavelmente Nietzschiano e um defensor do que chama de “existencialismo não pessimista” – a fenomenologia de Husserl, cuja consciência intencional, criativa co-cria a realidade ( o que lembra o dito hindu da mente ser assassina do real) e faz do sujeito, do “eu”, uma entidade ativa e não passiva. Responde parcialmente a parte da problemática do livre arbítrio, mas não totalmente, porque coloca o enviesamento na vontade individual, na perceção individual, de um modo abusivo. Porque o mundo também nos “causa”, também nos cria, as próprias bases da percepção (Kant) estão além da nossa vontade e condicionadas. Assim como a nossa fisiologia. As doenças da alma, os traumas e os seus efeitos duradouros, são tão reais como uma instintiva/ancestral reação de medo a cobras, ou o sofrimento causado por um dano noutro órgão que nos debilita totalmente.
Colin, defende também que muitos de nós nos encontramos presos a uma “Neurose de hábito”, a uma passividade, falta de imaginação, ilusão de falta de poder. Acredito que tal asserção seja correta, se pensarmos nas neuroses como distúrbios totalmente psicológicos, cognitivos, que podem ser desconstruídos e assim curados.
Espiral do otimismo/feedback positivo
Mente objetiva vs mente subjetiva (dicotomia dos cérebros, esquerdo e direito, sendo o esquerdo o modo que o autor denomina como “robot”, simplificação excessiva mas que merece investigação.
Pontos fracos: capítulos de pura especulação paranormal, sem bases científicas e um pouco desenquadrados do contexto inicial do livro
Força de vontade sobrevalorizada, desincorporada, definida quase como entidade superpotente. Não toma em conta patologias que se desviam de tristezas e apatias generalistas, como Depressão Major, Psicoses, Distúrbio bipolar… estes doentes estão em desvantagem perante todos os outros, no que toca ao acesso a esse poder interior capaz de obliterar a escuridão, a anedonia, a angústia, a ansiedade de fundo.
Anexos:
Resumo dos níveis de consciência segundo Colin Wilson, as definições são sugestivas e poupam explicações mais detalhadas
0- Sono profundo
1- Consciência onírica
2- Nível básico de consciência desperta, mera perceção, “nível animal” (este termo pode facilmente ser contestado)
3- “Náusea” de Sartre, o “eu” está separado do mundo, “cinzentismo e tédio”
4- Consciência comum- não demasiado pesada, perto da consciência potenciadora, sentimos que somos capazes
5- “Consciência da manhã de primavera”
6- Consciência mágica, como o nível 5 mas pode durar “ dias ou semanas”
7- Faculdade X - outros tempos e locais são tão reais como o presente. Espaço da sincronicidade, telepatia e outras capacidades que chamaríamos paranormais
8- Consciência mística (engloba paradoxos hieráticos como “eu não sou nada e ao mesmo tempo sou tudo”)
“A mensagem a reter é que, antes de tentarmos ver no escuro, devemos assegurar-nos de que as pilhas da lanterna estão carregadas”
A Experiência Culminante, de paz e união é uma ilusão fisiológica? Isso importa? O que é real é o que sentimos como real, o calor que sentimos naquilo que chamamos de coração? Lembrar dessas experiências é primordial, é um testemunho, é uma participação benévola no mundo, uma comunhão além palavras. É não haver mais perguntas, é puro ser. Lembrou-me uma famosa passagem do livro “O fio da navalha” de Somerset Maugham que posteriormente irei citar para aqui.
Colin crítica fortemente os niilistas porque falar em nome do Homem, de toda a humanidade, dar um juízo definitivo sobre o mundo, é um salto falacioso (em qualquer ideologia acrescentaria). No entanto, Colin está sentado numa poltrona confortável no momento em que escreve este livro, parece-me. Escreve de um lugar de luxo. Para sermos justos, podemos afirmar que os niilistas contam a verdade de uma parte da miséria humana. Pregam com pormenores a descrição do copo meio vazio. O absurdo faz sentido se for interpretado como o produto do confronto estéril entre as interpelações humanas e o “silêncio do mundo”, como diria Camus. No entanto, este niilismo pode ser rompido, acho, pela esperança. A despeito da doença, da guerra, da morte, do mais atroz acaso, perseverarmos na luta. Sermos esse Sísifo feliz, ou os heróis da "Peste”, magnífica obra de Camus. Ou simplesmente heróis das nossas pequenas vidas, nunca esquecendo da beleza e do amor mais autênticos – à distância do cão mais próximo, da mãe, pai, irmão, irmã, filhos e filhas, amigos, visão do mar, de um seixo, pássaro ou árvore - a cadeia inexprimível do amor.
