Rating: 
Summary: No significant contribution to philosophy
Review: Ken Wilber has a list, not a philosophy. The idea of God marching through history was absurd in Hegel's day. It is ludicrous in our own. A successful philosopher is not doing his job.
Rating: 
Summary: An Introduction to Integral Thinking by the Master
Review: Ken Wilber has been criticized for repeating the same themes over and over, from book to book. He answers this criticism by saying that he wants the reader of any one of his books, who might not have read his other work, to understand the specific subject of this or that particular book in the context of his overall system of thought. And, sure enough, A Theory of Everything re-covers much ground already thoroughly covered in many of his other books. But Wilber offers this as an introductory work (perhaps to a broader readership than he ordinarily reaches.) And the new ideas he offers in this book would probably be incomprehensible to new Wilber readers without an overview of his integral theory to go with them. So, what's in this book for readers new to Wilber and for KW veterans?For the newbie, first of all, Ken Wilber is considered by many (including me) to be among the most profound thinkers of this age. Wilber says in the introduction to this work that he considers this the best introduction to his work. Well, it is relatively brief, it outlines rather succinctly key aspects of his overall thought and then applies that structure to areas of common interest like politics, medicine and business. This is interesting and will give the new reader a glimpse of the profundity of Wilber's work, the breadth of its potential applicability and will hopefully stimulate the reader's interest in reading his more detailed works. I still think A Brief History of Everything is the best introduction to KW's work, though, because it masterfully presents an outline of Wilber's thought system in a way that leaves no important major themes out, yet manages to be both accessible and relatively succinct. In ATE, he touches on major tenets of his thinking like the Four Quadrant system, but I wonder how much the first time reader will glean from his rather shorthand explanation here, as opposed to the clear explanation available in ABHE. On the other hand, he presents his philosophy here in a more obviously practical context, applicable to many aspects of daily life, than in any other of his books, and for that reason alone would be a good first Wilber book for many. As for the KW vet, what's in this book for you? Well, primarily some explanation of Wilber's latest thinking on topics like the adaptation of Spiral Dynamics theory to his spectrum of consciousness model. But this is also avilable in Integral Psychology, yet another introductory work. In short, I would say this book is a bit thin on new material for the KW vet, but has enough intriguing new stuff to tide you over until Wilber releases something more meaty again. Some great stuff, for example, on liberals and conservatives and "Greens," as the latest manifestations of the unfolding of consciousness in world history, a stream of thought most thoroughly treated in Up From Eden. Meanwhile, Ken, the faithful are ready for volume 2 of the Kosmos work or something equally meaty. The last two books have been appetizers. We're ready for another main course.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good book
Review: Ken Wilber is one of the most gifted thinkers of our time. I think this is a very good summary of his incredible vision. I enjoy reading all of his books but I felt that this one took it one more step ahead. If you are a beginner in this field, I'd recommend the classic, "The book on the Taboo against who you are" by Alan Watts and a more recent book called, "Rhythm, Relationships, and Transcendence" by Toru Sato. Both of them are excellent as well! Good luck and enjoy on your journey!
Rating:
Summary: The most practical manual for postmodernity
Review: Ken Wilber's fundamental work, Sex, Ecology and Spirituality is really the most serious and documented work about a new integral, holonic, all embracing worldview, but it is really a book not just to be read but to be studied and very hard. A T.O.E is a beautiful and concise synthesis of that work done by the same author. From the first chapter you will be taken to an interdependent path, because in it KW uses the Spiral Dynamics scheme to help the reader to grasp the different stages of human development, both individual and collective from the holonic perspective. In the second chapter we find a real criticism of that path that has taken us both to a new technological stage but also to fragmentation and alienation, the so-called boomeristic movement, with its pathological excess of egocentrism. In the third chapter KW holonic view is presented, with its all-quadrant-all-level framework, but the important thing is that "An integral vision is one of the least pressing issues on the face of the planet"...it is our educational institutions...that are desperate for a more integral vision. It is our business practices, saturated with fragmented gains, that cry out for a more balanced approach". In the fourth chapter we find the most serious attemp to solve the eternal dualistic struggle between science and religion. IMO, there is still a new emerging type of integral spirituality derived from The Urantia Book that has not yet been taken into account by KW, that has to do with the only serious criticism, and that is very essential if we really want to see the whole picture and truly integrate the magic, the mythic and the rational in everyone of us toward higher stages of spiritual development and at the same time truly honor all stages. In the fifth chapter the KW holonic model is applied to institutions and there is shown what the model is already doing and what can be done for a better planet. In the sixth chapter a general overview of all worldviews is presented and integrated in the holonic model giving us a real graspable and practical map to facilitate our goal toward this new stage of mankind we have already entered. The seventh chapter being the final one, gives us practical recommendations and references to prepare our practice toward the integration of the big three, mind, soul and spirit. Even if you have read SES, A Theory of Everything will be like a practical manual for the great task of postmodernity, the integration of the Big Three, Science, Philosophy and Spirituality.
Rating:
Summary: A step in the right direction
Review: MY REVIEW
A Theory of Everything is an amazing book that only scratches the surface of what is possible. It acknowledges that what is presented are only widespread generaliztions that need further work which he begins to do in other works such as Sex, Ecology, and Spirituality. Others have taken up the integral call to arms as well. Regardles, the ramifications of his work, I feel in my humble opinion, will be felt on the forefront of human thought for a long time, and the wealth of top notch people worldwide that support this stance almost goes beyond belief.
WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: Anyone that is open and curius about the nature of the universe and this thing we call the human experience!
