s/t: : Conversations with Terence McKenna, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, John Lilly, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Laura Huxley, Robert Anton Wislon, and Others Loaded with new material--a new introduction, additional interviews, as well as new photos and artwork--the second edition of Mavericks of the Mind also includes the transcripts from the events that brought together interviewees from the book to debate philosophical topics in roundtable discussions. This stimulating collection features in-depth conversations with accomplished thinkers, such as Terence McKenna, Laura Huxley, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, John Lilly, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Rupert Sheldrake, Riane Eisler, and Robert Anton Wilson. The interviews explore such fascinating topics as the frontiers of consciousness exploration, how psychedelics effect creativity, the relationship between science and spirituality, lucid dreaming, quantum physics, morphic field theory, interspecies communication, chaos theory, and time travel.
This wonderful book brings back fond memories and voices of the past as well as those of others, fortunately still with us. The discussions are lively, and we recognize each of the speakers as they flog their favorite horse: John C. Lilly wants us to take Ketalar and dive into the next best samadhi tank, Robert Anton Wilson rallies for more historical consciousness as well a Discordian view of the world; Timothy Leary sticks with the kids and the future; Nina Gabroi speaks out for more consciousness and for common sense and human kindness, Laura Archera Huxley is the debonair advocate of humanity at large, while those still with us enliven the discussion with their unconventionality. Ralph Abraham wishes he wouldn't have to school anymore but still enlists; Stephen LaBerge explains God without words; Nick Herbert knows he doesn't know about consciousness; Carolyn Mary Kleefeld wants to distill nature's energies and so on. The topics of this emblematic collection of thoughts range from psychedelics to religion to politics to quantum physics as well as all of the above. Extremely interesting stuff to delve into.
This book is an example of where I think twice before reading, I started it for the list of people interviewed as it's some of my all time heroes, like McKenna, Leary, John Lilly, Allen Ginsburg, Robert Anton Wilson etc... But I hesitated because often the questions asked and the motives for a book like this put me off. But I can only say that this is one of the best collection of interviews I've ever read.
There is a tendency to focus on the psychedelic drugs and the aspects of spirituality, but you can't escape that side of these peoples lives and is what shapes them and gives them a chance to put their thoughts and beliefs and motivations out there in their own words, which is exactly why I wanted to read this book and enjoyed it so much.
What I'm glad about are that the conversations are full of thought provoking ideas and concepts, and that the answers don't feel cut up and edited or even if they are that they don't loose anything for me.
I would recommend anyone and everyone to read this, but not because you should change your attitudes towards these people or these subjects but because you may get a chance to hear it from the horses mouth which you may never have done before.
Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations for the New Millennium is a life-changing book, a collections of interviews with some of the greatest and most interesting minds of our time. The authors, Rebecca McClen Novick and David Jay Brown ask all the right questions, never kowtowing to the interviewees. Reading this book will have lasting impact in your life.
Good stuff. Too bad that the duo of David Jay Brown and Rebecca McClen Novick didn't last. They really complimented each other with the first two books. Subsequent volumes by Mr. Brown seemed decidedly lacking. Sorry, David. I know you from Tribe, but it's the truth (as I see it).