No final, a ideia mais importante é tomarmos consciência dos ciclos viciosos, da bateria tão esgotada que pode nunca mais voltar a carregar, resvalando para uma doença mental. A menor atividade é milagrosa, na roda do ser, alimenta a vida, a vontade. No entanto, ao contrário de Wilson ( “Como a minha sensação de propósito seria tão profunda e o meu interesse por tudo tão grande, eu teria ultrapassado o ponto em que o retrocesso ou o desmoronamento seriam passíveis de ocorrer. Eu manter-me ia apoiado, sem correr o risco de cair, devido à pura perceção de um propósito. (...)”, sou mais apologista da asserção budista de nada ser permanente – nem o sofrimento mais fundo, nem a felicidade mais beatífica. Há estações, cá fora e cá dentro.
O sonho de Colin é também ele um sonho romântico - a permanência na experiência culminante.
Pontos fortes e conceitos-chave
Citações de ensaios e livros de William James, são brilhantes e fazem ter vontade de estudar o trabalho deste autor.
Experiências culminantes ou consciência cósmica -descrições e como alcançá-la ou potenciá-la. (De um susto que se revela falso até um alívio catártico, estar às portas da morte e de repente a vida surgir novamente, os pontos descritos por Colin parecem-me superficiais e clichés).
Pouca introdução à psicologia de Maslow e ao seu conceito de autoatualização como vontade de evolução permanente em alguns indivíduos além das necessidades mais básicas ou imediatas. A meta-consciência, ou verdadeira autoconsciência, equilibrada, integrada.
“Bateria descarregada”, “consciência quotidiana”, cuja rotina a faz esmorecer no tédio e insipidez dos hábitos sempre repetidos, este ciclo que pode esgotar um ser humano ao ponto de perder a energia e o prazer pelas coisas mais simples, é uma descrição possível de depressões modernas.
“Efeito Eclesiastes” (indigestão, excessos, mais que absorção salutar), tudo é fútil, dizem os indivíduos que tudo experimentaram sem realmente processarem, meditarem, na razão da sua fome e descontrolo - “ Fiz tudo, tal como um glutão ávido poderia dizer: “comi tudo” e depois interrogar-se sobre o porquê da sua indigestão. É esta a atitude passiva perante a experiência que provoca o efeito Eclesiastes e a incapacidade de captar o significado da expressão proferida por T. E Lawrence: “A felicidade é a absorção”.
Crítica do Niilismo e do Romantismo. Niilismo como a grande enfermidade psicológica da Pós Modernidade, a pregação da ausência de sentido incentiva a passividade e a morbidez. Colin aponta o perigo do pessimismo intelectual numa cultura, assim como o perigo do excessivo conforto e dos sonhos - sonhos despedaçados são muitas vezes produto do confronto entre um idealismo infantil e egoísta e as exigências da vida secular, laboral. O contraste termina na noção de “fracasso da vida”.
Perspetiva pássaro vs perspetiva minhoca ou o conceito de distanciamento “epoché” de Ricouer, análogo à montanha de Nietzsche, relembra-nos da importância fundamental de pensar em várias escalas e perspetivas.
Elogio da vontade de saúde, determinação, coragem, flexibilidade, Colin é indubitavelmente Nietzschiano e um defensor do que chama de “existencialismo não pessimista” – a fenomenologia de Husserl, cuja consciência intencional, criativa co-cria a realidade ( o que lembra o dito hindu da mente ser assassina do real) e faz do sujeito, do “eu”, uma entidade ativa e não passiva. Responde parcialmente a parte da problemática do livre arbítrio, mas não totalmente, porque coloca o enviesamento na vontade individual, na perceção individual, de um modo abusivo. Porque o mundo também nos “causa”, também nos cria, as próprias bases da percepção (Kant) estão além da nossa vontade e condicionadas. Assim como a nossa fisiologia. As doenças da alma, os traumas e os seus efeitos duradouros, são tão reais como uma instintiva/ancestral reação de medo a cobras, ou o sofrimento causado por um dano noutro órgão que nos debilita totalmente.
