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Summary: This book is absolutely mind blowing
Review: Anybody who is interested in Native American shamanism and sorcery or halucinogenic plants has to read this book. This is Carlos Castaneda's diary of the time he spent with a Yaqui shaman learnig about peyote and the devil's weed. The descriptions of his journeys are vivid and memorable. This is a truly remarkable book.
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Summary: ...a work of great understanding...perception altering
Review: A literary work of outstanding personal achievement. It is a must read for anyone wishing to understand that there are altered perceptions. The series of books have to be read by both young and old. They, the series of books, have changed my thoughts and influenced my views on the machination of the world.
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Summary: Castaneda's books are hoaxes
Review: When I first read this book, I completely swallowed it and became obsessed with the idea of this separate reality and way of knowledge described by Castaneda. However, a modicum of skeptical thinking marks this and the rest of Castaneda's books as shameless hoaxes. And not very good ones, even... Comparing his different books it's easy to find lots of inconsistencies. They, of course, can be rationalized by the true believer by saying that Castaneda's own perception of this reality was evolving, but I'd rather use Occam's Razor and say that they signal a sloppily-constructed hoax by Castaneda. Unfortunately, even a sloppy hoax is enough to fool lots of people and make lots of money. If you are thinking about buying this book, please do yourself a favor and read Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World" instead. After that, reconsider.
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Summary: Recommended as teachings
Review: Castaneda's books were recommended to me by a Native American medicine woman I trust, who knows what he's talking about, who has met some people he learned from. She assures me that he received permission to write about his experiences and pass on Don Juan's teachings, something other European American writers have neglected to do. I am finding these books helpful, just beginning to understand what he's talking about. There's enough here to provide a lifetime of study.
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Summary: good book, but lacks some data
Review: I read this book when I was 13 years old. I was fascinated by what Castaneda wrote in this book and his other titles. However, what mystified me about this book is the authors reference to certain secrets that a yaqi shaman named don juan knew. For instance in the teachings of don juan, Castaneda claimed that don juan knew certain secrets of plants that would give all kinds of secret knowledge to the one who knew how to use these plants. The jimpson weed for example was claimed by don juan to give infinite power. However, I found out in my twenties, that don juan was nothing more than an indian magician. That is, he used mind altering drugs to blow open the mind of Castaneda. The secrets don juan claimed to possess are not in the plants, but in ones own mind. As such don juans teachings are nothing more than an indian method of gaining enlightenment. Something hindus try to achieve through yoga, ritual magicians through magick, and buddhists and taoists through meditation. The whole book is devoted to the use of natural drugs. Peyote, jimpson weed, magic mushrooms that are detailed in the book, gives one the impression to go out and try these drugs to gain the power and knowledge that is detailed in Castanedas book. Or to go and look for a teacher of shamanism. These drugs are dangerous and there are far safer and saner ways to gain enlightenment such as meditation or ritual magick. But even these can be dangerous, if you dont know what you are doing. Good books and teachers are highly recommended. The mind of a human being contains the godhead, with all the infinite knowledge and power that goes with it. Castaneda should write disclaimers in his books, not only because of the drugs he describes, but because of ignorant people who might try what he describes.
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Summary: A true metaphore of life-unrealized.
Review: I first read casteneda's book "Teachings..." when I was seventen, and now I am twenty-two. I am amazed by the simplisity and the coherence of this piece of writing. Casteneda has gone through many steps in his personal life, and he has, over many years, tried to let the reader into his world. Casteneda's "reality" is pure and beautiful, and it becomes "real" to us as we read. "we must look "beyond" if we want to know the truth". Thank you for pointing the way.
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Summary: Casteneda's books are a hoax.
Review: It is no coincidence that the most recently published book by Cateneda was only a few years ago. The first book, "The Teachings of Don Juan..." was around twenty-five years before when mysticism and psychedelics where in fashion. Those same fashion trends have sprung up again which prompted a new book to be published and feed off the interest in the unproven and mysterious. The reason Carlos Casteneda has never been photographed is for the same reason all charlatans are never allowed to be examined by scientists. Of course, fans of Casteneda will reply by saying that western scientists are not of Castenda's culture and therefore their methods irrelevant to the Sorcerer's way. None-the -less, I abhore who ever Casteneda is and his publishers for printing such crap, which encourages the use of dangerous drugs and the belief in the unreal. I do not recommend these books.
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Summary: excellent introduction to Shamanism
Review: This book shows wonderfully what shamanism is and always has been. Don juan's knowledge through Castaneda's eye's is mystical, magickal and humorous at times as well. a must read for anyone interested in the metaphysical.
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Summary: Shows you doors that only the brave need to open.
Review: My first reading of CC's book, "The Teachings..." occurred back in 1975. I have read it many more times since then. What this book did was help me establish once and for all, that there does exist the realm of the unexplained/unexplainable. Things do happen to us that we are much too frightened to confide in others, for fear of reprisals. Left alone we begin to question our own sensibilites and in an act of self-preservation dismiss this part of our reality. What CC does for us is help verify and describe these unexplained/unexplainable events. It is a journey that only the pure of heart and courageous can attempt.
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Summary: An excellent read! Castenada is thoroughly convincing.
Review: Castenada has opened up a Pandora's box. Through his mentor, the Yaqui sorcerer Don Juan, Castenada shows us a world that seems straight out of a science fiction novel. If what he reports is true, it would most definitely change the way people view the world and its parameters. It has opened up a world of unfathomable possibilities for me.
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