| |
Shop
| |  |
|
Best Sellers | |
Home West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief | |
|  | |  | | | West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief | | | | | SKU:
ACOMMP2_book_usedgood_1596910518 | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | Only 1 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | A spiritual and scientific surf quest.
After spending two years in bed with Lyme disease, Steven Kotler had lost everything: his health, his job, his girl, and, he was beginning to suspect, his mind. Kotler, not a religious man, suddenly found himself drawn to the sport of surfing as if it were the cornerstone of a new faith. Why, he wondered, when there was nothing left to believe in, could he begin to believe in something as unlikely as surfing. What was belief anyway? How did it work in the body, the brain, our culture, and human history?
Into this mix came a strange story. In 2003, on a surf trip through Mexico, Kotler heard of "the conductor," a mythical surfer who could control the weather. He'd heard this same tale eight years earlier, in Indonesia, but this time something clicked. With the help of everyone from rebel surfers to rocket scientists, Kotler undertakes a three year globetrotting quest for the origins of this legend. The results are a startling mix of big waves and bigger ideas: a surfer's journey into the biological underpinnings of belief itself.
| | | |
List Price:
| $23.95 | |
Our Price:
| $8.99 | |
You Save:
| $14.96 (62%)
|
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Author: | Steven Kotler | | Hardcover: | 224 pages | | Publisher: | Bloomsbury USA | | Publication Date: | June 13, 2006 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 1596910518 | | Package Length: | 8.4 inches | | Package Width: | 5.8 inches | | Package Height: | 1.0 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.9 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 39 reviews |
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 39 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 A Five Star Wave of a Book Jul 18, 2006
By Jason Zimmerman
Two friends who happened to be surfers drove their rusted out old car into the outback to chase the rumor of perfect waves on an isolated beach. They rumbled over the bumpy road, turning left, then right, winding around, finally driving off the pavement down pockmarked, dusty lanes, eventually stalling out in a thick muck field just a quarter mile from the ocean. From here they did what any reasonable surfer would do, they untied their boards and started to hike into the beach. Things changed not more than ten feet away from their abandoned car. A blinding light flash and -zap!- a lightning bold charred the car, frying engine and all associated parts.
Miles from civilization, knowing nothing about engines and out of supplies, they did the only sensible thing--they went surfing. When they reached the water they found the surface to be completely flat, no waves to be had. Waiting out most of the afternoon with no change in conditions, they were ready to bail, when again -zap!- another bolt hit the reef and *poof* instant waves. Beautiful surf for hours, they caught waves all day, until suddenly, just as rapidly as they had begun, the waves shut off. Just like that, as sometimes happens.
That's when they saw him. Several hundred yards out was an old man sitting on a surfboard. In his hand was a long white bone. The story is that with this bone he could control the weather, could summon waves, and who knows what other magical stuff.
This is the story of the Conductor. It is the myth who's elusive origins author Steven Kotler seeks in his book "West of Jesus: Surfing, Science, and the Origins of Belief." After hearing the tale of the Conductor years apart in similarly dire circumstances while surfing in Indonesia and later Mexico, Kotler embarks on a journey of the exploration of belief and spirituality. The "logos and "mythos" of human understanding. This is not your average surf book.
Weaving his own personal tale of a struggle with Lyme's Disease and his transformation through a surfing session, he gives us a peepshow look at current scientific thought about the causal reasons behind our spiritual experiences. This is a magical narrative that touches on areas that those of us who explore recognize as familiar. It is a complex, yet simple tale that uses surfing simply as a backdrop, but has relevance to anyone, especially those in love with action sports. Social scientists, psychologists, evolutionary biologists, and many other scientific sorts weigh in on numerous aspects of belief. We are ushered to all corners of the globe, from California to New Zealand to Hawaii on this quest.
Much is revealed. On the marriage of brain evolution and the construction of mythologies:
"Humans often encounter illness, death, odd coincidences, mysterious circumstances--things that do not allow for easy understanding. Yet human evolution designed the human brain to detect meaning, and this mechanism doesn't just shut down when easy answers aren't readily forthcoming. Hence the need to invent meaning--gods, demons, supernatural forces--mythos is how humankind resolves the irresolvable." It is the how and why of this phenomenon, it is the mystery, that Kotler delves deeply into.
And yet there is a more tactile mystery that can be tasted through physical experience, through exertion, through being "in the zone."--surfing, being in animate motion in whatever form. Mythos has its place, emotions are said to be believed to be constantly filtering our reality--meaning quite literally that what we believe may be what we actually see. The question is then begged: What happens to our reality and to a society's reality when belief in the mythological ceases?
While this is heady stuff and the science fascinating, the author makes his words dance; the interplay being tremendously fun to behold.
