The Holographic Universe
by Michael Talbot
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Book Reviews of The Holographic Universe
Book Review: perhaps a new Scientific Revolution ??
Summary: 5 Stars
This book will really get you contemplating !!! The Holographic Universe is a new "Theory of Everything." Most models of the natural macrocosm need to reject paranormalism. (hence the use of the word NATURAL) This model has room to let in just about any phenomenon. A bit like, "You name it, and the holomovement explains it." There's even some room for synchronicity =) It will be opposed by the more conservative scientists but the model is actually alot more sufficient and satisfactory than their own Cosmologies. I think this book is going to be met with loads of skepticism by the higher authorities. But judging by Talbot's writing, he doesn't seem too affrighted by this matter. Perhaps they won't be opposing holographic hypothesises in general, however a physics book about NDE's, UFO's, Stigmata and Mysticism.. to his own personal werewolf transformations and trickster poltergeists. Things like this shall certainly feed chuckles to a skeptic's belly, but I really hope that before they dismiss them they realize the implications of the Holographic Universe Theory. That in it, a reality comprised less of solid objects traveling in space & time, and more of ghostly holograms of energy sustained by processes that are at least partially connected to human consciousness, miracles ARE possible, even "natural" (and I suppose therefore not actually 'miracles' in the religious sense) The broad purport is that our brains mathematically construct objective reality by interpreting frequencies that are ultimately projections from another dimension, a deeper order of existence that is beyond both space and time: The brain is a hologram enfolded in a holographic universe. I found the latter portion of the book pertaining to dreams and OBE's as fascinating, and how remarkably these things were described in comparison between the traditions of the ancients in their own writings and philosophy. I really must recommend this work to just about anyone for a brand new alternative perspective on the nature of "REALITY" !!!!Book Review: I Am What I Think
Summary: 4 Stars
We have all seen those holograms. Life-like, three-dimensional images projected into space with the use of a laser. In "The Holographic Universe," Michael Talbot contends that objective reality as we perceive it; indeed the whole universe as we understand it, is merely an infinite series of holograms, projected by our collective conscious out of an underlying, genuine reality. An "implicate" reality where time and space lose their meanings and the boundaries between mind and matter become permeable. In other words, our objective reality is in essence a virtual one created by our own conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions. Talbot uses this holographic theory to explain a number of paranormal phenomena such as telekinesis, shamanism, reincarnations, UFO encounters as well as out-of-body and near-death experiences. He also describes how the holographic theory may explain such phenomena as spontaneous medical recoveries or even the psychosis experienced in severe mental illnesses.
Talbot's writing is succinct and easy to follow. He does a nice job of corroborating the holographic theory of universe by presenting an array of research and anecdotal evidence from a variety of sources, including noted scientists and professionals. As intriguing as the content of this book is, it is limited by a number of overarching conclusions that are not adequately supported. For example, Talbot presents with no convincing attempt to define consciousness, the cornerstone of his holographic theory of reality. To this day, philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists and neurophilosophers are still struggling to define what it means to be conscious. Nonetheless, this book has an important message that should not be missed. None of us knows how and why we are on this plane of existence or what the next phase is. However, deep down in the crevices of our being, we all know that this physical and possibly virtual reality we call life is only a short stop in an infinite journey.
Book Review: One of the best books ever written
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read The Holographic Universe often, and have gained new insights into the nature of consciousness and reality from its riches every time. I consider it to be author Michael Talbot's most important work, as well as one of the best books ever written on the subject of so-called paranormal phenomenon. Talbot's fascination for finding scientific explanations for psychic and paranormal activity began when he noticed objects moving inexplicably around him, regardless where he lived. He would sometimes awaken to find socks draped on his houseplants, and occasionally found objects in his apartment that he knew for a fact had been hundreds of miles away. His real-life experiences with such shifts in reality combined with his training in physics led him to explore possible reasons for these and other mysterious happenings.
Talbot begins his book with an excellent introduction to physicist David Bohm's concept of the holographic model of the universe, and combines the physics model with Karl Pribram's work on the holographic model of the brain. The result is a marvelous description of a non-local, interconnected and alive universe that moves in response to our every thought and feeling.
I am very impressed with the clarity with which Talbot presents the concept of a holographic universe and how various paranormal phenomenon can be explained within that model. Talbot's discussion is comprehensive, fascinating, clear, and packed with relevant and intriguing stories of paranormal phenomenon. Out of body experiences (OBEs), near death experiences (NDEs), auric readings, psychokinesis, acupuncture, X-ray vision, healing, and psychic readings are all described and considered for placement into the holographic model.
Talbot presents a wealth of relevant research studies and scientific theories from David Bohm, Helmut Schmidt, Marilyn Schlitz, Robert Monroe, Charles Tart, Larry Dossey, Paul Davies, PMH Atwater, Ian Stevenson, Fred Alan Wolf, Harold Puthoff, Russell Targ, Lyall Watson, Stanislav Grof, and many others.
Book Review: Theodicy of Scientific Ideas
Summary: 5 Stars
.I usually can determine a good book from the way it remains in the memory after subsequent time passes. In this case, almost a year later and I'm still thinking about Talbot's book.
Some notes I have made regarding wonderful points raised by Talbot.
1. The Mind fills in the physical holes in the eye's retina: completing eyesight with what the MIND perceives (not the eye sees) it to be; as opposed to naked reality.
2. Schizophrenia; the possibility of different souls, different persons, living in one body, as each personality contains entirely different electrical brain impulses, opposing patterns, and physiological variations, conflicting allergies, negative and positive physical traits that cannot be found in one individual.
3. Energy patterns leave traceable fingerprints in the holographic universe, traumatic events leave stronger residual patterns. An individual's energy pattern, angle and strength, may align itself with the remaining pattern of a previous event, thus illuminating and/or creating the observation of a ghost, an apparition of past events, places and peoples.
4. Repressed energy can result in the manifestation of poltergeist activity, appearing to be from external sources.
5. Advanced meditation results in equality and replacement to entheogenic drug use in mystical experiential consciousness. The example of Ram Dass (Richard Albert) encounter with an Indian Mystic more capable of mystical experience than the strongest dosage of hallucinogenic.
6. Non locality: the aspect of all reality, projected into the illusion of time and space, of separations.
7. Thought Bursts; this is an amazing idea. While all information is conveyed point-to-point, in thought bursts one obtains groups of thoughts at once time, that is increased levels of awareness. The result; head rushes, or revelations, inspirations. It is suggested that death experiences of entire lifetimes passing in a matter of a split second are of this nature.
This book has much more to relate. Five stars on my part.
Book Review: The world does not go away when you close your eyes
Summary: 2 Stars
The overwhelming 5-star reviews here (as well as the low 'helpful' votes for any Amazon review that claims this book is a sham) leads me to believe that this book is being read by a lot of fans of paranormal and new age literature.
The problem with a "true believer" is that any evidence they see that counters their beliefs are immediatley rejected, without even examining the facts. Just because something can't be explined by science does not automatically mean that the paranormal explination is correct. Worse yet, any subscriber to the holographic universe (which is just a form of solipsism--that reality is a construct of the mind) will give you the standard smug "you are unenlighted" defense, as if that proves anything.
Another reviewer put it best, and I think that he needs to be re-quoted because he makes a valid argument against this book being taken seriously:
"Talbot, an excellent writer, begins with the work of Karl Pribram, who does research into how the mind stores and retrieves memories. At some point, Pribram became aware of holograms, and found that the way the refracted laser light of hologram construction spreads out on its way to the film reminded him of the way a nerve impulse fans out at the end of a neuron. This, apparently, was enough to convinve Pribram (and Talbot) that not only is memory holographic, but so is the entirety of existence merely a holographic construct created by our brains...
Whether or not these things really happen, the whole book is based on an untested hypothesis based on an analogy drawn by one researcher. Does the analogy stand up when examined? How does the refracted light projected onto a film have anything to do with signals passing between physical neurons? Talbot never asks. For me, the analogy falls apart as soon as I take one step past noticing a correlation between the two events. This is more than Talbot (or, apparently, Pribram) ever does at any point in his book, so great is his enthusiasm."