I'm biased, I suppose. I met the man and discussed things. An impressive individual, forceful personality — a scientist, spiritual mentor, land steward. An engaged humanitarian.
He survived a childhood and youngmanhood pervaded by cultural confusion, privation, and struggle. Fortunately, a notably successful uncle paid for a university education. De Ropp became a research botanist at storied Kew Gardens, and later a cancer researcher. In the late 1940s he emigrated from the UK to America.
As a spiritual seeker, he worked with P.D. Ouspensky and met Gurdjieff, and he consorted with John. G. Bennett, Gerald Heard, Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, Timothy Leary, and Stephen Gaskin.
De Ropp can be regarded as one of the brilliant “Fog City Mavericks” of the San-Francisco-Renaissance era. Many years after meeting him, I read this book, his autobiography — a story well told, and I found it captivating. Robert had quite a life(!) and a lot to say. The book can be inspiring for those who don't incline to a passive existence.
A really fascinating look at Mr. de Ropp's life, and an interesting exploration of the vast web of ideas and people related to the idea that humans can be better than they are.