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Einstein, Elves & Clifford A.Pickover

Customer Rating:

The book in question is basically a mingle-mangle of different ideas floating through Mr.Pickovers mind while he's walking around his neighbourhood. From linguistic theory, to seducing woman. From psychedelics to Jeffersons Bible. Jefferson tried to extract the teachings of jesus Christ by cutting out all religious , supernatural aspects, in case you didn't know. In the same way, I'd love to see a Version of this book minus Mr.Pickovers constant self appraisal and self-advertising. He can't stop talking about how he is the most prolific writer, that his obscure SF Novels are awesome, that he prolific writer..oh did I mention? He's a prolific writer! Short: Mr.Pickover is full of himself. Nevertheless, his collection of ideas is certainly entertaining and stimulating to the mind and I've enjoyed them. He's not quite the deep thinker, prophet and philosoph he paints himself. But his work was enjoyable despite his annoying antics. Well..."you shouldn't care about it, as long as the book is good itself, right?" Wrong. It just annoys me. He paints his book as some sort of "reality carnival" but "ego carneval" would be more suitable. The "talking" reaches it's climax as he confesses to never have taken DMT, yet he talks about the importance of establishing a center for DMT elve reasearch. But here's the real kicker: He says the reason for never taking the substance is because he is so "psychedelic himself" just like dali. To undermine his opinion, he lets his readers know, that his Artwork is featured at erowid alongside other psychedelic artists - go figure! And just as you think it couldn't get any more ridiciolous he carrys on to talk about proust (he never stops to talk about him during the course of this book, he should be in the title!) and how Proust is so much better than a psychedelic trip (he's never taken, because he's psychedelic himself, remember!).... Well, but still a nice collection of colorful ideas and I don't regret buying it. What I regret is, reading all his self praise, but that's hard to cut out. Jefferson had an easier job with his version of the bible - he used a razor.

Pickover Book	Customer Rating:
This is an interesting work by a scientist who is interested in exotic psychedelics, Proust, Einstein, Surrealism and other singularly offbeat subjects.

A book about everything (almost) for everybody (almost)

Customer Rating:

The title of this review is of course facetious. It's not about everything, but it is about everything that ultimately matters: human beings and the ways they imagine the world and create it; and re-imagine the world and re-create it. In this book, Clifford Pickover in a stream of consciousness and easy to read style gives the reader the tools to better understand the human condition and allow us to rise above it; or as the title suggests, to "transcend" the human condition through knowledge, perspective and understanding. By giving us "tools" I don't mean to suggest that this book is work or tedious. To the contrary, I've never had such fun reading a book before. The ideas come fast and furious and just when you follow a certain path, Clifford Pickover takes you down another. But none of them are blind alleys. The paths run parallel, though they will all meet up one day (although I might add, probably in a parallel dimension). For instance, in one Chapter alone ("From Holiday Inn to the Head of Christ") Mr. Pickover leads us down paths that show us his memories of celery flavored soda; the concept behind the Holiday Inn chain; the psychology of television laugh tracks; Thomas Jefferson's remarkably humane version of the Bible; DMT elves; living forever in the Pi matrix; and the kinds of maths that Jesus would have known. I was naturally buzzed after reading that Chapter. (And all this time I thought Holiday Inn was just a hotel chain. It never occurred to me that the Holiday Inn really changed behavior on a large scale by making it easy for most Americans to take long distance vacations. Think about it!) This book really is for everybody as my review title suggests. Except, of course its probably not for those who have no interest in the world around them and no interest in understanding and making the world and themselves a little better through knowledge and insight. Unfortunately, those are the exact people who need this book the most. The rest of us will simply want to read this amazing book like we want to breathe the air. Free your mind, and the rest will follow.

Fantastic.

Customer Rating:

This is a great book, which touches on a number of subjects, but is directed to the concept that our language dictates our concept of our "reality". You just have to read it, as there are way too many references to everything from Sushi, to Machine Elves..... A great read if you have a good sense of humor. I would recommend this book to anyone who isn't an idiot. Well, even some idiots.... Eric Melendy, Memphis Tennessee. 4/1/08 April Fools!

Fascinating in the least

Customer Rating:

This book isn't the most cohesive look at psychedelia's possible link to alternate realities though it produces some good arguments and questions about it. This book is a lot of things but primarily Dr. Pickovers own ideas into the evolution of language and its inherent limitations that keep us from experiencing things like alternate universes. The idea that language shapes our realities isn't new but that there might be possible ways to escape the vortex of our current reality via mind altering substances was entertaining to me. I would have given this book 5 stars if it weren't for the lecture on creative writing found in chapter 6 or 7. I would have cherished something that was more binding of the previous chapters to the later ones. None the less his stories, insights, and questions provide for a trip into Pickovers mind about where the state of reality really lies. I don't know if there was a purpose to writing this book but I found a nice and intriguing way to pass the time on the bus. Give it a try you just might like it.