20 of 23 found the following review helpful:
 Don't let the "J" word scare you off Jul 22, 2006
By The geacher
"feralwoman"
Don't let the "J" word scare you away from this book, or the "surf" word either for that matter. This is a slick and intersting work written by a real smart guy.
The author brings you along on his quest. He's searching for the origin of the "Conductor" lore - the enigmatic chap who controls the weather and the waves and can give a surfer the ride of his life or be the conduit for ending it.
Reading this book is like sitting in an amusement park ride being driven along a path that allows us a peek at Pacific legends, quantum physics, that ol'time religion and psychotropic drug treatments.
I'm a member of a read and release program and can't quite decide if I want to leave this book on a California pier, a roudy fundamentalist church or the local loony bin. But rest assured, anyone who lays claim to this book will find it fascinating. bg
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
West of Jesus Jul 06, 2006
By Debra L. Powless
"PowDeb"
Very interesting perspective that deals with a lot of interesting subjects - like out of body experiences, the basis for belief, great story of a personal quest. Often in the book when he touches on an interesting subject he will back it up with previously written data by another author or research that had been done. It was definitely out of the norm of what I usually read and I enjoyed it so much. A friend recommended it to me and I would like to recommend it to you.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
West of Jesus Feb 13, 2009
By Robina Davis
"Bina64"
I buy many books from Amazon to send to my son who is currently in prison in Texas. He said this is, by far, the best book he has received. He has read it twice and has let other inmates read it as well, who all have loved it. I haven't read it yet, but will be doing so soon.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
What's Next Boss? Sep 27, 2006
By John Matlock
"Gunny"
This semi-autobiographical book starts with the author having one of those moments where what comes after will not be like what went before. In his case the determining factor was a bout with Lyme disease. He had the disease a lot harder than most people and was basically bed ridden for two years, he was over the disease but left weak and probably depressed. Solution: Go to Mexico and go surfing.
From here Kotler begins wandering, both in the book and in life. He goes to investigate an old surfing folk tale called the Conductor, about a man who has the ability to control the weather, specifically the surf. With the remains of his life rather messed up, Kotler begins to surf around the world seeking the Conductor. He regains his strength, both physically and mentally. But he also begins to develop mystical experiences. He reports on out-of-body experiences, time stoppages, moments of ecstasy.
It was a delightful trip, it's a delightful story. Only I'm left with a wonder about what he's going to do next.
See all 39 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| |
| | | | | | | | Cuisinart DCC-RWF1 Replacement Coffeemaker Water Filters, Set of 2 | Whirlpool 4396841 PUR Push Button Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack | | |  |  | | | Coffee is 98 percent water. Often overlooked, the quality of the water is as important as the quality of the coffee. A good rule of thumb is that if your water doesn't taste good from the tap, it won't taste any better in your coffee. That's why Cuis ... Coffee is 98 percent water. Often overlooked, the quality of the water is as important as the quality of the coffee. A good rule of thumb is that if your water doesn't taste good from the tap, it won't taste any better in your coffee. That's why Cuisinart suggests adding a water filter to the coffeemaker. The Cuisinart DCC-RWF charcoal water filter removes chlorine, calcium, bad tastes and odors, for the purest cup of coffee every time. | Make sure the water and ice from your refrigerator is as clean and fresh tasting as possible by replacing its water filter. This Whirlpool PuR water filter is used in Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, and JennAir side-by-side refrigerators with ... Make sure the water and ice from your refrigerator is as clean and fresh tasting as possible by replacing its water filter. This Whirlpool PuR water filter is used in Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, and JennAir side-by-side refrigerators with filter access in the base grille. It's NSF-certified to reduce cysts, particulates (class I), lead, mercury, and more. (The contaminants or other substances removed or reduced by this water filter are not necessarily in all users' water.) While it effectively removes contaminan | - Set of 2 charcoal water filters helps ensure deliciously fresh home-brewed coffee
- Removes chlorine, odors, calcium, and other water impurities prior to brewing
- Simple-to-install design; requires replacing every 60 days or after 60 uses
- For use with Cuisinart models DCC-1000BK, DCC-1200, DGB-600, DCC-2000, and DCC-2200
- Measures approximately 1-1/2 by 2-4/5 by 5 inches
|
| - NSF certified refrigerator water filter retains beneficial fluoride in water while reducing chlorine taste and odor
- Also reduces particulates, lead, and mercury
- This model (4396841) can be used to replace filter models 4396842 and 8212650
- Does not reduce the amount of fluoride
- Replace every six months
|
| |
List Price:
| $14.99 | |
Our Price:
| $6.99 | |
You Save:
| $8.00 (53%)
|
|  |
| |
List Price:
| $39.99 | |
Our Price:
| $30.50 | |
You Save:
| $9.49 (24%)
|
| |
| | |
|
| |  | |  |
|
Recently Viewed | You may also like ... |