Colin, defende também que muitos de nós nos encontramos presos a uma “Neurose de hábito”, a uma passividade, falta de imaginação, ilusão de falta de poder. Acredito que tal asserção seja correta, se pensarmos nas neuroses como distúrbios totalmente psicológicos, cognitivos, que podem ser desconstruídos e assim curados.
Espiral do otimismo/feedback positivo
Mente objetiva vs mente subjetiva (dicotomia dos cérebros, esquerdo e direito, sendo o esquerdo o modo que o autor denomina como “robot”, simplificação excessiva mas que merece investigação.
Pontos fracos: capítulos de pura especulação paranormal, sem bases científicas e um pouco desenquadrados do contexto inicial do livro
Força de vontade sobrevalorizada, desincorporada, definida quase como entidade superpotente. Não toma em conta patologias que se desviam de tristezas e apatias generalistas, como Depressão Major, Psicoses, Distúrbio bipolar… estes doentes estão em desvantagem perante todos os outros, no que toca ao acesso a esse poder interior capaz de obliterar a escuridão, a anedonia, a angústia, a ansiedade de fundo.
Anexos:
Resumo dos níveis de consciência segundo Colin Wilson, as definições são sugestivas e poupam explicações mais detalhadas
0- Sono profundo
1- Consciência onírica
2- Nível básico de consciência desperta, mera perceção, “nível animal” (este termo pode facilmente ser contestado)
3- “Náusea” de Sartre, o “eu” está separado do mundo, “cinzentismo e tédio”
4- Consciência comum- não demasiado pesada, perto da consciência potenciadora, sentimos que somos capazes
5- “Consciência da manhã de primavera”
6- Consciência mágica, como o nível 5 mas pode durar “ dias ou semanas”
7- Faculdade X - outros tempos e locais são tão reais como o presente. Espaço da sincronicidade, telepatia e outras capacidades que chamaríamos paranormais
8- Consciência mística (engloba paradoxos hieráticos como “eu não sou nada e ao mesmo tempo sou tudo”)
August 8, 2011
This book is an interesting look at the capabilities of the human mind. According to Wilson, the mind is capable of far more than what our five senses tell us. In fact, these senses work against us by severely limiting our perspective of the true world.
The book concludes with a sort of how-to manual for achieving super consciousness. Wilson claims that with a bit of effort, you can induce this hyper-awareness at will and become aware of far more than what we usually experience. This must be achieved with true hard effort; boredom must be eliminated from our everyday life as it is a precursor to a depressed state. But with true hard effort, we expand our minds and as such, make them more susceptible to experiencing things on a deeper level.
Check out my full review here: http://theoccultsection.com/2011/08/1...
The book concludes with a sort of how-to manual for achieving super consciousness. Wilson claims that with a bit of effort, you can induce this hyper-awareness at will and become aware of far more than what we usually experience. This must be achieved with true hard effort; boredom must be eliminated from our everyday life as it is a precursor to a depressed state. But with true hard effort, we expand our minds and as such, make them more susceptible to experiencing things on a deeper level.
Check out my full review here: http://theoccultsection.com/2011/08/1...
February 26, 2011
I enjoyed this book, but it was more academic than instructional, covering western philosophical thought and visiting historical literature rather than guiding the reader towards achieving peak experiences, which was not what I was expecting. Having studied some philosophy myself, I occasionally felt that Colin Wilson glided over some theories and dismissed them in a rather cursory way. I suppose this is inevitable in a book trying to cover so much, but it irritated me. Why spend half a chapter discussing why Beckett is a misery and failure at life so we should ignore him, but disposing of Foucault in one sentence?
Just me, I expect, I still feel that Peak Experiences can be achieved, but I think I was after a different book to help me with this quest.
Just me, I expect, I still feel that Peak Experiences can be achieved, but I think I was after a different book to help me with this quest.
November 18, 2009
My mind can influence the world around me. Effort and attentiveness can shake us out of the "robot" mode of living and into intentional glorious life. Activities that challenge the mind lead to a better consciousness over mindlessly doing something. The "intentional doing" does not have to be something "big". Just concentrate driving the car or walking rather than just "mindlessly" doing anything.
