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Last updated: 25 Oct 07
Integral-related recommendations (A-L)

1 Integral 'Top 20'
2 More Ken Wilber Books
3 Integral-related Recommendations (A-L)(most recommended by Ken Wilber - *loads slowly*)
4 Integral-related Recommendations (M-Z) (most recommended by Ken Wilber - *loads slowly*)
5 Spirituality and Wisdom traditions (These other sections coming soon!)
6 Transpersonal, Humanistic and Positive Psychology
7 Culture Shifts and Changing Values
8 Personal change, Creativity, Coaching, Therapy, Health, Relationships, Personality Type
9 Learning Organisation, Education and Facilitation/Training
10 Knowledge Age/Digital society
11 Skilful Leadership
12 Organisational Change
13 Politics and Economics
14 Ecology
15 Overcoming the Postmodernist/Politically Correct Roadblock

 
 

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Almaas, AH, Brilliancy: The Essence of Intelligence (Diamond Body) (2006)

Almaas describes how intelligence is not a product of brain function but is a quality of consciousness.
The book includes in-depth dialogues with his ‘Diamond Approach’ students on the barriers to recognising and embodying the essential quality of Brilliancy. He helps students work through their defences and conflicts around this issue and then rediscover their own Brilliancy.

“A. H. Almaas is one of the foremost spiritual teachers of our time. His methodology for realising true nature is precise, teachable and clear’ – Dr Joan Borysenko, founder member of the Integral Institute.

   

   

Almaas, AH, Diamond Heart Book 1: Elements of the Real in Man (2000)

Ken Wilber calls Almaas’ Diamond Approach: “a superb therapeutic/transformative discipline” and “a superb combination of some of the best of modern Western psychology with ancient (and spiritual) wisdom. It is one type of a more integral approach, uniting Ascending and Descending, spiritual and psychological, into an effective form of inner work.”

“[T]he fact that such a therapeutic/growth system can gain a strong and respected foothold in the culture – [is] a sign of the post-conventional waves that are very slowly but very surely washing upon our collective shores,” writes Wilber.

   
       
           

   

Almaas, AH, Diamond Heart Book 2: The Freedom to Be (2000)

More from “the finest metapsychologist writing today” (writes Ken Wilber) – synthesizing Sufism, Zen, Vajrayana Buddhism, Gurdjieff and depth psychology into the ‘Diamond Approach’.

Don Riso and Russ Hudson, authors of The Wisdom of the Enneagram, write: “We can think of no more significant voice in the transpersonal field than A. H. Almaas. His work is a seamless integration of cutting edge psychology and profound spirituality that addresses the concerns and hopes of contemporary people.”

 
   

Almaas, AH, Diamond Heart Book 3: Being and the Meaning of Life (2000)

More on Almaas’ ‘Diamond Approach’ to self-transformation.

 

Almaas, AH, Diamond Heart Book 4: Indestructible Innocence (2000)

Almaas’ ‘Diamond Approach’ to self-transformation – includes chapters on topics including ‘The Integrated Human Being’ and ‘Bare Bottoms on Ice’.

From the introduction: “Many spiritual teachers describe their experience of realization as if they suddenly became realized and the personality just died, or fell away. So it is understandable that you might fantasize that one day you will finish your meditation and there will be no personality left. This idea of enlightenment or self-realisation is misguided, although it is true that you can experience sudden revelations or insights that can change the rest of your life. My perception of what happens with people who claim to have lost their personality totally and spontaneously is that there remains a split-off or suppressed part which will manifest as a distortion or lack of integration”.

 

Almaas, AH Essence with The Elixir of Enlightenment - The Diamond Approach to Inner Realization (1998)

Two books in one where Almaas describes his sophisticated blending of wisdom traditions like Buddhism and Sufism with modern psychology. A good introductory book.

 

Almaas, AH, Facets of Unity - The Enneagram of Holy Ideas (2000)

Helen Palmer, author of The Enneagram - Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life, writes: “Lucid, precise and infinitely helpful to seekers everywhere. I heartily recommend Facets of Unity to Enneagram enthusiasts, to my own students of inner knowing, and to followers of every spiritual tradition.”

Almaas describes ‘the Holy Ideas’ that are the spiritual realities of the nine personality types described in the Enneagram, along with their accompanying fixations. And how to work oneself free of them...

Includes foreword by the Enneagram pioneer Oscar Ichazo.


Almaas, AH, Spacecruiser Inquiry: True Guidance for the Inner Journey (Diamond Body Series, 1) (2002)

More of Almaas’ insights, drawn from Buddhism, Sufism, Gurdjieff, and other wisdom traditions, along with modern psychology.

This book focuses on a central practice of the Diamond Approach: Inquiry – “a dynamic, exciting, open-ended exploration into the immediacy of our experience.”

“The practice of inquiry is based on a simple but profound principle: that Being freely reveals itself to anyone who loves to know the truth of reality and is willing to wholeheartedly surrender to not-knowing and remain open and curious about that truth is,” writes Byron Brown, in the editor’s preface.

“Almaas is one of the most significant voices for a new and remarkably integrated spiritual vision”, says Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart.