Rating: 
Summary: Where is the Theory? (2.5 *s)
Review: Not being a steady follower of the author is a huge disadvantage in trying to grasp his ideas concerning a transcendent explanation of human societies. Time and again the author refers to his previous works in lieu of further explanation. Secondly, it seems like his promise for a theory of everything gets lost in his extremely complicated descriptions that supposedly lead to his higher-order integral visions. There are layers and layers of classifications and hierarchies of individuals and societies that overlap in complex fashion. While somewhat outside the basic purpose of the book and difficult to follow, those classifications are used to good purpose in offering historical understandings of the orientations and actions of societies and nations.
The weakest part of the book is the author's failure to put forth a strong transcendent theory to which human societies should aspire. For the most part, there is not much of an attempt. The higher-order layers of soul and spirit in what he calls the "Great Holarchy" are barely touched upon. These layers supposedly coincide with what he calls a second-tier meme, which in turn is a world centric and post conventional orientation. The pieces of the theory are displayed in rather complex fashion, but there is no real closure on his ideas. For the uninitiated, the book is complicated enough to require flowcharting. This book is a good example of an author not being able to place himself in the shoes of the reader trying to understand.
Rating:
Summary: Ken Wilber's fascinating vision.
Review: Read this book. It provides a thought-provoking introduction to Ken Wilber's "integral vision," a theory that attempts to integrate all things--science, religion, art, morals, physics, politics, medicine, education, ecology, sociology and business. Wilber observes that approximately 20 percent of the population is poised for "second-tier" integral transformation (p. 33), and that we are at "a branch point:" we can continue travelling the road of scientific materialism, fragmented pluralism, and deconstructive postmodernism, or we can pursue a more integral, more embracing, more inclusive path to travel (p. xiii). The book's first four chapters introduce us to Wilber's "Theory of Everything," and the last three demonstrate the theory's "real world" relevance. In the final chapter, Wilber reduces his theory to a personal level of "integral transformative practice." Throughout the book, Wilber's prose is conversational in tone. For me, reading this book has sparked a fascination with Wilber's philosophy, and as a brief introduction to his writings, this book left me eager to read Wilber's other books to hopefully obtain a deeper understanding of his integral vision. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: Ken Wilber's fascinating vision.
Review: Read this book. It provides a thought-provoking introduction to Ken Wilber's "integral vision," a theory that attempts to integrate all things--science, religion, art, morals, physics, politics, medicine, education, ecology, sociology and business. Wilber observes that approximately 20 percent of the population is poised for "second-tier" integral transformation (p. 33), and that we are at "a branch point:" we can continue travelling the road of scientific materialism, fragmented pluralism, and deconstructive postmodernism, or we can pursue a more integral, more embracing, more inclusive path to travel (p. xiii). The book's first four chapters introduce us to Wilber's "Theory of Everything," and the last three demonstrate the theory's "real world" relevance. In the final chapter, Wilber reduces his theory to a personal level of "integral transformative practice." Throughout the book, Wilber's prose is conversational in tone. For me, reading this book has sparked a fascination with Wilber's philosophy, and as a brief introduction to his writings, this book left me eager to read Wilber's other books to hopefully obtain a deeper understanding of his integral vision. G. Merritt
Rating:
Summary: A Monumental & Impressive Model to View the World
Review: Reading books makes a person grow, either horizontally or vertically. In this case both, like hiking and finding this amazing overlook of multiple mountain ranges and a soft cool breeze to match.
Wilber begins his book stating the benefits of evolutionary psychology over postmodern deconstruction psychology. Look, I love postmodern ideas and it's trashing of all fundamentals, but hey, that only leaves life in existential despair, and into what? So Wilber makes way for yet another model. And throughout his book he comes right out and tells the reader that this model and all the others he quotes and expounds on are not beyond deconstruction, nor are any considered absolute, "if you can come up with a better model, then you do so," and that this model too will in future be put aside for a better one.
Now I have been using a model for year from James Fowler's book on The Stages of Faith and M. Scott Peck's thoughts on that as well. But here is a all 4 quadrant, all level version from the model Wilber and Beck, Cowan and many others have produced, as in the Spiral Dynamics.
Beige = Archaic, Instinctual.
Purple = Magical, Animistic
Red = Power Gods, Feudal.
Blue = Mythic Order, Fundamental, Conformity, Conservative
Orange = Scientific Achievement, Rational thinkers, Technology.
Green = The Sensitive Self, Plural Relativists.
Yellow = Integrative, All levels, fully whole are contained.
Turquoise = Holistic.
Then there is egocentricity and preconventional, ethnocentricity and conventional and worldcentricity and postconventional. For instance the higher green can fight blue ethnocentricity but contain red's egocentricity and subsequent narcissism.
And in this all are 4 quadrants,
Upper Left = Interior - I - Self and consciousness, self subjectivity
Lower Left = Interior - We - Culture and worldview, collective subjectivity
Upper Right = Exterior - It - Brain and organism, Empirical atomism
Lower Right = Exterior - Its - Social systems, Empirical sociology.
Any one of the above 4 quadrants alone in a viewpoint amounts to reductionism. Integration is what is needed in all areas of the real world.
If anything this book really did is enable me with more tolerance as each level must remain whole while inside the higher level. So no level should look at others inferior but recognize they must occur to go to a higher level or one can not go there. They also remain as a holarchy that is a full atom is in a molecule, a full molecule is in a cell, a full cell is in a organism and so forth.
What is explained is our current world situation, as the danger of the reds and blues with orange technology, the relativism of the greens in their unknowing suicidal attempt to blot out all lower levels. His analogy of political views based on this paradigm is for me an extremely meaningful model to perceive the world's political situation. I don't look at blacks verses whites, Muslims verses Christians, Fundamentalists verses Liberals, but rather blue with orange technology, green with purple and red level within them and so forth.
Rating:
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").
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