There are 7 levels of "consciousness", 0. deep sleep 1. dream consciousness 2. merely awake 3. nausea, dejected, greyness, boredom 4. ordinary, the average state 5. sunny day 6. Magic/Christmas day 7. Faculty X (where other times and places are real and present) 8. Mystical
There are 7 levels of "consciousness", 0. deep sleep 1. dream consciousness 2. merely awake 3. nausea, dejected, greyness, boredom 4. ordinary, the average state 5. sunny day 6. Magic/Christmas day 7. Faculty X (where other times and places are real and present) 8. Mystical
February 22, 2017
Brilliant
I am devowering Wilson's work! An exceptional writer & thinker who has a wonderful way of collecting all the exceptional thoughts of the great minds of the past
I am devowering Wilson's work! An exceptional writer & thinker who has a wonderful way of collecting all the exceptional thoughts of the great minds of the past
Read
July 30, 2011its a very intersting book, its more into philsophy of being postive thinker than how to achieve what the title,its nota diy manual its more off a ramble on how it can be achived and is possible, its laden with the author immense knowledge on philisophy and literature and history. still its very interesting to read.
August 22, 2021
Chiare l'esperienza di flusso e l'esperienza sincronica. Tolte quelle non sono d'accordo con una sola parola scritta in questo libro.
January 4, 2024
“Ho settantacinque anni, e ho dedicato la maggior parte della mia vita alla ricerca di ciò che potrebbe essere definito «i meccanismi delle esperienze di picco», o «potenziamento della coscienza». Si può considerare questo libro come una sorta di manuale fai da te per il raggiungimento di certi stati”, scriveva in modo forse eccessivamente enfatico Colin Wilson - già autore de L’outsider nella prefazione di Super coscienza. Alla ricerca delle esperienze di picco (in originale Super Consciousness. The Quest for the Peak Experience), uno dei suoi ultimi saggi, pubblicato quattro anni prima della sua morte, avvenuta nel 2013. Il fulcro attorno a cui il poliedrico e prolifico scrittore britannico costruisce l’intrigante architettura di questo testo, è l’ipotesi che l’essere umano abbia la possibilità di compiere un ulteriore balzo evolutivo, acquisendo la consapevolezza di una realtà superiore a quella che vive nel quotidiano, una realtà che per brevi istanti viene sfiorata nelle esperienze di picco, nell’estasi mistica, ma che resta misteriosa, lasciando nell’animo di chi abbia avuto la fortuna di esserne travolto, l’interrogativo di aver vissuto per davvero un evento straordinario…
Ne scrivo su
https://www.mangialibri.com/super-cos...
Ne scrivo su
https://www.mangialibri.com/super-cos...
January 28, 2018
What a read! Colin Wilson's final distillation of his ideas and views on consciousness, a lifetime's work summarized and related for maximum impact. Wow! This is mind blowing, perception-altering stuff. I'm looking forward to going back and re-reading it after taking in more of Wilson's work. I am only beginning to explore his writing. His name kept appearing in other things I was reading over the last couple of years. The appearance of Gary Lachman's biography Beyond the Robot also made me curious. I enjoy Lachman's books - so who was this Wilson guy?
This book is almost too much of who and what Wilson is and what he's all about for a new reader. But it also feels like a perfect introduction. Hard to reconcile that contradiction. What a place to begin! Beginning at the ending, as it were. Again, the brilliance on display here is undeniable. And I do look forward to a re-read after absorbing more of Wilson's writing.,/p>
August 7, 2024
"Super Consciousness" basic theme concerns higher states of consciousness. These higher states of consciousness are known as "Peak Experiences" and are factors in great achievements exemplified in the discussion of historical figures of Blake, Yeats, Sartre and others. The author's contention is that we must see beauty and meaning in life and must strive against darkness that threatens us. In short, positive thinking is tantamount in achieving meaning in our lives; however, the author never really tells us how to create and sustain these "Peak Experiences." This discussion has little to do with the existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level of consciousness and appears somewhat shallow. I would not recommend this book.
December 9, 2024
The underlying insight was good (your thoughts create reality; reject pessimism for the good of your own mental energy and quality of life; you can create the conditions for "peak experience"), but this book could have been an essay! The author deep dives on the development of modern society and reasons why pessimism is a dominant state of being for many people, however I would have appreciated more time spent on actually talking about the different levels of consciousness, which he only touches on in the last two pages of the book! A lot of effort spent building up the background to a thesis, to only scarcely actually expand on it.