“His work connects the personal, the universal, the psychological, and the spiritual not as pieces to put together, but as the inseparable mandala of the sacred that we are.”

The London Integral Circle found some of the Diamond Approach’s deceptively simple practices very powerful, when a US-based Diamond Approach teacher gave us an introductory workshop.

   
 

Almaas, AH, The Diamond Mind, Volume I: The Void: Inner Spaciousness and Ego Structure (2000)

Review to come

   
       

Almaas, AH, The Diamond Mind, Volume II: The Pearl Beyond Price - Integration of Personality into Being: an Object Relations Approach (2000)

A favourite book with Ken Wilber, who calls it: “One of the truly great and pioneering books of the East/West dialogue”.

And in the same vein adds: “One of the genuinely superb contributions to East/West psychology and psychotherapy”.

Here Almaas integrates a post-Freudian Object Relations approach with his spiritual work on Essence/Being.

 

Almaas, AH, The Diamond Mind, Volume III: The Point of Existence: Transformations of Narcissism into Self-Realization (2000)

In this 600+page work Almaas reformulates the definition of narcissism, describing it as the major barrier to self-realisation.

Sherry Ruth Anderson, author of The Feminine Face of God, writes: “The sophistication of The Point of Existence is stunning and the views stimulating to our sense of what human identity is and what we can be”.

 

Almaas, AH, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality (2004)

Ken Wilber writes: “I myself can recommend the Diamond Approach as probably the most balanced of the widely available spiritual psychologies/therapies.”

A comprehensive, major work (640 pages) by Almaas on the Diamond Approach to self-realisation – specifically the Soul’s journey home.

Includes appendices where the author compares his developmental model to those of the key transpersonalists Ken Wilber, Stanislav Grof and Michael Washburn.

   
 

Amodeo, John and Wentworth, Kris, Being Intimate: A Guide to Successful Relationships (1986)

Ken Wilber writes: “This is a sane, sound, readable, and eminently useful book. It is a carefully guided sequence of exercises, guidelines, explanations, and case examples all thoughtfully geared to facilitate the two-fold movement of befriending others, particularly intimates.”

Jack Kornfield (A Path With Heart) writes: “John and Kris’ book is a fine blend of the tools of modern psychotherapy and spiritual understanding. It will be helpful to those who wish to learn about these paths of growth.”

   
     

Ardagh, Arjuna Nick, Relaxing into Clear Seeing: Interactive Tools in the Service of Self-Awakening (1998)

Ken Wilber writes: “An excellent introduction to the brilliant clarity of ever-present awareness, the nature of the already enlightened mind.”

Practical tools and guidance from a journey that combines the teachings of non-duality (eg Ramana, Papaji) with a path of personal healing.

 

Ardagh, Arjuna, The Translucent Revolution: how people just like you are waking up and changing the world (2005)

From the foreword by Ken Wilber: a “book of wonder and relish, radiance and release.”

Based on a survey of 13,000 people and in-depth interviews with over 170 thought-leaders, including: Integral Institute founder members Michael Murphy, Fred Kofman and Frances Vaughn, and Paul Ray, Lama Surya Das, Ram Dass, Neale Donald Walsch, David Deida, Christopher Titmuss, Peter Russell, Jean Houston, Andrew Cohen, Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Duane Elgin et al.

 

Armour, Michael and Browning, Don, Systems-sensitive Leadership: empowering diversity without polarising the Church (1995, 2000)

Though aimed at leaders of Christian organisations where (just like almost everywhere else) different value/thinking systems are often at loggerheads, this book turns out to be a very clear text for everyone on how to lead, to teach and to nourish the various value systems that can exist in any organisation.

It also briefly covers some suggestive research findings on how certain Myers-Briggs personality types feel more at home in certain thinking systems/value systems.

Overall, it’s more or less the same approach as Spiral Dynamics, derived from the values research of the late Professor Clare Graves – but, for some at least, a clearer and more practical read than the book Spiral Dynamics itself.


Barrett, Richard, Liberating the Corporate Soul: building a visionary organisation (1998)

How to build a better world by evolving to a new paradigm in business. Barrett also outlines the use of Maslow-influenced values audit assessment tools to determine personal and organisational values – what they are now, and what we might like them to be. Also helps us to spot any lack of balance in personal values sperad and the gaps between personal and organisational values.

See Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’

   

Barrett, Richard, Building a Values-Driven Organisation – A Whole System Approach to Cultural Transformation (2006)

A very engaging overview of Barrett’s system of organisational transformation – inspired by Wilber’s ‘All Quadrants’ approach, Spiral Dynamics, Abraham Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’ etc and by now used in hundreds of organisations worldwide.

Barrett explains the use of powerful assessments and tools to assist the shift to ‘full spectrum’ organisations and ‘full spectrum’ leaders.

Longer review by me appears in Integral Leadership Review (October 2006).

See Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’.

 

Barnes, Michael Horace, In the Presence of Mystery: An Introduction to the Story of Human Religiousness (2003)

Barnes guides us through archaic religion, animism etc up to modern religiousness in this work, which is influenced by James Fowler’s developmental Stages of Faith model (which is regularly recommended by Ken Wilber).

