Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but sloppy treatment of science & spirituality
Review: This book has been touted as a "brilliant synthesis of scientific and spiritual understanding", but I didn't find it to be so. Wilbur's sloppy treatment of science put me off. His claims with regard to science are mostly unsupported over-simplifications of what really goes on in the various areas that make up modern science. Wilbur's grasp of the philosophical and spiritual is impressive, but he fails to go that extra mile to bring science into the picture. As a result the book is unbalanced, with too much emphasis being placed on philosophical/spiritual matters, and too little on the scientific. The introduction makes promises that are not kept in the body of the book. Wilbur asks "What currents are afoot in this extraordinary game of evolution", but when the time comes to address this tantalizing question, he shuts down the whole debate by stating that the process of evolution is nothing more than a "mystery". One is led to wonder how an integration of the scientific with the spiritual can ever come to pass if the entire investigation into evolution since Darwin is dismissed with a single word. Only the starry-eyed and the hopelessly naive will be sucked in by this kind of arrogance. Throughout, Wilbur invokes the spirit of the Zen masters to fuel his argument. Why is it,then,that Wilbur's approach is so obviously unZenlike? Where is the equanimity, the acceptance, the simple contemplation of existence that we find in Zen? Zen is unique in that it offers no answers other than those that offer themselves. This is most certainly not the Wilbur method.
Rating: 
Summary: a new and amazing look at the inner and outer developments.
Review: A book that is a combination of biology, psychology, social studies and more. A new and bold way to look at human and world evolution. The book describes inner and outer evolution, in one brief look that goes from atoms through laws of the cosmos, to developments of the planet and up to human beings and society. It is realy a new and amazing look at ourselves, our future and past.
Rating:
Summary: Let's hear it for the transcendentalists!
Review: A wonderful work by a scholar so silly/sacred as to be the synergy of Douglas Adams and Thoreau. If anything, this book succeeds in beating the wind out of the same bleak old postmodern rants of modernity by setting out in search of tangible spiritual awakening. This is a wonderful time for intelligent people, especially those with a sense of humour.
Rating:
Summary: A brief look at an important and provocative world view.
Review: Ken Wilbur takes a thoughtful and provocative leap forward in this accessible summary of his view of the nature of existence, consciousness, and spirit. Wilbur's model integrates earlier work done in the fields of science, philosophy, psychology, theology, and sociology. Building upon that foundation, he crafts a very workable and important way of viewing the nature of being.By presenting the material in a question and answer format, Wilbur provides a valuable entry point for those interested in his point of view, but who don't want to take on a formidable academic work. The speculative nature of the book is completely appropriate and beautifully done. The result is a provocative, albeit brief, pathway that's relatively easy to negotiate while simultaneously stimulating for the mind. Superb. This is a very important and influential work.
Rating:
Summary: At last a comprehensive examination of spirit in all...
Review: I started out as a reluctant reader... then as it became clear that the evolutionary spirit was manifesting through his efforts I became won over. I am concerned that the Pythagorean Theorem was so poorly stated, and not corrected by even the humblest of assistant editors! However, forgiving that one minor glitch, I am impressed by the comprehensive overview. I'm satisfied that the picture he paints is an accurate rendition of spirit in our time, and that it is critical for all who are able to live in Nonduality, yet surf the Form waves as they manifest.
Rating: 
Summary: How much is that dogma in the window?
Review: This book is frusterating. In many, many instances, statements are made, but never supported. These statements beg for certian questions to be asked, but they never are. Instead of challenging the weak points of Wilbur's arguement, the softball questions serve only to keep the book moving ("Nothing to see here folks, just keep moving. That's it, keep it moving") The language, while at times poetic, is overwhelmingly pretentous. The central portion of the book, dealing with the evolution of conciousness, is worth reading. Unfortuantely, for the most part is is merely a restating of other people perpsectives. Rarely do i have problems with these conclusions, but Wilbur's attempts to draw universal conclusion based on these more speciallized conclusions, are laughable. I don't doubt that some higher synthesis can be made, I just doubt that Wilbur has done it. His conclusions ARE possible, but so are a plethora of other silly conclusions. The bottom line is that the opinions expressed in the book are simply that: opinions. They are not adequetly supported. The arguments, when made, are weak. Maybe Wilbur's view of everything IS correct, but this book is a very poor way to go about convincing someone of that.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing new here-old wine in new bottles
Review: Look beneath the buzzwords and you find a patriarchal and repressive philosophy of life.Wilber claims our major problems are simply the growing pains of evolution.His answer is become like a Zen monk and transcend the world to live in pure spirit.He ignores the class nature of society and deliberate exploitation and alienation of people by others in the pursuit of power and profit.He criticises feminists and ecologists for not having complete answers, but at least they are concerned about the state of the world.He has nothing new to say.For example,Qabalah and hermetic thought("As it is above, so it is below") go a lot deeper into things than he does.We need individual and social action to create a better world, not the old hat Eastern navel gazing which he offers in this book.I recommend that Ken read "Voices of the First Day" by Robert Lawlor for some real insights into the state of things.
Rating:
Summary: A fun trip of discovery to humankind
Review: Ken Wilber has indeed presented a genuine masterpiece. The infinite spirit of who, what and why are touched but not overdosed. He clearly has enjoyed writting this and if God were to write a review..it might read "Your getting close Ken! Well Done"
Rating:
Summary: An excellent overview and introduction to a "new" philosophy
Review: I stumbled upon the book while browsing. While being a big fan of Joseph Campbell's work I find Wilber's work to provide a pathway "beyond". I am now reading Sex, Ecology, and Sprituality. These should be required reading for world leaders and political and religious leaders.
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Summary: This book is as silly as its title!
Review: On page 219 we find this: "If you take somebody
from the magic or mythic worldview, and you try to
explain to them that the sum of the squares of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the hypotenuse, you won't get very far." Well, of course not, because you will not be making any sense at all! Did the author mean to state the Pythagorean Theorem: the square of the hypotenuse in a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides? This is a completely different idea, but we must assume this is what he was trying to say. But it gets worse! Mr. Wilber wants us to believe that the results and conclusions of the meditative traditions ( "you are face to face with the Divine . . .") are exactly the same kind of knowledge as the Pythagorean Theorem!!!!! Have your seventh-grade child demonstrate--in the real, physical, "empirical" world--the truth of the Theorem of Pythagoras and then ask yourself if you believe Wilber is correct here.
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