Do You See What I See?: Lasers and Love, ESP and the Cia, and the Meaning of Life by Targ, Russell

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Occult Philosophy

Do You See What I See?: Lasers and Love, ESP and the Cia, and the Meaning of Life

Name: Do You See What I See?: Lasers and Love, ESP and the Cia, and the Meaning of Life
Price: 19.00 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Targ, Russell
ISBN: 9781571746306

Targ, Russell

Reader rating

4.6

(1 reviews) 45 sold

$19.00

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

A physicist's extraordinary journey bridges laser research, CIA psychic experiments, and encounters with 20th-century icons.

Russell Targ's captivating memoir chronicles an unparalleled life at the intersection of science and the esoteric. As a pioneering laser physicist, he pushed the boundaries of conventional understanding, delving into parapsychology and co-founding the Stanford Research Institute's CIA-funded remote viewing program. His narrative is interwoven with fascinating personal anecdotes, including encounters with a diverse cast of cultural figures from Ayn Rand to Bobby Fischer, offering a unique window into the intellectual and spiritual undercurrents of the 20th century. It’s a testament to the adventurous spirit of inquiry.

Key themes

Science & Esoteric Frontiers Government & Psychic Research Cultural & Intellectual Milieu

Historical context

This memoir sits firmly within the late 20th-century convergence of hard science and parapsychology, reflecting an era where government-funded inquiry into psychic phenomena briefly intersected with mainstream academic research. It captures the intellectual climate where established physicists dared to explore the boundaries of consciousness alongside esoteric traditions.

Targ, Russell

📚 all books by this author (4) →

Difficulty

●● Moderate

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🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Hampton Roads Publishing Company 📅 2010 📖 304 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781571746306

Fun fact

Russell Targ's memoir is a remarkable journey that will captivate readers fascinated by the intersection of cutting-edge science and the mysteries of consciousness. Its strength lies in Targ’s credible voice, offering an insider's view of pioneering laser work and groundbreaking psychic research, even for the CIA. Those seeking a purely scientific, peer-reviewed analysis of parapsychology might be disappointed, as it's primarily a personal narrative. Yet, it stands as a pivotal document in the history of parapsychological exploration and Cold War intelligence, blending memoir with profound inquiry.

📝 Description: Do You See What I See?: Lasers and Love, ESP and the Cia, and the Meaning of Life

This is a fascinating memoir by a first-class intellect; the story of a physicist who has pushed the boundaries of science to explore the realms of parapsychology, spirituality, and the unexplained. Now in paper, a droll memoir by a world-class physicist that includes recollections of his involvement with pioneering laser research, encounters with many of the most recognizable literary, cultural, and entertainment figures of the 20th century, and his role in teaching ESP techniques to the CIA. Russell Targ is a Zelig-like character. His story is an idiosyncratic journey through the highways and byways of American intellectual, scientific, and cultural life in the 20th century. Along the way he has rubbed elbows with Ayn Rand, Alan Greenspan, Alan and Arlene Alda, Bobby Fischer, and Sally Rand. He was a pioneer in laser research and spent many years developing airborne laser wind sensors for Lockheed and NASA. In addition, he co-founded the Stanford Research Institute remove viewing program--which was funded by the CIA--and was instrumental in tracking Soviet and Chinese weapon installations during the Cold War. And to round it out, he is a legally blind motorcyclist--who happens to be a Buddhist.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Russell Targ’s narrative stands out for its candid exploration of remote viewing within a scientific framework, offering valuable insight into a secretive chapter of Cold War history. However, readers seeking traditional occult grimoires or purely metaphysical philosophy may find the technical laser physics and bureaucratic details dry or irrelevant. The book is best suited for skeptics-turned-believers or historians of parapsychology rather than casual fantasy fans. Its strength lies in its authenticity as a physicist’s memoir, though those expecting dense esoteric theory might feel disconnected from the personal anecdotes and institutional politics that dominate the text.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the intersection of rigorous scientific methodology and unexplained paranormal phenomena will find this memoir deeply rewarding. Targ offers a rare insider’s view into the CIA’s remote viewing programs, demystifying how laser physicists applied their expertise to psychic research. It is ideal for those who enjoy biographical narratives featuring encounters with iconic cultural figures like Ayn Rand and Bobby Fischer, providing a unique lens on the 20th century’s intellectual undercurrents. If you appreciate stories of adventurous inquiry that challenge conventional boundaries between physics and spirituality, this book provides an engaging, firsthand account of a life spent probing the unknown.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to narratives that challenge conventional wisdom, explore the hidden capacities of the human mind, or seek to understand the untold stories behind Cold War intelligence, this memoir is for you. Prepare for a mind-expanding journey that defies easy categorization.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Russell Targ’s narrative stands out for its candid exploration of remote viewing within a scientific framework, offering valuable insight into a secretive chapter of Cold War history. However, readers seeking traditional occult grimoires or purely metaphysical philosophy may find the technical laser physics and bureaucratic details dry or irrelevant. The book is best suited for skeptics-turned-believers or historians of parapsychology rather than casual fantasy fans. Its strength lies in its authenticity as a physicist’s memoir, though those expecting dense esoteric theory might feel disconnected from the personal anecdotes and institutional politics that dominate the text.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not strictly. While authored by a physicist and grounded in rigorous inquiry, it's primarily a memoir. Targ uses his scientific background to frame his experiences and the research he conducted, blending personal narrative with explorations of psychic phenomena.