July 16, 2025
This book opened my eyes to historical figures like Van Gogh and Bernard Shaw in a fresh, behind-the-scenes way that made me want to learn more about them. Colin Wilson’s exploration of peak experiences and higher states of consciousness is thought-provoking and full of interesting insights.
However, I found myself wishing there was more focus on the “how to” side of achieving super consciousness. The book leans heavily into literary and philosophical analysis, especially of plays, which sometimes pulled attention away from the more practical aspects I was hoping for.
An intriguing read, but not quite what I expected.
However, I found myself wishing there was more focus on the “how to” side of achieving super consciousness. The book leans heavily into literary and philosophical analysis, especially of plays, which sometimes pulled attention away from the more practical aspects I was hoping for.
An intriguing read, but not quite what I expected.
November 25, 2025
A systemization and crystallization of what Wilson spent his life writing about resulting in a very useful manual for life.
Much of what it says mirrors other philosophies from the fringe I have read such as Aldious Huxley, Robert Anton Wilson and Eckhart Tolle (who fits the pattern of the man described in this books postscript).
This might be what I find most compelling, the basis of science is reproducibility after all.
But Wilsons polemic and erudite style is also a great joy to me. After all, none of the above would spend a quarter of their final treatise dunking on Beckett over and over, but Wilson did that and he did it for us.
Much of what it says mirrors other philosophies from the fringe I have read such as Aldious Huxley, Robert Anton Wilson and Eckhart Tolle (who fits the pattern of the man described in this books postscript).
This might be what I find most compelling, the basis of science is reproducibility after all.
But Wilsons polemic and erudite style is also a great joy to me. After all, none of the above would spend a quarter of their final treatise dunking on Beckett over and over, but Wilson did that and he did it for us.
November 1, 2017
A good piece of critique of nihilism and existential negativity. A bit oversimplified, I'd like to see more comments on Whitehead as an important alternative to 20th century wave of pessimis. Some insights of the neurochemistry of depressive states would also be nice, the book sometimes just drifts dangerously away from philosophy and close to esoteric style.
June 3, 2020
Spunti interessanti sulle esperienze di coscienza e super coscienza, quando la nostra attenzione è amplificata e i sensi super sviluppati e recettivi.
A tratti si accanisce in discussioni con autori pessimisti, un po’ noiose.
Begli spunti, manca di spiccare il volo ma tratta comunque un tema al quale ero molto interessata riuscendo a tratti a metterlo a fuoco.
A tratti si accanisce in discussioni con autori pessimisti, un po’ noiose.
Begli spunti, manca di spiccare il volo ma tratta comunque un tema al quale ero molto interessata riuscendo a tratti a metterlo a fuoco.
June 30, 2026
Wow! I'm a big enjoyer of this guy. This is his last book, and kind of sums up his whole "quest." In the very last chapter, he mentions Three Principles psychology, which turned me on to it. Exciting stuff.
May 29, 2018
I loved this book... except that the culmination was a Catch-22. I don't have the energy... neither "the secret energy" nor the energy required to achieve "the secret energy".
July 20, 2018
I loved this book.
October 18, 2018
I have read and enjoyed a number of Colin Wilson's books - he is a scholar for the common man!
September 28, 2021
Good book. I wasn’t a fan of the drawn out stories, but when he makes his connections, it’s worth the read.
July 3, 2026
Wilson si concentra sull'esperienza di picco, quello in cui il livello di coscienza è al di sopra del normale, quando la percezione della realtà attorno a noi diventa più acuta e quasi si può percepire cosa c'è dietro la materia. Lo fa parlando di alcune sue esperienze personali, come quando diceva di meditare sull'identità tra Atman e Brahma.
December 20, 2021
One reader says if you read one Indian guru book, it seems like you read the rest of his books, and that seems pretty comparable to Wilson's book, and how his ideas are repeated all over his book. And based on his words, a good writer have only one idea that they shape in diffrent forms, and the bad writer simply misses this one idea that pulls all of their work together.
Without that being said, super consciousness is following of Wilson's ideas about mental stimulus, and deviation of our mental capacity, so colored by his optimistic idealism.
Without that being said, super consciousness is following of Wilson's ideas about mental stimulus, and deviation of our mental capacity, so colored by his optimistic idealism.
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