How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, Ufos, Time, Belief, and Everything Else
✍️ Kripal, Jeffrey JJeffrey Kripal invites readers to re-evaluate what we consider "impossible." Far from being rare aberrations, phenomena like precognitive dreams, telepathy, and UFO sightings are presented as fundamental aspects of human existence. Kripal contends that our perception of the impossible is shaped by evolving assumptions about reality, rather than reality itself. This work skillfully blends scholarly inquiry with personal narratives, suggesting a "supernatural" dimension isn't outside nature, but deeply embedded within it. It's a compelling argument for a reality that is both mental and material, and yet transcends both.
Praise for this book
“Anyone interested in exploring the borderlands of human potential and is brave enough to engage impossibility needs to read this fine book.”
📝 Description: How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, Ufos, Time, Belief, and Everything Else
📑 What's inside
- Prologue. Knowledge before Its Time
- Introduction. The Fantastic Foundations of Reality
- Part One. When the Impossible Happens
- 1. Words Are Experiences: Evolutionary Origins and the World of the Dead
- 2. Why They Don't Land: Mantis, Mystical Theology, and Social Criticism
- 3. "That They Are Not Human" Thinking on the Autistic Spectrum
- Part Two. Making the Impossible Possible
- 4. The Timeswerve: Theorizing in a Block Universe
- 5. The World Is One, and the Human Is Two: Some Tentative Conclusions
- 6. We Are God (and the Devil): Further Thoughts and Moral Objections
- Conclusion. How to Think Impossibly
- Epilogue. The Three Bars
- Acknowledgments. A Sociology of the Impossible
- Notes
- Index
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers who feel constrained by rigid materialist worldviews will find liberation in this text. It offers a profound re-evaluation of phenomena often dismissed as impossible, such as telepathy and UFO sightings, framing them as fundamental aspects of human existence rather than aberrations. Those seeking to understand the 'supernatural' not as something outside nature but deeply embedded within it will appreciate the blend of scholarly inquiry and personal narrative. It is ideal for individuals ready to expand their perception of reality, accepting a dimension that is both mental and material yet transcends both categories.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Kripal presents a compelling argument for a reality that defies conventional categorization, skillfully weaving scholarly depth with accessible storytelling. However, this book will not suit readers strictly adhering to positivist scientific frameworks or those seeking empirical proof over phenomenological experience. It challenges the very definition of 'impossible,' requiring an open-minded approach to belief and perception. While intellectually stimulating for those willing to question established assumptions, it may feel abstract or unsatisfying to skeptics who demand concrete data over philosophical exploration of the mind's capacity to shape reality.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're ready to dismantle preconceived notions about reality and the limits of human experience, this book is for you. Seekers of deeper understanding, open-minded skeptics, and anyone fascinated by the profound intersections of consciousness, science, and the seemingly miraculous will find Kripal's insights transformative.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Redefining The Impossible
Kripal provocatively argues that the "impossible" isn't an objective state but a boundary drawn by our current understanding of reality. He unpacks how extraordinary experiences, often dismissed as mere anomalies, are actually vital clues to a more expansive, interconnected human consciousness and a reality far richer than conventional thought allows.
Beyond Mental And Material
This book explores a profound "third way" of understanding existence, moving beyond the binary of purely mental or purely material interpretations. Kripal suggests a foundational reality that underpins both, manifesting in experiences often labeled "paranormal." This challenges us to integrate these phenomena into a holistic view of being.
The Supernatural As Natural
Kripal posits that what we term "supernatural" is, in essence, "super natural"—an intrinsic, albeit profound, aspect of nature itself. He dismantles the artificial distinction between the mundane and the miraculous, presenting so-called impossible events as expressions of a deeper, inherent reality that is always available for human experience.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Precognition
- Telepathy
- Non-Duality
📔 Questions to reflect on
- What personal experiences, if any, have you dismissed as "impossible" or coincidental, and how might re-evaluating them change your understanding of reality?
- How does the traditional scientific materialist worldview limit our perception of human potential and the nature of consciousness?
- If the "supernatural" is indeed "super natural," what implications does this have for your spiritual practice, ethical framework, or daily life?
📖 Read on the blog
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🏛 Books from this publisher University of Chicago Press
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