New Frontier July and August Book Reviews

New Frontier Magazine Book Reviews

Breakthrough
Whitley Strieber
HarperCollins, N.Y., NY
(hardcover, 297 pages. $23).

Whitley Strieber has finally written a sequel to his 1987 book, Communion, and his 1988 publication, Transformation: The Breakthrough, after withdrawing from public life in 1989. Prior to that, Strieber was so impacted by what he called his "visitor experiences," including the more than 500 supportive responses he received to his May 6, 1987, appearance on the Johnny Carson Show, that he subsequently formed a nonprofit organization to investigate similar reports, even using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect alien implants within contactees (Strieber's less negative word for abductees).

Strieber believes he has found some definitive answers to the issue of contact by aliens. But whether he has in fact been able to provide new information is problematic, for he believes that the contact experience is essentially positive, and that abductees have been frightened, not so much by their experiences with what he calls "the visitors," as by abduction researchers who are unsympathetic to what he perceives as a fundamentally benevolent mission on the part of the visitors. And he is not alone in his beliefs; others, such as John Salter, Dr. Leo Sprinkle, and even the recently well-publicized Dr. John Mack of Harvard University, might well agree with him.

Still, how can one look at experiences, whether internal, external or both, in which the participant believes that she or he has been violated in some fundamental ways and value them positively? It is quite possible that Strieber has taken a leap of faith that transcends the boundaries of others, less willing to perceive their experiences as fortunate.

From this reviewer's point of view, itís difficult to find the positive elements that Strieber describes--an uncannily perfect series of tones and knocks on his cabin wall supposedly produced by the visitors in an attempt to contact him at a remote cabin without scaring him too much, for example--as optimistically as he wants us to believe. In fact, I also found myself frightened by his contact experiences, and then angry. Angry that he may be trying to "put one over on us," even if he does believe what he says.

Strieber's justification for the various kinds of violations perpetrated on human beings is the standard kind of argument about how we are being prepared for a new kind of consciousness, and that it's necessary to jar us out of our every day lives to start the process. But why abductions? Certainly there are kinder ways to create this new paradigm then cattle mutilations, the creation of hybrid children (whom the author says are now present and helping the visitors in their task), and the unwilling donations of sperm and ova by victims (excuse me, "contactees")?

In this new book, Strieber wearily argues against some poor man who fervently approached him for support. The man told him that "Japan would fall into the sea in 1996" but Strieber replied that his conflict was internal, and that "the old mind is falling into the sea." When the man told him that the "Gray Empire" is about to attack from its base in Zeta Reticuli, and that we'd better get ready to fight them off by allying ourselves with the "Nordic types", I just thought it was a wee bit too much.

I don't know about you, but somehow the idea of just saying yes to beings whom I know nothing about, based solely on faith that they have been sent here to help me evolve into higher consciousness by allowing them to terrify me, is not my concept of a friend. Better to negotiate with them from a position of strength, if we can find one. reviewed by Les Stern, Managing Editor, FATE Magazine

THE CELLULITE PROPHECY
An Adventure by "Author Unknown"
Light-Hearted Books, P.O. Box 7374, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32116
(paper, 42 pages, $6.95)

True to parody form, Cellulite Prophecy plays with the now well-read and discussed bestseller Celistine Prophecy by James Redfield (a must read to understand this book). This"unknown" author, however, seems to also occasionally manage to provoke some possible insight and cerebal activity as he/she carries the reader along an adventure of discovering the roots, reason and ruse of those "weight challenged-and-on-the-spiritual-path."

Beginning with the totally absurd prophecy that "the number of people who are conscious of their waistlines reaching critical mass will itself reach a critical mass...until at the end of the twentieth century, we will fill up the earth" this little book offers the reader a whole new approach to being fat or to those who are fat. Never so bluntly stated, this author finds some truly delightful ways to address the issues of body size, food obsession and all those things many of us assume to know about being overweight.

The "New York Review of Unknown Writers," one of the many humorously fictious organizations in the book, graciously states the book to be "widely read and poorly written" This reviewer agrees, but from cover to cover it was found to be fun and worth the short time it takes to consume its insight and humour. Pick it up and pass it on!

Reviewed by Linda Kaye Rogers, MSSW Linda Kaye is a regular supporter of New Frontier Magazine since our move to the Great Smokies. She's a newcomer to Asheville as well, coming from Houston, Texas, where she was a practitioner of LeChance Method psychotherapy.