Remote viewing, as developed by Targ and his colleagues, is a purported psychic ability to perceive distant or unseen targets using mental faculties, without physical contact or traditional sensory input. The book details his efforts to teach and apply these techniques, notably for intelligence gathering.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Science & Esoteric Frontiers

Targ masterfully explores the often-divided realms of rigorous scientific inquiry and psychic phenomena. His unique perspective as a physicist provides a credible lens through which to examine experiences like ESP and remote viewing, demonstrating how a scientific mind can engage with the unexplained without abandoning intellectual integrity, offering a potential bridge between disciplines.

Government & Psychic Research

The book offers an insider's account of the CIA-funded remote viewing program he co-founded. It sheds light on the serious, albeit clandestine, efforts by intelligence agencies to explore and utilize psychic abilities during the Cold War, raising questions about national security, human potential, and the boundaries of accepted knowledge, revealing a fascinating hidden history.

Cultural & Intellectual Milieu

Targ's life was a nexus of influential personalities, from scientific peers to literary giants and pop culture icons. His recollections provide vivid snapshots of encounters with figures like Ayn Rand, Alan Greenspan, and Bobby Fischer, illustrating how these diverse interactions shaped his worldview and offering a unique, anecdotal history of 20th-century American intellectual and cultural life.

💬 Quotes from the book

“My years in the lab, bending light to new purposes, unexpectedly prepared me for the far more elusive task of bending perception beyond the known senses.”

“From the intellectual sparring with Rand to the silent visions of our psychics, my life became a testament to the vast, often contradictory, potential of the human mind.”

📜 Historical context

Targ's work is firmly rooted in the 20th century's scientific and geopolitical landscapes. His pioneering laser research contributed to technological advancements, while his involvement with the CIA's remote viewing program places him at the heart of Cold War psychic espionage. This period saw a surge of interest in parapsychology, often fueled by government curiosity and a desire for strategic advantage, making his memoir a vital document of a unique era.

📚 Glossary

Remote Viewing
Parapsychology
Laser Research

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on moments in your life where intuition or an inexplicable "knowing" played a significant role. How might a scientific mind approach such experiences?
Considering the historical context of government-funded psychic research, what ethical implications arise when exploring human potential for intelligence gathering?
How do you personally reconcile scientific skepticism with the possibility of phenomena like ESP? Where do you draw the line, or do you believe a bridge can be built?