“This book is a stunning achievement and is must reading. Barnes knows his stuff – analysis of religion by sociology, psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and the history of religions. A clear and helpful introducion for the non-technical reader.” Donald G Luck, Trinity Seminary Review.

 

Barnes, Michael Horace, Stages of Thought: The co-evolution of religious thought and science (2000)

Fascinating, scholarly and impressive historical examination of the evidence that religion and science develop through the same sequence of cultural stages, which are somewhat analogous to those that Jean Piaget’s research found in individual development (includes up to the ‘late formal operations’ level of the present day).

Barnes also aims to answer the same big questions that Wilber must inevitably face – over whether there can be parallels between individual and cultural development, whether it’s all merely a ‘Western hegemonic discourse’ etc. And Barnes, of course, soon experiences the stony faces, the accusations of colonialism, even at one conference the exclamation ‘For shame, Michael!” when he dares to argue for the reality of cross-cultural development – in the face of the disdain of today’s (almost) all-pervading PC postmodern relativism.

Barnes also coolly dissects some of the academic critics of Piaget who are more inclined towards relativism (eg Richard Shweder). Though the postmodern relativists’ motives in refusing to acknowledge similar developmental stage in various cultural histories are good, Barnes seeks to show that their conclusions were not.

This award-winning book is reminiscent of Wilber’s enthralling and expansive early work Up from Eden - A Transpersonal View of Human Evolution.

Barnes’ approach was developed completely independently of Wilber’s work – prompted by postmodern relativist academic culture that saw his belief in 'development' as outmoded: “I got into an argumentative mood that I didn’t get out of until 20 years had passed”, he says.

 

Basseches, Michael, Dialectial Thinking and Adult Development (1984)

A leading figure in adult development research. Interestingly, his model is not (explicitly) a stage sequence, as Wilber’s is. Basseches organises dialectical thought into a total of 24 ‘cognitive schemas’ or ‘moves of thought’.


Beck, Don, Spiral Dynamics Integral – Learn to Master the Memetic Codes of Human Behaviour (2006) 6 CDs

Review to come.

 

Beck, Don and Linnscott, Graham, The Crucible – Forging South Africa’s Future in Search of a Template for the World (1991, 2006)

Ken Wilber writes: “An excellent discussion of the role of evolutionary thinking for defusing social tension.”

An application of the Spiral Dynamics developmental model to troubled South Africa, circa the last days of apartheid. For some, a more practical book than the full Spiral Dynamics: mastering values, leadership and change work itself.

The book promises to take readers “beyond the artificial ego-centric, ethno-centric and world-centric categories to describe a universal values-centric (or meme-centric) or spiral-centric perspective on human emergence.”

It also offers “a transpartisan perspective on political problem-solving, based on the natural design of decision-making structures and actual field studies (South Africa) in the application of the technology. This will provide an alternative to the current ‘Us vs Them’ in American and other societies.”

“This new knowledge could be used by the United Nations, other global entities, or regional alliances, to deal with tribes, empires, nation states, multinational enterprises, and other such stakeholders.”

“A focus on defusing the great global divides that threaten human existence in the 21st century. This will include such matters as conflicts over religion, economic models, sustainability concerns, and other matters.”

Now available in a new edition – after a team effort by ‘a cast of thousands’ from the Spiral Dynamics-Integral milieu to bring it back into print.

   
   

Belenky, Mary Field, Clinchy, Blythe McVicker, Goldberger, Nancy Rule and Tarule, Jill Mattuck, Women’s Ways of Knowing – The Development of Self, Voice, and Mind (1986, 1996)

Integral Institute founder member and leading Integral/transpersonal therapist John Rowan, the author of The Transpersonal: Spirituality in Psychotherapy and Counselling, writes: “This is an extraordinarily good book”.

Carol Gilligan, author of In a Different Voice - Psychological Theory and Women’s Development, writes: “This important book… encourages one to think in new ways about what constitutes knowledge and therefore about the aims of education for both women and men.

Evelyn Fox Keller writes: “A wonderful book that succeeds in demystifying the alienation and mistrust so many women feel in relation to the world of words, abstract ideas, logic.”

An important and influential book that looks at how women’s ‘neglected and denigrated’ ‘ways of knowing’ move through five stages – from ‘silence’ and ‘received knowledge’ through ‘subjective knowledge’ to ‘procedural knowledge’ and finally ‘constructed knowledge’.

The authors themselves would probably reject the notion of stages, due to potential inegalitarian overtones (they choose to call them ‘different perspectives’) – but the reality of development is there for all to see.

Indeed the authors themselves state: “We leave it to future work to determine whether these perspectives have stage-like qualities”! (Prof Robert Kegan tells us that, from his conversations with the four authors, he found that they do not even agree with eachother over whether theirs is a developmental approach or not, perhaps unsurprising given common concerns over judgmentalism, use of such a theory as an 'ideology of a ruling group' et al).

Their research was informed by the work of William Perry and Carol Gilligan.


Bennett, Bija, Emotional Yoga: How the Body Can Heal the Mind (2002)

Ken Wilber writes: “Emotional Yoga… helps you unlock your deepest potential and takes you to higher states of health and well-being.”

A manual to help you move past emotional blocks and reach higher states – for beginners and advanced students.


Bourgeault, Cynthia, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening (2004)

Ken Wilber writes:“Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a superb book – a wonderfully accessible introduction to Centering Prayer and the role it can play in your own ‘salvation unto eternity’. Highly recommended for all who are on a spiritual path of any sort”.

This book offers a history of (and a psychology of) Centering – or Contemplative – Prayer, with a focus on the contemporary Centering Prayer movement of the last three decades, led by Fr. Thomas Keating (a founder member of Wilber’s Integral Spiritual Center).


Burroughs, Kendra Crossen (annotation by) and Swami, Shri Purohit (translation), Bhagavad Gita: Annotated & Explained (2001)

Ken Wilber writes: “This simple, beautiful translation by Shri Purohit Swami and the wonderful notations by Kendra Crossen Burroughs make this the very best Gita for first-time readers as well as any who want to absorb its extraordinary message: taste the divine waters herein, and you might never thirst again.”

A ancient Hindu classic, the Bhagavad Gita (‘Song of the Lord’) was written in Sanskrit verse thousands of years ago.


Campbell, Joseph, Creative Mythology: The Masks of God, Volume IV (2001)

Campbell’s classic ‘Masks of God’ collection.


Campbell, Joseph, Occidental Mythology: The Masks of God, Volume III (2001)

Review to come.


Campbell, Joseph, Oriental Mythology: The Masks of God, Volume II (2000)

Review to come.

   

Campbell, Joseph, Primitive Mythology: The Masks of God, Volume I (1959, 1991)

Review to come.


Campbell, Joseph, Myths to Live By - How we re-create ancient legends in our daily lives to release human potential (1972, 1993)

Essays and talks by the great mythologist Prof. Joseph Campbell, 1961-1971. Campbell explores the universal meanings within myths, and the hold they have had over humanity throughout history.

Includes chapters on: ‘The Separation of East and West’ and ‘Zen’.

Village Voice: “There is no-one quite like Joseph Campbell. He knows the vast sweep of man’s panoramic past as few men have ever known it.”


Campbell, Joseph, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1972)

A hugely influential work, written in the 40s and mined for inspiration by George Lucas for Star Wars’ myth-based plot. Campbell explores the mythology, folklore and religions of the world – with a focus on the ‘Hero’s journey’.


Chalmers, David (ed.), Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary Readings (2002)

A “favourite author” of the Integral Institute, says Ken Wilber, “who is admirably (and absolutely brilliantly) fighting the widespread attempts to reduce 1st-person consciousness/mind (Upper Left) to 3rd-person brain/body (Upper Right)”.

Chalmers is a leading contemporary philosopher of mind – and selects a range of important competing views for this Wilber-recommended collection.


Chippendale, Paul and Collins, Clare, New Wisdom II – Values-based Development (1991, 2002)

Leadership, management, personal development – informed by Brian Hall’s research and the 125 core values and 7 levels it uncovered (and developed an assessment system for).

It also integrates the Myers-Briggs-like personality/brain preferences model of Walter Lowen, finding certain correlations between (horizontal) personality development and vertical development – contra Wilber and Beck.

See Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’.

 

Chopra, Deepak, How to Know God: The Soul’s Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries (2001)

Ken Wilber: “This book, which unfolds the knowledge of God-consciousness, is at once a map of Spirit and a map of your own deepest Self.”

In this synthesis of Eastern and Western wisdom and science, Chopra draws on neuroscience to argue that the brain is hard-wired to know God – with a nervous system that has seven biological responses that correspond to seven levels of divine experience.

Chopra assures us: “You don’t have to believe in God in order to experience God.”


Chopra, Deepak, The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life (2004, 2005)

Ken Wilber: “The Book of Secrets is the finest and most profound of Deepak Chopra’s books to date. Want the answers to the secrets of life? Let me recommend you start right here.”

To help transcend one’s egocentric view, Chopra helps unlock secrets such as ‘the world is in you’, and ‘what you seek, you already are’.

Every chapter includes exercises to help apply the secrets towards personal change.
Chopra has been interviewed on Ken Wilber’s Integral Naked website.

 

Combs, Alan, The Radiance of Being - Understanding the Grand Integral Vision; Living the Integral Life (1995, 2002)

Ken Wilber writes: “The Radiance of Being is a very exciting book, reflecting a very exciting time in the exploration of consciousness and evolution… It is a wonderful guide to the very best of the integral approaches that cover not just theory but also practice – not merely ways to think about this vast potential, but ways to actualise it, realise it, live it and breathe it as part of one’s own extraordinary birthright, even here and now.”

An important book dealing with the full spectrum of human consciousness. Includes both a foreword by Ken Wilber as well as a conversation with him (on ‘States, Structures and Lines’) as an appendix.


Commons, Michael, Richards Francis and Armon, Cheryl, Beyond Formal Operations: Vol 1 Late Adolescent and Adult Cognitive Development (1984)

A ground-breaking and important collection by leading theorists/researchers – taking adult development to higher stages, beyond those described by the great pioneer Jean Piaget.

Includes chapters by Kohlberg, Sternberg, Commons, Basseches, Labouvie-Vief et al, covering topics such as the growth of empathy, stage models, ethical reasoning, ‘The Emergence of a Sense of Purpose: A Cognitive Case Study of Young Darwin’ etc.


Commons, M, Armon, C, Kohlberg, L, Richards, F, Grotzer, T, and Sinnott, J (eds.) Adult Development Vol. 2 Models and Methods in the Study of Adolescent and Adult Thought (1990)

A major collection from a wide range of distinguished scholars, which highlights the major issues and controversies in the field of adult development.

Includes Integral Institute founder member Susanne Cook-Greuter on “Maps for Living: Ego-Development Stages from Symbiosis to Conscious Universal Embeddedness”, and Koplowitz on “Unitary Consciousness and the Highest Development of Mind: The Relation Between Spiritual Development and Cognitive Development” along with topics such as Kohlberg’s Stage 6, the Reflective Judgement Model etc.


Cook-Greuter, Susanne and Miller, Melvin (eds.), Creativity, Spirituality, and Transcendence: Paths to Integrity and Wisdom in the Mature Self (2000)

Co-edited by leading Integral Institute figure Dr Susanne Cook-Greuter, this collection looks at creativity from theoretical, empirical and clinical perspectives – and aims to counter the reductionistic approach that prevails.

 

Crittenden, Jack, Beyond Individualism - Reconstituting the Liberal Self (1992)

This academic work – dedicated to Ken Wilber – discusses the big issues around communitarianism, liberalism, individualism and autonomy in relation to the self. It also seeks to develop a ‘New Liberal Psychology’, drawing on developmentalists including Lawrence Kohlberg and William Perry.

Includes a chapter on ‘The Theory of Compound Individuality’ drawing on such theorists (plus Piaget, Kegan, Broughton). Also a section of Kohlbergian analysis of the differing moral levels in soldiers involved – or refusing to get involved! – in the My Lai massacre in Vietnam.

Crittenden also wrote the foreword (‘What Is the Meaning of “Integral”) to Ken Wilber’s book The Eye of Spirit - An Integral Vision for a World Gone Slightly Mad.

 

Dalai, Lama, HH the, Stages of Meditation - Training the Mind for Wisdom (2003)

Ken Wilber writes: “A wise, wonderful, and profound book.”

The hows and whys of meditation, explained through a commentary on the classic meditation handbook by Kamalashila, which the Dalai Lama calls “a key that opens the door to all other major Buddhist scriptures.”

Covers compassion, loving-kindness, calm-abiding, emptiness etc.

 

Dalal, A.S. (ed), Sri Aurobindo A Greater Psychology - An Introduction to Sri Aurobindo’s Psychological Thought (2001)

Ken Wilber writes in the foreword: “Aurobindo… stands as one of the great founders of integral spirituality and integral practice”.

“This book is the finest overview of Aurobindo’s psychological thought now available and it will likely remain a classic reference for the foreseeable future.”

This book provides a sampling of the work of the great Indian philosopher-sage Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950). Wilber calls him “India’s greatest modern philosopher-sage”.

Hard to miss the parallels between Aurobindo’s ‘integral knowledge’ and Wilber’s approach: “The integral knowledge admits the valid truths of all views of existence, valid in their own fields, but it seeks to get rid of their limitations and negations and to harmonise and reconcile these partial truths in a larger truth which fulfils all the many sides of our being in the one omnipresent Existence”, writes Aurobindo.

 

Davis, John, The Diamond Approach - An Introduction to the Teachings of A. H. Almaas (1999)

Jack Kornfield, author of A Path With Heart - A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life writes: “The work of Hameed Ali (aka A. H. Almaas) places him among the greatest psychologists alive today. Ali’s brilliant vision of the human psyche embraces our Being from early development to the highest realms of spirit. From this he then offers a new language and direct approach for awakening to this manifold nature.

"This excellent book gives the first overall view of the major dimensions of the Diamond Approach. In it John Davis does true credit to the importance of this work.”

An easy-to-read overview of the Diamond Approach, by a senior student.

 

Deida, David, Dear Lover: A Woman’s Guide to Enjoying Love’s Deepest Bliss (2005)

Deida helps us re-own our lost healthy masculine/feminine identities.

Genpo Roshi writes: “David Deida’s teachings on this central human concern, sexuality, emanate from a deeply trustworthy source. He has undergone his own rigorous training and practice. And like Zen, the fruition of David’s work is openness, compassion, and love.”

David Deida is a founder Member of the Integral Institute and has been a guest on Ken Wilber’s Integral Naked.

 

Deida, David, Finding God through Sex: Awakening the One of Spirit through the Two of Flesh (2005)

From Ken Wilber’s foreword: “Beyond post-modern irony is sex, ecstasy, and David Deida. Trust me.”

Deida’s guide to balanced, spiritual intimacy.

 

Deida, David, Function, Flow, & Glow: the Art of Sexual Yoga (2005) - DVD

Deida’s first DVD – recorded live at Ken Wilber’s Integral Institute in February 2005.

