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The Journey of Robert Monroe: From Out-of-Body Explorer to Consciousness Pioneer
In 1971 Doubleday published a book called Journeys Out of the Body , a Virginia businessman's memoir of his weird and wonderful adventures on other planes of reality. That book, which has sold more than a million copies, and that man, Robert Monroe, helped cement the concept of astral travel into the American psyche and made the "out-of-body experience" a household word. Monroe not only helped others understand this state of being, but through his research on binaural beats and his development of the technology known as Hemi-Sync, he made the OBE accessible through programs at The Monroe Institute, which is attended by thousands of people each year. However, Monroe made consciousness research more than an esoteric thrill ride. He put his technology to practical use by creating frequencies that have helped people with everything from meditation and learning, to insomnia, quitting smoking, and pain control.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
408 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2007
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193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 8, 2007
This is the best biography of Robert Monroe, from an author who knew him, knew his work, and even knew his family. He stands on the shoulders of the late Bayard Stockton, whose earlier work Catapult was previously the only Monroe biography to read. But this story is fleshed out with more personal anecdotes, more rare photos, and to be fair, a more readable style and a more organized structure. It is not merely giving lip service to Monroe either: it shows some of his warts and missteps, as humans are wont to show sooner or later. But that only makes the portrait more complete, and actually allows the reader to get closer to the real Monroe than any press release could do. I found it educational, and a good read too. Kudos!
February 11, 2022
It's very hard to know how to judge The Journey Of Robert Monroe. It's a well-written, well-researched, and easy-to-read volume that doesn't play softball - it makes it very clear that Monroe was a temperamental and paranoid asshole, especially towards the end of his life.
On the other hand, this is a book about a man who claimed to be a prophet but was almost certainly a fraud, and it never once doubts his core message. How do you write a whole biography about a man who claimed to have supernatural powers, and never once question those claims?
Who is this book even for? If you're a skeptic, it has little to offer, whereas if you're a believer, I doubt you're going to be open to Russell's warts-and-all approach. I found the book enjoyable and useful, because I'm working on a project about Monroe. If you're in the same boat, this is a critical volume. If not...I don't know.
On the other hand, this is a book about a man who claimed to be a prophet but was almost certainly a fraud, and it never once doubts his core message. How do you write a whole biography about a man who claimed to have supernatural powers, and never once question those claims?
Who is this book even for? If you're a skeptic, it has little to offer, whereas if you're a believer, I doubt you're going to be open to Russell's warts-and-all approach. I found the book enjoyable and useful, because I'm working on a project about Monroe. If you're in the same boat, this is a critical volume. If not...I don't know.
January 12, 2017
This is a biography of the famous out-of-body explorer, Robert Monroe. I loved all three of his books – see my reviews of these. The present book tells us both about Bob’s ancestors, what sort of a man he was, his books, the various places he lived, his research work at the Monroe Institute, and his relationships, particularly with his beloved wife, Nancy. It contains several photos of Bob and those involved with him.
For me, the book has provided valuable information about Bob Monroe, though I didn’t find it all that readable, it being filled with many, perhaps excessive, details about his colleagues at the Institute, and practically everyone connected in any way with his work there.
Bob was a multifaceted character; he previously worked in radio; had many hobbies; “he delighted in living on the edge of danger, in gliding, sailing, flying rickety aircraft, and driving fast cars that he had built himself”.
The author talks of Bob’s OBEs, and though I’ve read his books, I found new information here, indicating that I will really have to re-read them.
He called the body he used when out-of-body “the Second Body”, He deduced that the Second Body “had weight and a small degree of gravitational attraction”. It could take on whatever shape or form the individual desired.
Russell tells us of the various “worlds” explored by Monroe; Locale 1, the material world; Locale II, “a non-material environment with laws of motion and matter only remotely related to the physical world”, containing all the aspects we generally attribute to Heaven and Hell; and Locale III, “a physical-matter world almost identical to our own”, but with no electricity, petrol or oil and with steam-driven “locomotives”. In Locale III, Monroe merges with another man, taking over his body, so to speak, though he is well aware he is not that man. He marries a woman called Lea and has children.
Many people attend Bob’s courses at the Institute, including the illustrious Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, They learn how to reach various states of consciousness, e.g. Focus 10, the state of “mind awake, body asleep”, Focus 12, “a state of expanded awareness, Focus 15, “a state of no time” and Focus 21, “the edge of here-now”.
The participants in certain of the courses, called “Explorers”, make voyages in consciousness, simultaneously reporting on their experiences, these reports being recorded (some of these recordings were at least previously available from the Monroe website). They are aided by “invisible helpers”, guiding and directing the voyages.
