Remote Viewing Secrets: A Handbook

Rating:
Summary: A little to much procedure
Review: He went into the all of the aspects of remote viewing with out actually getting into the nuts and bolts of viewing. It is more for the experienced viewer. Not for someone just wanting to gain some more insight on RV. There is some very unique insight, however.

Rating:
Summary: ...ummmm. Not so hot.
Review: I do believe this man knows what he's talking about but if you're looking for a manual on practical application of Remote Viewing, don't start here.

He rights with a slightly arrogant overtone but does explain some fundamental elements of remote viewing. It's OK, but it's a handbook; Nothing more.

And certainly not worthy of some of its former reveiws in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: You Go Joe!
Review: I just got the book this week. I like it. I like it. Here's what Joe says in the Ethics chapter about remote viewing and the Internet:

"...a lot of people operating over the Internet have absolutely no ethical standards. Claims and statements are made which have no basis in fact. They are designed specifically for a lot of reasons, but truth is not one of them."

And I had to LAUGH OUT LOUD! YOU GO JOE...good observation! Ain't that the sad and vivid truth seeing some of the made-up-as-you-go-along stuff...passed off as harmless fun...then leaving the trails of desecration and forever befuddled minds in the wake. I don't think truth is even in the vocabulary! There are always a few of these in every bunch. :))

Not to mention the privacy issue either...:)

Wonder if Joe M. is a lurkin here (on some of the lists)...he seems to know what goes down!

I look forward to reading more!

Rating:
Summary: What's missing
Review: I ordered this book from Amazon.comn, thinking it would tell me, as the jacket suggests, how to do remote viewing. I returned it when I found that, while it goes into excruciating detail on all of the external protocols-- like what the other members of the team do- it has very little on the subjective processes, and in fact gives no subjective protocols whatsover. If you want to know more about those things, you're better off doing a search on the web using the keywords remote viewing matrix. I thought I'd better keep myself anonymous, lest the author seeks revenge for this review by remote viewing ME! :)

Rating:
Summary: Good on basics but major holes
Review: I've gotten through most of this book now, and definately liked/was dissapointed by this book. I certainly liked McMoneagle's approach. His attitude toward RV is very similar to the one I brought with me when I started with this. He's a player. He refers to RV as a game. He uses athletic metaphors when describing levels of RV competence. I like that. Too many RV-heads get a little too ethereal for my taste. He's very matter of fact. I didn't calculate, but I would say that most of his anecdotes regarded the limitations of RV, which can easily turn into frustrations. "So close yet so far!" He didn't seem to be tooting his horn too much regarding his own viewing skills, recounting excellent viewing results, although that can be a bit of a conceit too. Certainly, when I read of RVers experiencing the same sorts of things I've experienced, it does give me confidence, which is, in my opinion, very important, even if those things are usually

obstacles/limitations. I think there are three main challenges to RV. The first was getting into the proper frame of mind to view-relaxed yet focused. Mcmoneagle was good, not great, for me in this area. But this isn't a huge problem area for me. Sometimes I have to abort a view because I can't get into it. Other times the views were poor, but I'm sure that happens to most everyone. For the most part, McMoneagle provided information that reinforced what I'm already doing. In obstacle two, the viewing itself, I was hoping for a little more detail. More detail about separating the actual target information from any conscious interference that might pop in. He spent a lot of time on the importance of developing this ability, or not developing it from the Zen perspective, but his rule of thumb seems to be if the information seems absurd, doesn't make sense, then that is the data that is almost always accurate. Again, this is something I've experienced many times, but not often enough for this to be more than a small aspect of the analysis stage. Finally, stage three-analysis. McMoneagle's advice-Don't do it. If you're a viewer, just view, let analysts analyze. That's great if you are part of a lab or military or corporate team and you have people to fill specific roles. Guess what, Joe? Most people with an interest in this subject don't have access to that. What are they supposed to do? If he wanted to write a complete book, he should have included more detail about analysis. Even though he doesn't do it himself, he could have interviewed his wife, who apparently does his analysis. How much trouble would that have been? All in all, I liked the book. Any time someone who is serious and competent writes a book about RV, I will at least give it a look. As entertainment and an interesting read, I rate it highly. As a handbook, it covers basic things well, more complex areas not as well, and has major holes that were not covered properly.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting (realistic) look at development of intuition.
Review: I've spent 6 years studying (science and methods) RV; trained and
talked at length with some of the allegedly best RV people in military
and science in the West. I know what's out there. And boy am I cynical
now! -- But this book ... is worth more than 'RV Training' many pay
thousands for. Of the time/$ I've spent, when I look back on that
investment, the one thing I feel was worth the while was encountering
Joe McMoneagle. In a world full of rich gurus, true believers,
pseudo-skeptics and planet-sized egos abounding, Joe is just a
no-bull**** down to earth guy who knows what he's talking about.

If
you're looking for an adventure to "teach you" how to remote
view god and aliens in no time, don't buy Joe's books. He's certainly
got unusual experiences and an open mind, but he won't talk about the
hype-ridden stuff that sells most books/media. I prefer his
approach. Few star-streaming cosmic surges in it... but if you want
something factual, that isn't jerking your chain, Joe's the man.

In
this book McMoneagle tries to provide a framework: one that won't
interfere with or form people's belief systems; one that does not hand
credit (and responsibility) for talent or success/failure to any
"magic method" or guru selling it; a simple conceptual
framework to hold and emphasize the life-wide nature of effort
required for psi self-discovery.

Even "skeptics" who have
written on RV, such as author Jim Schnabel in his book REMOTE VIEWERS,
for all the debates, you'll see -- in the end it's a "Joe the
Hero" story. (I didn't write it... take it up with Jim.) Even to
an outsider skeptic. Anybody who has done serious research knows
McMoneagle's work is a crucial support beam for the entire field of
psychic ability used in intelligence and scientific research.

An
earlier review was upset there is no 'method' in this book. I've had
methods ('subjective protocols', I love these terms!) training out the
wazoo. I'd have been better off if I just sat down to draw and
"let myself sort of imagine what it could be." (Look ma,
there's a method. I can name it something cool, add all kinds of
ridiculous rules and charge a thousand bucks for it if it'll make it
seem more real for someone.) I wouldn't be trying to un-learn all
kinds of junk now if I'd gone that route.

Joe doesn't offer the
"magic method" approach in this book, true. Maybe he knows
something we don't and that's why. No method in the world can
substitute for paying close attention to yourself and doing things
right... for a long time. Joe spells out a lot about both of those
areas in this book. All mystery aside, RV is cognitive-feedback and
practiced "attention" to an advanced degree, to entrain your
mind to better understand itself when communicating 'subtle'
information.

This book is good advice but not a cosmic wiretap. It's
for realists who are tired of doctrine or mysticism (secrets!) --
people who want to get to the point and DO psi work on their own --
without having to re-invent wheels, and without having to make the
many mistakes that the last few decades of psi research/practice have
already learned something about. This book provides a framework
("martial art of the mind") that won't hurt anybody, and a
ton of "words to the wise."

REMOTE VIEWING SECRETS won't
tell you that RV skill is fast or easy or even possible to the same
degree for everyone. McMoneagle worked his butt off for his skill and
doesn't pull any punches about saying it's not a hobby, it's a
"way" in the martial arts sense. Knowing factors that
influence psi function, training & accuracy, Joe lays 'em down in
this book. If it doesn't sound like some expected paint-by-number
Psychic 101 course, good. It's not. He's not selling anything but
experience -- the many things he learned while DOing RV for the last
30 years.

I can't speak to anybody who either wants to believe
everything or doesn't want to believe anything. But if your interest
is in how to work on your own toward psi (RV) development, I think
this book is probably the best bedside manual that so far
exists. Taken with Joe's first book MIND TREK, it's worth a lot more
than it costs.







Rating:
Summary: An interesting (realistic) look at development of intuition.
Review: I've spent 6 years studying (science and methods) RV; trained andtalked at length with some of the allegedly best RV people in militaryand science in the West. I know what's out there. And boy am I cynicalnow! -- But this book ... is worth more than 'RV Training' many paythousands for. Of the time/$ I've spent, when I look back on thatinvestment, the one thing I feel was worth the while was encounteringJoe McMoneagle. In a world full of rich gurus, true believers,pseudo-skeptics and planet-sized egos abounding, Joe is just ano-bull**** down to earth guy who knows what he's talking about.

Ifyou're looking for an adventure to "teach you" how to remoteview god and aliens in no time, don't buy Joe's books. He's certainlygot unusual experiences and an open mind, but he won't talk about thehype-ridden stuff that sells most books/media. I prefer hisapproach. Few star-streaming cosmic surges in it... but if you wantsomething factual, that isn't jerking your chain, Joe's the man.

Inthis book McMoneagle tries to provide a framework: one that won'tinterfere with or form people's belief systems; one that does not handcredit (and responsibility) for talent or success/failure to any"magic method" or guru selling it; a simple conceptualframework to hold and emphasize the life-wide nature of effortrequired for psi self-discovery.

Even "skeptics" who havewritten on RV, such as author Jim Schnabel in his book REMOTE VIEWERS,for all the debates, you'll see -- in the end it's a "Joe theHero" story. (I didn't write it... take it up with Jim.) Even toan outsider skeptic. Anybody who has done serious research knowsMcMoneagle's work is a crucial support beam for the entire field ofpsychic ability used in intelligence and scientific research.

Anearlier review was upset there is no 'method' in this book. I've hadmethods ('subjective protocols', I love these terms!) training out thewazoo. I'd have been better off if I just sat down to draw and"let myself sort of imagine what it could be." (Look ma,there's a method. I can name it something cool, add all kinds ofridiculous rules and charge a thousand bucks for it if it'll make itseem more real for someone.) I wouldn't be trying to un-learn allkinds of junk now if I'd gone that route.

Joe doesn't offer the"magic method" approach in this book, true. Maybe he knowssomething we don't and that's why. No method in the world cansubstitute for paying close attention to yourself and doing thingsright... for a long time. Joe spells out a lot about both of thoseareas in this book. All mystery aside, RV is cognitive-feedback andpracticed "attention" to an advanced degree, to entrain yourmind to better understand itself when communicating 'subtle'information.

This book is good advice but not a cosmic wiretap. It'sfor realists who are tired of doctrine or mysticism (secrets!) --people who want to get to the point and DO psi work on their own --without having to re-invent wheels, and without having to make themany mistakes that the last few decades of psi research/practice havealready learned something about. This book provides a framework("martial art of the mind") that won't hurt anybody, and aton of "words to the wise."

REMOTE VIEWING SECRETS won'ttell you that RV skill is fast or easy or even possible to the samedegree for everyone. McMoneagle worked his butt off for his skill anddoesn't pull any punches about saying it's not a hobby, it's a"way" in the martial arts sense. Knowing factors thatinfluence psi function, training & accuracy, Joe lays 'em down inthis book. If it doesn't sound like some expected paint-by-numberPsychic 101 course, good. It's not. He's not selling anything butexperience -- the many things he learned while DOing RV for the last30 years.

I can't speak to anybody who either wants to believeeverything or doesn't want to believe anything. But if your interestis in how to work on your own toward psi (RV) development, I thinkthis book is probably the best bedside manual that so farexists. Taken with Joe's first book MIND TREK, it's worth a lot morethan it costs.

Rating:
Summary: Practical and authoritative guide
Review: If nothing else then you have to appreciate Joseph McMoneagle's attempt to work within a scientific framework for something that is very subjective in nature and interpretation. If you are looking for a book that discusses the "secret" methods or remote viewing or some "secret" formula for making it work then you will be disappointed in this book. On the other hand it is not filled with fluff and overly optimistic promises for the reader. While McMoneagle indicates that pretty much anyone can learn how to do remote viewing, he also is more realistic in terms of what you should expect at different stages. It is a growth process and he defines how to determine what stage you are at as well as the level of success that you should expect as you get better and better with practice. If remote viewing works then this is the most realistic book about it that I have seen. No "pie in the sky" promises or expectations, quite the opposite he explains that success may be measured in very small successes and even being just plain wrong is going to happen at times. I think that he tries too hard to make the research appear more scientific than it is. However, it is probably as close a scientific approach as can be done on this sort of subject. The parameters for learning remote viewing are spelled out and done in a way that provides a working model for the reader to learn on their own without confusing the claims of publicity and ego-pumping charlatans with what can really be expected to occur.

Rating:
Summary: The ABC's of Remote Viewing
Review: If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of remote viewing you need to read this book. It contains a huge amount of information on the protocols and procedures necessary for "successful" remote viewing sessions. While McMoneagle doesn't actually tell the reader how to do remote viewing, his breadth of experience is apparent in this detailed tome. Both beginning and experienced remote viewers will find useful tidbits and, indeed, "secrets" of the trade within these chapters. Everything from the selection of targets to the effects of sidereal time on viewing performance are covered here. Of course, every viewer, government-trained or otherwise, has their particular biases and superstitions about the "right" way to do remote viewing and McMoneagle is no exception. But given his lengthly experience and proven track record in so many scientific and televised demonstrations, it would be wise for viewers and intuitives of all persuasions to take heed and give his perspectives and suggestions some serious consideration. (Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of Opening Minds: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance (Mount Baldy Press, Inc., 2002).)

Rating:
Summary: The finest instruction book on the subject to date.
Review: In the diverse field of metaphysics, "Remote Viewing" is the psychic ability to obtain visual information without being physically present. In Remote Viewing Secrets: A Handbook, Joseph McMoneagle utilizes examples, exercises and anecdotes to teach the reader how he or she can develop and extend this metaphysical ability. Remote Viewing Secrets is comprehensive, informative, "student friendly", and the finest instruction book on the subject available to parapsychology studies to date.