(2017-02-06) Stealing Fire A Conversation With Steven Kotler

Stealing Fire: A Conversation with Steven Kotler

*What Is Stealing Fire About?

It's about today's $4 trillion revolution in using altered states (PsychoActive) to achieve ultimate performance*

*What Is "Ecstasis"?

Because the terminology surrounding altered states is mired in connotation and misunderstanding, we decided to borrow the Greek term "ecstasis" to describe the states we're exploring in this book. Ecstasis means both to "stand outside oneself" and to be "filled with inspiration."*

Both isolation float tanks and brainwave-tuning via neurofeedback were state-changing techniques developed during the early 1960s

Why Don't People Know About the Relationship Between Non-ordinary States and Peak Performance?

We've been missing the link for three reasons.

First

all have different adherents and subcultures that rarely talk to one another and often dismiss each other.

Second

we have an incredibly powerful blindspot—call it the "Pale." And the Pale has three core components.

The Pale of the State

The Pale of the Church

Pale of the Body

Third

these experiences can be dangerous. Hedonism, Commercialization and Militarization are the three most common pitfalls.

When pursued intelligently and skillfully, they can heal trauma, relieve anxiety, boost creativity, improve productivity and powerfully connect us to each other.