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Summary: Abstractionist and pattern-finder extraordinaire
Review: Regarding Ken Wilber's A Theory of Everything, and A Brief History of Everything. Wilber's books are very interesting, in his synthesis of latest thinking from all over the spectrum of knowledge--evolutionary biology, economics, psychology, history, physics, etc., to name a few--and his building a unified framework or world view that is profoundly inclusive of ideas from all of these fields. He is a "mapmaker" of sorts, an abstractionist and pattern-finder, plotting out how things relate in the various spheres of knowledge, and hanging them together in a single richly-textured fabric--of categories, structures, hierarchies and relationships. Everything from religion to evolution to particle physics are fit within the framework. I have some questions about the validity of some of the premises on which he hangs some of his notions, but the quadrant system he presents--and the common patterns he observes in all of these various spheres of knowledge--is quite amazing. It is interesting and thought provoking reading, if you are interested in a synthesis of the latest ideas on how "everything" hangs together (the "theory") and how it has come to be this way (the "history").
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for those who have background knowledge
Review: This book is a great book to start with if you are interested in Wilber's work and have some background knowledge in philosophy and the social sciences. It is easy to get into since it is in a conversational format and gives you are general picture of his theory without going into much technical detail. If you like a discussion of this material at a slightly more "micro" level such as "how does this apply directly to your everyday life", I'd highly recommend Toru Sato's "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" as another book along those lines. It's less theoretical and but also very fun to read. I enjoyed both books quite thoroughly!
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Summary: Best Book Ever
Review: This is, out of all the books I've ever read in my life, the best one. Period. Everyone should read it. It's amazing. It truly is "A Brief History of Everything." Read it and be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: mind altering
Review: Having studied history and philosophy for most of my academic career, I have to say that Ken Wilber is the perhaps the most compelling philosopher America has ever produced...arguably one of the greatest the world has ever seen.More, please.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for the faint of heart
Review: Wilber, in essence, explains they way "things just are" in our world today. The clarity of his explanations (and their supporting philosophies)are powerful in their completeness. It makes you feel as if you have been lied to all your life and ultimately glad you finally know the truth.
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Summary: No Exit? Wilber Opens a Door.
Review: Recently, a former English professor of mine who is familiar with Wilber's work commented, "I can't decide if he's absolutely brilliant or a horse's ass. Probably some of both." That about sums up the majority of popular opinion on Wilber. I have fervently studied psychology, philosophy, and religion ever since my freshman year of highschool, when an existential crisis left me confused and hopeless. For the first several years my relentless search for meaning uncovered nothing more than the dreadful seriousness of existential philosophers like Sartre and Camus. They offered validation but no hope. Religious texts didn't seem to address my problem, and traditional psychology was inclined to treat it as pathology. On occassion someone would speculatively declare that I was on the brink of a great spiritual transformation, but then would halt abrubtly, perhaps unclear about exactly how this transformation could be brought about. Blind faith? It went against the grain of my very being. I was slowly becoming acclimated to the idea that there truly was No Exit. Just grit your teeth and bear it. Personally, reading A Brief History of Everything was an epiphany. 173 pages into the book Wilber describes a stage of consciousness which he terms Fulcrum-6. Almost immediately I realized that he was talking about the existential crisis. Excitement welled up from the very depth of my being as I continued to read the most sensible treatment of this condition I had ever encountered. Wilber had placed it in a broad context - orienting this stage in the evolution of consciousness - in a way that made perfect sense to me. What I had always suspected and cautiously hoped for - that my condition was not permanent and that there is a way to transcend it - was now made eminently obvious. I had seen the path that brought me to this point, and now, for the first time in my life, I could see the path ahead. For that insight alone I owe Ken Wilber my utmost gratitude. If you suspect you are suffering from a Fulcrum-6 existential crisis, or know someone who is, please read this book. Shoot, read the book anyway. Wilber has encompassed a tremendous amount of information from a diversity of fields and presented it all in a coherent model of the evolution of everything. It will change the way you think, forever. If you are feeling particularly bold, read Wilber's Sex, Ecology, Spirituality which presents the same model but at roughly three times the length.
Rating:
Summary: Made Me Think
Review: I'm not a philosopher or a scientist. Nor do I belong to an organized religion. But I'm concerned about the big questions such as, "Who or what am I?" "Why am I here?" This book gave me an approach that got beyond both the inpenetrability of most philosophy I've read as well as the reductionism of science. Wilber avoided the obvious pitfalls of established religion and "New Age Thought." Most important he gave me a comprehensive way of thinking about my whole world and all aspects (both interior and exterior) of my life that helps me at least begin to answer those big questions. I appreciate that and highly recomend this book. If nothing else it is thought provoking.
Rating: 
Summary: Ken Wilber
Review: I've not read this book and I've never read anything by Ken Wilber beyond what he has to say of Alex Grey, but come on! Just look at the man! Those glasses! He must know SOMETHING of importance.
Rating: 
Summary: Still looking through his own glasses
Review: Ken Wilber is, in my opinion, one of the most over-rated popular writers of this time. The recent publication of his 'collected works' is only further evidence that his ego is about as large as his photo on the cover of this book. It may be fashionable in some circles to stand in awe of someone who throws around names of researchers in specific fields of study like Santa does with candy. However, this is not enough to show that he has adequately mastered any of these fields. When stripped of these and other ornaments, there is actually very little substance left. My one major objection to his theories is that he is apparently unaware how his own cultural bias shapes his thoughts. The division of everything into four quadrants (one/many and subjective/objective) is a Western division. It is by no means universal. These quadrants are so fundamental to his reasoning that what he claims to be a universal theory of everything is little more than the millionth Western view of reality. To the extent that he integrates diverse worldviews, he all makes them fit within his own biased scheme. Secondly, he talks about 'higher' forms of consciousness as if he knows them like his back pocket. He sees the 'non-dualistic' as the highest form of consciousness. This is clearly speculative and not based on any facts. One would think that in this day and age, transcending the 'us vs. them' duality would be the next step. This duality lies at the core of almost every conflict we see today. If Wilber was right, peace would be a very long way off. I have heard some people say in an admiring tone how they 'were trying to understand Wilber' as if he was the greatest genius that ever lived. Genius shows itself in simplicity. Sometimes, when someone is hard to understand, it is simply because they aren't making much sense. Ken Wilber is a perfect example.
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Summary: Terrific descriptions of the subtle, causal and non-dual
Review: This book has been described as the 'popular' version of Wilber's "Sex, Ecology and Spirituality". Ken introduces his 'Four Quadrants' and the first third of the book describes the different types of society and their respective worldviews. The real value of this book for me lies in the second part where he describes development from the existential level through the higher transpersonal relams of subtle and causal and non-dual. His descriptions of these realms are as good as I've read.
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