The Explorers help earth-bound spirits, “ghosts”, who are locked into a time zone, not realizing they are “dead”. Once they realize this, they can be helped by beings from the spirit dimension, “Hell is actually a level of consciousness , in which a soul can exist whether in the body or out – It is a continuous process to help souls become aware of the true nature of their reality”.
Following Nancy’s death from cancer, Bob became depressed and his own health was declining too; he smoked heavily and his diet was “horrific”.
In his last years, Bob became difficult to get along with and invited people to visit/work with him, but then ignored them or refrained from hiring them.
He made an “Emergency” series of tapes which assisted people during operations. His last programme, “Going Home”, contained support exercises for those approaching death, and their relations and caregivers.
For those interested in Bob Monroe and his valuable consciousness-expanding work, I highly recommend this well-written and informative book.
For me, the book has provided valuable information about Bob Monroe, though I didn’t find it all that readable, it being filled with many, perhaps excessive, details about his colleagues at the Institute, and practically everyone connected in any way with his work there.
Bob was a multifaceted character; he previously worked in radio; had many hobbies; “he delighted in living on the edge of danger, in gliding, sailing, flying rickety aircraft, and driving fast cars that he had built himself”.
The author talks of Bob’s OBEs, and though I’ve read his books, I found new information here, indicating that I will really have to re-read them.
He called the body he used when out-of-body “the Second Body”, He deduced that the Second Body “had weight and a small degree of gravitational attraction”. It could take on whatever shape or form the individual desired.
Russell tells us of the various “worlds” explored by Monroe; Locale 1, the material world; Locale II, “a non-material environment with laws of motion and matter only remotely related to the physical world”, containing all the aspects we generally attribute to Heaven and Hell; and Locale III, “a physical-matter world almost identical to our own”, but with no electricity, petrol or oil and with steam-driven “locomotives”. In Locale III, Monroe merges with another man, taking over his body, so to speak, though he is well aware he is not that man. He marries a woman called Lea and has children.
Many people attend Bob’s courses at the Institute, including the illustrious Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, They learn how to reach various states of consciousness, e.g. Focus 10, the state of “mind awake, body asleep”, Focus 12, “a state of expanded awareness, Focus 15, “a state of no time” and Focus 21, “the edge of here-now”.
The participants in certain of the courses, called “Explorers”, make voyages in consciousness, simultaneously reporting on their experiences, these reports being recorded (some of these recordings were at least previously available from the Monroe website). They are aided by “invisible helpers”, guiding and directing the voyages.
The Explorers help earth-bound spirits, “ghosts”, who are locked into a time zone, not realizing they are “dead”. Once they realize this, they can be helped by beings from the spirit dimension, “Hell is actually a level of consciousness , in which a soul can exist whether in the body or out – It is a continuous process to help souls become aware of the true nature of their reality”.
Following Nancy’s death from cancer, Bob became depressed and his own health was declining too; he smoked heavily and his diet was “horrific”.
In his last years, Bob became difficult to get along with and invited people to visit/work with him, but then ignored them or refrained from hiring them.
He made an “Emergency” series of tapes which assisted people during operations. His last programme, “Going Home”, contained support exercises for those approaching death, and their relations and caregivers.
For those interested in Bob Monroe and his valuable consciousness-expanding work, I highly recommend this well-written and informative book.
April 26, 2025
This was an interesting Read. Having read the 3 books of Robert Monroe, and now following Tom Campbell, who was a scientist who worked with Robert, it was great to read about the experiences that started it all. It was a shame that towards the end of his life Robert Monroe became paranoid and did not trust the people around him and held back the development of the Monroe Institute. This book was a bit boring in places and included lots of stuff I wasn't interested in, but it has inspired me to re-read Journeys out of the body, Far Journeys and Ultimate Journey, Robert Monroe's 3 books.
View this review on my blog soulfulbooks.home.blog
View this review on my blog soulfulbooks.home.blog
April 19, 2025
what an amazing life. this biography is well put together and easy to read. chapters are long but paint a picture of am amazing man
August 31, 2011
A little too saintly and mythological. Was hoping for a more honest look at the man. Interesting, not great.
March 31, 2019
After a few lucid dreams, we may have some reason
to explore the Out-of-Body (OOBE) possibilities elaborated in this
fascinating book. A portal to inter dimensional travel.
to explore the Out-of-Body (OOBE) possibilities elaborated in this
fascinating book. A portal to inter dimensional travel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews