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Summary: anyone who doesn't love this book doesn't understand it
Review: A hugely encompassing book on mysticism and the nature of consciousness/reality.The collection of thoughts Ouspesky enclosed therein,are mostly relevant to todays spiritual/metaphysical ponderings.And i would go as far as to say invaluable to anyone with an interest in such things. Although,most of the precepts expounded by him,were more or less 'aquired' from a number of fairly obvious (and he does mention some of them) sources,he has an acute knack of being able to explain (most of the time!),exactly what it is he wants you to understand. i think the most important chapters in this book,deal with spatial/time recognition and interpretation;Namely 'the 4th dimension'(can i point the reader in the direction of 'Flatland',by Edwin A Abbot?An obvious source for his explanation of point and line to plane). He was most certainly a man of grandoise vision.And that can be summarised simply from one chapter;where he tries to explain the fractal nature of the universe.Of course,80 odd years before scientists had formulated the theory of chaos and the fractal complexity of nature,he didnt have any real reference points or terms with which to impart his idea to the reader. But still he manages to outline,and infuse his thoughts with clarity and vibrancy. He presents the esoteric in a very un-esoteric way. I read this book about 30 times when i was a teenager.Even after immersing myself through the Jung and Neitzche etc. I still returned to this book for inspiration. And i'd recommend Ouspensky as the definitive,and most accessable author on this subject (excepting maybe Crowley,who is on the whole,inaccessable,problematic,and riddled with frustratingly curious,but almost inpenetrable dead-ends!). So go Ouspesky :O)
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Summary: one of the best books I've read
Review: I really liked this book. It was challenging and revealing with regards to aspects of human thought. What particularly struck me with this book, is the complete honesty that the author adopts when pursuing an area of interest to him. What this means is that there aren't many assumptions, and the author has no following judgment from assumption meaning he is open to all possibilities in circumstance. Because assumption isn't presented, it tends to rub off on you, and you learn with the refreshing vigour of a childs mind. The authors inquisitive nature coupled with this rare gift of being humbled in the face of mystery, and also looking at the way we think and perceive, has made him a receptacle for boundless knowledge. What will be taken from any situation will be maximal from these qualities alone, and his knowledge gained is presented here. Sometimes you hear of the "Human Factor" as a problem in certain environments, well there is no "human factor" here, just a presentation of pursued lines of thought as honestly recorded as can be. This is an excellent book, ...despite my ramblings!
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Summary: anyone who doesn't love this book doesn't understand it
Review: Ouspensky is the most lucid writer on mysticism, sacred geometry, time and the fourth dimension I have ever read, and I've read 'em all. He is the author of three all-time classics: In Search of the Miraculous, Tertium Organum, and this one. Smarter than Einstein and wiser than the Buddha. Get this book.
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Summary: Remedial Ancient Wisdom
Review: Ouspensky writes most elloquently of a fundamental principle of thought. He points out the universality of all of mans work to understand the incomprehensible and in a most objective manner. This demonstrates the other important point he makes; that there is no place in a honest mind for the preconceptions and misinformation our generic society has imposed upon us. All in all, a great read, it you are willing to put forth the effort to think about it. If not, pass it by.
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Summary: something to get you out of the grave and worse
Review: Well, when I read childish comments some people post-- I can read and write too. And I wanted to set a counterweight against comments that make A New Model look funny.Namely, the book does not deserve it. What am I about to say? The book is rather good, you see. That's it. If you buy it-- I indeed don't say you must-- you will find yourself amply repayed for sacrificing few lousy dollars. When you die, and the balance will be set for you-- FOR YOU-- you will be able to say quietly-- put that book on the positive side... Of course, the guy is a little tiring with its constant repetition of, you know, "man gets to know that things are otherwise than he imagined. Man begins to see that his mental apparatus and results it gives and is capable of giving are questionable. Man is taught in theses Schools to distrust his narrow opinions which he cherished so far etc. etc.", but you will be refunded for such painstaking advance when you get to the and. I can promise you pearls of simple mathematical insight used in what is generally NOT regarded as mathematical region in a way that convinces you that man was a genius, though mediocre writer (though be careful with this mediocrity so called, it is not as mediocre as it seems - just a style of tactful Muscovite who certainly - contrary perhaps to his contemporaries - was not in need to be flayed alive to come to some feelings). I can't promise you that you will spot it, why, I don't know what kind of person you are. But if you make yourself read it despite noticing anything worth reading there it will count just that much more when you die-- and die you will. I must say that the percent of people who WILL notice what I'm pointing out but are on the other side of the scale, recognizing the pearl but not appreciating it in too enthusiastic manner simply because they have already gone further will be considerably lower... but they don't need such reviews.
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