Take Off Your Glasses And See by Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D.
Crown Publishers Inc., N. Y., NY
(hardcover, 261 pgs, $21)

As an optometrist, early in his career Jacob Liberman began questioning his training and his own ability "to see". In his latest book, Take Off Your Glasses And See: How to Heal Your Eyesight and Expand Your Insight, Liberman goes even further into the mind/body connection, exploring and supporting the relationship between seeing through the eyes and the mental/emotional state.

This book tells his story, and shares the results of his daring to break the status quo. Written in a readable style, that doesn't require a degree in science to understand, one easily grasps the modern scientific teachings of how the eye works--why glasses are necessary and how the eyes cannot heal themselves. This translates to: eyesight cannot improve.

The whole premise of this book is that this accepted notion of science is totally wrong! Citing numerous experiences from clients, and his own personal vision improvement journey, Dr. Liberman presents enough evidence to discount the accepted scientific notion about eyes and seeing. Because the book is geared for those who have eyesight problems and probably wear glasses, this challenge to the scientific norm becomes very exciting and prompts the reader to completion of even the included appendices. Liberman is also quite thorough in citing other sources who have written on this subject. But he goes several steps beyond these previous presentations.

Throughout the book, Liberman offers simple exercises, which he calls "vision meditations." Then he also weaves in his knowledge of the human psyche and consciousness, and covers the issues of fear and attitude, including any programming that may have come into our life along the way, how it affects our eyesight and how to change it. Thus he expands awareness, not only externally through eyesight, but moving inward for insight. Then, if this just isn't quite enough to offer the reader in one volume, he reviews the aspect of vision, not as seeing though the eyes, but as a transformation of consciousness.

All of this is brought together for the reader in what seems to be a loving and caring gift from his heart---a kind of healing all too rare these days. After reading this book and writing the initial review, I left for a very quiet vacation, and took the book with me to practice the meditaions. Quite determined for a long time not to wear glasses, my near-sighted vision had led me to acknowledge "I can't see!" After one week of lackadaisically following Dr. Liberman's instructions, I can note definite improvement in my vision--just like he says in the book.

Reviewed by Linda Kaye Rogers

Searching For Light by Carol Heideman
Twelve Star Publishing, Jefferson MD
(paper, 245 pgs; $12.95)

Tuning in to the world and ourselves seems to sometimes be an all together impossible task. Often with assistance from our deeper selves and from the" beyond," all of us can reach some evident conclusions about our role here on earth and in the universe. However, if you have given up on all chances for a clear and concise way to get started, let me suggest Searching For Light.

"I am a channel, working with a guide named Michael....the connection to Michael opened suddenly, but gently, in the spring of last year" (1987). This is what the author has to say in the preface of her book. "We are an entity, a collective of more than 1000 individual souls. We use the name Michael for your ease, as names are not really used where we exist. We currently work with many of you within the physical plane; we have lived on Earth, and some of us shared past lives with many of you. We complete an agreement by providing this information to you. We are not here to tell you what to do, or what to choose; we come to deliver information . This information will awaken some who have overslept. For others, the information will provide a map to any destination you choose. For all, it is a gift given of love."

And so this is the statement of Michael. This book takes the reader through 17 chapters of self-realizing truths, and universal truths as well. We are told by Michael that we are reading this book now because we have pre-planned it into our recent incarnation. An interesting statement, hard to contest.

Perhaps I am writing this review because I have pre-programmed my present life to include the review of this book. Who knows? Some of the life questions/assertions addressed and explored in these channeled texts include: Dharma and Karma; Planetary Changes (What to expect as the planet awakens); How Long Can Negative Survive?; Why Are You Here; Energy Is Everywhere; (and my personal favorite) How to Reality-Shift.

All the chapters and sub-chapters are laid out clearly, and flow into one another easily. The writing is direct and non-intellectual (I mean that in a positive way), allowing the reader to pursue these deep life-changing questions. There seems to be a real sense of altruistic guidance in this book. It is nonetheless a work book for the seeker. If you are on a path of exploring your reason for being, or if you are looking for the answers to "The meaning of life" here is a good place to start.

I am a bit in between myself about accepting the fact that everyone is pre-programmed to reincarnate, and that those who read this book, and take up the cause have made that choice before this incarnation. However, can one really say 100% that they know their life purpose, and can fulfill the path of the universe? Beats me, but there is hope if you choose to read Searching For Light.

Reviewed by Anthony Scafide Anthony Scafide is another long-time friend and associate of New Frontier Magazine. He is a composer and musician from New York City.