Includes: the meaning of sexuality as a living art and practical yoga; the relation of masculine and feminine (as David uses the terms) to Ken Wilber’s Integral model; how to skilfully channel bodily pleasure, in yourself and your partner; the yogic art of courtship – authentic relating to a new romantic partner etc.

 
 

Deida, David, Intimate Communion – Awakening Your Sexual Essence (1995)

Ken Wilber: “We all taste God, taste Goddess, taste pure Spirit in those moments of sexual rapture, and wise men and women have always used that rapture to reveal spirit’s innermost secrets. David Deida is such a wise one.”

The three stages of intimacy, the search for love and freedom, and more – from this spiritual/relationships guru.

Includes Deida’s Sexual Essence Quiz. Disentangle the layers of mistrust, fear and denial and find your true sexual essence. What must you risk in order to experience deep sexual union and emotional communion?

Deida also guides us beyond the stalemate of today’s typical modern 50/50 relationship – by re-owning our uniquely masculine or feminine sexual essence.

“In a well-intentioned effort to achieve inner balance and 50/50 Relationships, we have inadvertently neutralised our intimacies,” writes Deida.

 

Deida, David, The Enlightened Sex Manual: Sexual Skills for the Superior Lover (book and CD edition, 2004)

Ken Wilber describes this as the only sex manual you will ever need.

“The secret to enlightenment and great sex is revealed to be one and the same in this groundbreaking manual for lovers” – which draws on Deida’s work with hatha yoga, pranayama, Tai Chi and Tantra.

Includes CD with guided exercises.

 

Deida, David, The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Woman, Work, and Sexual Desire (2004)

Ken Wilber: “The Way of the Superior Man is quite wonderful. Finally, a guide for the non-castrated male. This book will offend and infuriate some, inspire and test others, but challenge virtually everybody. I found it wise, insightful, occasionally brilliant, and always resourceful. To transcend the bodymind means to transcend and include its sexuality, not transcend and evaporate it. Few are the books that discuss strong sexuality within strong spirituality, instead of tepid sexuality diluted by a mediocre spiritual stance. This book steps straightforwardly into the challenge. Love it or loathe it, it is a shout from the heart of one perspective of the eternal masculine.”

Relationships guru Deida encourages men to live a full, authentic life and follow their passion and true purpose, so that they can give their deepest gifts to the world – and combine spirituality and sexuality. Stop apologising for who we are.

Chapters include ‘Stop Hoping for Your Woman to Get Easier’.

Includes foreword by Ken Wilber.


Deida, David, Wild Nights (2005)

Spiritual teacher and Integral Institute founder member David Deida exhorts us to stay “open as love, or close and suffer” via the crazy wisdom of the teacher Mykonos.

Includes yogic sexual techniques such as circular breathing and expanding feeling beyond the self and into the heart of a lover.

 

Demick, Jack and Andreoletti, Carrie (eds), Handbook of Adult Development (2003)

A fantastic collection which represents “the state-of-the-art theory, research, and practice on adult development”.

Contributors include Michael Lamport Commons (on ‘Four Postformal Stages’), Michael Basseches (‘Adult Development and the Practice of Psychotherapy’), Deirdre Kramer, Robert Sternberg, Jan Sinnott, Cheryl Armon, Theo Linda Dawson, Otto Laske (‘Executive Development as Adult Development’, drawing of the work of Kegan, Basseches and others).

Other topics include an integrative approach to the study of Wisdom, the stages of reflective judgement etc.

   

Demick, Jack and Miller, P, Development in the Workplace (1993)

Review to come.


Demmin, Herbert, The Ghosts of Consciousness: Thought and the Spiritual Path (2003)

Ken Wilber writes: “A serious book that deserves a wide audience”.

Clinical psychologist Demmin presents a new theory of the micro-dyamics of thinking and self-awareness – how some thoughts engender the experience of a separate self.

“Meticulously detailed phenomenology of thinking”, writes Kaisa Puhakka.


Deol, Surinder, The Summit: A Fable About Integral Transformation (2006)

Inspired by Ken Wilber’s approach, this book begins with an allegorical story (of friendship between a monkey and a crocodile) about integral transformation. It then moves into an explicit discussion of the role of evolving consciousness in development – an ‘Integral Transformation Practitioners Guide’.

Includes a chapter on ‘Tools for Luminous Living - A Compendium of Daily Integral Practices’ – maps, integral practices, practical exercises, meditations, affirmations and other tools.

Claims to answer the question ‘What integral practices are helpful in moving us from one level to the next?’ and ‘What happens when we reach the highest level of consciousness?’

 

DiZerega, Gus, Pagans and Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience (2001)

Ken Wilber writes: “Pagans and Christians is a brilliant and provocative, yet gentle and caring, defense of Paganism in the face of those forces, principally Christian, that have historically misunderstood and misinterpreted it, often with horrific and murderous consequences. But more to the point, this wonderful book is a rich dialogue between the Pagan and the Christian approaches to the Sacred, pointing out, quite rightly I believe, that neither has the single correct approach to the Divine, but that both can be, and are, legitimate expressions of that ever-present Spirit which is the fountain of all genuine devotion, release, harmony, and fufilment. Written in a popular language for both Pagans and Christians, this book is highly recommended for all spiritual seekers, or those who would find the Divine in the very midst of the here and now, present as that Open Secret to which the world has always aspired.”


Dossey, Larry, Healing beyond the Body - Medicine and the Infinite Reach of the Mind (2001)

Ken Wilber writes: “The essays in Healing the Body are wide-ranging and exciting – from dreams of creativity to prayer and immortality – but they all explore the nature of consciousness and its role in healing. Larry Dossey reminds us that ultimately healing is about self-discovery, self-discovery is about spirit, and spirit is about consciousness.”

Topics covered include consciousness, prayer, love, job stress, laughter, war, creativity, dreams and immortality.

 

Drew, John and Lorimer, David, Ways through the Wall - Approaches to Citizenship in an Interconnected World (2005)

Co-edited by Integral Institute founder member David Lorimer, this collection includes a highly recommended chapter – titled “What is Integral Psychotherapy?” – by another Integral Institute founder member, the leading transpersonal/integral psychotherapist John Rowan, author of The Transpersonal: Spirituality in Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Other contributors include leading transpersonal figures such as: Jorge Ferrer (‘A New Look at Integral Growth’), David Lukoff (‘Transpersonal Psychology and the Journey to Spirituality: Spiritual Emergence’), Les Lancaster, Integral Insitute founder member David Lorimer (‘Consciousness and Society - An Ethic of Interconnectedness’) David Fontana (‘Psychology, Religion and Spirituality’), Sue Michaelson (‘A Transpersonal Perspective in the Visual Arts: The feminine principle, shamanism and spirituality’) and Ian Gordon Brown (‘Transpersonal Psychology’).

The book is produced by the European Transpersonal Association – based on the presentations from the 2005 transpersonal conference ‘Citizenship in an Inter-Related World’, aiming to show “how some concepts of transpersonal psychology are contributing in a practical way to our thinking about this fast-changing world”.

 
 

Durgananda, Swami (Sally Kempton), The Heart of Meditation – Pathways to a Deeper Experience (2002)

Ken Wilber writes: “A wise, wonderful, beautiful book. The Heart of Meditation is surely one of the very best introductions to the art of meditation, which means that it’s an introduction to your real Self.”

Sally Kempton found in the 90s that her meditation practice had become routine – so began to seek doorways to a deeper experience, transforming her meditation.

Includes: keys to mantra repetition and witness awareness; how to troubleshoot your own meditation practice; map of the different inner states; 22 specific exercises etc.

 

Dykstra, Craig and Parks, Sharon (eds), Faith Development and Fowler (1986)

The classic examination of the ground-breaking work of James Fowler on the stages of faith development – as regularly cited by Ken Wilber. Includes an updating of Fowler’s position, written by Fowler himself.

 

Evans, Nancy Forney, Deanna and Guido-DiBrito, Florence, Student Development in College – theory, research and practice (1998)

An authoritative and digestible overview of some approaches known to help with student development, and how to use them in combination. Included are identity development (e.g. black, gay, women’s), moral development (Kohlberg and Gilligan), personality type (Myers-Briggs, Holland) and experiential learning – along with the cognitive-structural theories (e.g. William Perry, Marcia Baxter Magolda) that explain how to enable the truly transformative changes in how people think, not just what they think.

For each major topic there are sub-sections providing: historical overview, the theory, assessment techiques, research, applications, plus critique and future directions.

“I can recall no text – recent or not so recent – that addresses this range of theoretical constructs with such clarity, and the translations of theory into practice are uniquely effective. Student Development in College will become the standard for graduate seminars in student development”– Harry Canon, senior associate, Aspen Professional Development Associates.

 

Feuerstein, Georg, Sacred Sexuality: The Erotic Spirit in the World’s Great Religions (2003)

Ken Wilber: “Georg Feuerstein is a scholar and practitioner of the first magnitude and an extremely important and valuable voice for the perennial philosophy.”

An illustrated cross-cultural survey, where Feuerstein reveals that all the great wisdom traditions share the hidden message that spirituality is, in essence, erotic and that sexuality is inherently spiritual.

 

Feuerstein, Georg, The Lost Teachings of Yoga (2003, audio CD)

Leading scholar George Feuerstein illuminates the history, techniques and wisdom of yoga – and its ultimate goal of “inner strength and mental peace” – in 9 hours of teachings.

Feuerstein draws on Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions.


Feuerstein, Georg, The Yoga Tradition, Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice (2001)

Ken Wilber writes: “Without a doubt the finest overall explanation of Yoga… Destined to become a classic".

A major work that represents the results of a lifetime of devotion to yoga by renowed yoga scholar Georg Feuerstein. Includes numerous black and white illustrations.

 

Fowler, James, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning (1995)

Ken Wilber writes: “Fowler deserves much credit for the truly pioneering nature of his research and his sophisticated evidence for the early to intermediate levels of the stages of the spiritual line of development” [ie up to vision-logic/psychic and the beginning of transpersonal intuition].

Regularly recommended as a key text by Ken Wilber, Fowler’s classic work looks at how our understanding of faith develops through a series of emerging stages to reach the universalizing, self-transcending faith of full maturity – “the simplicity on the other side of complexity”, “the self purified of egoic striving, and linked by disciplined intuition to the principle of being”.

Drawing on Kohlberg, Erikson, Piaget and others – as well as his own research on 600 people, aged from four to 88.


Fowler, James, Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian: Adult Development and Christian Faith (1984/1999)

"No one, we believe, has provided more valuable scientific findings and theoretical formulations for those whose care for others is focused principally on the growth of the spirit, and of the person as a whole, than James W. Fowler,” James J. Gill, editor-in-chief, Human Development.


Fowler, James, Faithful Change - The Personal and Public Challenges of Postmodern Life (1996)

Integral Institute founder member Prof Robert Kegan, author of In Over Our Heads - The Mental Demands of Modern Life, writes: “Fowler’s own faithfulness to the ideas and passions that guide his writing are a tribute to the union of a tough mind and a tender heart. Each new book, eagerly anticipated, bears richer fruit. Readers of Faithful Change will quickly discover that the feast continues.”

From the ‘Primal Faith’ of infancy to the ‘Universalizing faith’ of midlife and beyond, Fowler updates his classic work Stages of Faith - The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning.


Frankel, Carl, Out of the Labyrinth: Who We Are, How We Go Wrong and What We Can Do About It (2004)

Frankel reveals his own personal journey and draws on Wilber’s Integral psychology to build a new approach to sustainability.


Gebser, Jean, The Ever-Present Origin - Part One: Foundations of the Aperspectival World - A Contribution to the History of the Awakening of Consciousness - Part Two: Manifestations of the Aperspectival World - An Attempt at the Concretion of the Spiritual (1949/53, 1991)

Gebser’s pioneering magum opus (600+ pages) on the “mutations of consiousness” over history, which also introduced the idea of ‘the Integral structure’, as well as the Archaic, Magic, Mythical and Mental structures which preceded it.

A work of enormous scope, complete with pull-out table, and numerous illustrations drawn from paintings, architecture, music, anthropology to demonstrate his argument of a common, hidden core of development.

“Jean Gebser’s magnum opus is at long last available in a fine English rendering” – Georg Feuerstein.

 

Gehring, Thom, Educational Change in the Correctional Institution: Professionalizing Correctional Education by Applying Ken Wilber’s Ideas

Ken Wilber writes: “His efforts… will considerably advance the field of correctional studies toward much more integral and inclusive models.” (From his foreword).

   
 

Gibbs, John C., Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman (2003)

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology: "Author John Gibbs engages with the most important and vexing questions of moral development in a profound and thoughtful way, showing a scholarly and deep appreciation of the fundamental assumptions that guide and divide the different theoretical perspectives. His approach is both critical and synthetic, offering the framework for a powerful model that can be applied to help us understand both prosocial and antisocial behavior. . . . Gibbs has written one of the most thought-provoking and widely appealing works to appear in the field. He has shown how it may yet be possible to fully integrate justice and empathy in a broader vision of morality, while respecting the unique contributions of each."

 

Gilligan, Carol, In a Different Voice – Psychological Theory and Women’s Development (1982, 1993)

Ground-breaking research, regularly cited by Ken Wilber, which shows how women’s path of moral development differs from men’s – with a ‘communion’ rather than ‘agency’ focus, to use Wilber’s terms (or care vs justice, web vs. hierarchy etc).

Lawrence Kohlberg writes: “An important and original contribution to the understanding of human moral development in both men and women. Carol Gilligan writes with literary grace and a real sensitivity to the women she interviewed… Her book has important implications for philosophical as well as psychological theory.”

The book was in its 33rd reprinting when reissued in 1993!


Goble, Frank, The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow (1970)

Looks at the work of the founder of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, Abraham Maslow, including key concepts such as the hierarchy of needs, self-actualisation, peak experiences, humanistic education, synergy, management etc.

 

Goleman, Daniel, Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition: why it can matter more than IQ (1995, 2005)

Best-selling author and psychologist Daniel Goleman places ‘soft skills’ centre stage. He argues that competencies like getting along with others, self-control, empathy and optimism, through to self-awareness, initiative and collaboration, are what make the difference in performance at work.

For Wilber, emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the major 'lines of development' – and one of the 5 foundational elements of the Integral (AQAL) model.

 

Goleman, Daniel, Working with Emotional Intelligence (2000)

Goleman applies the ideas of his bestseller, Emotional Intelligence (see above), in the workplace, with many real-life examples. Goes into detail on the five areas of emotional competency – which are the key to work success (rather than IQ).

Covers areas such as innovation, self-control, initiative, optimism, teamwork, developing others, conflict management, service orientation, building bonds etc.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is one of the one or two dozen majors ‘lines of development’ that Wilber highlights as part of his integral ‘All Quadrants, All Levels, All Lines, All States, All Types’ model.

 

Graves, Clare, Clare W. Graves’ Levels of Human Existence (2002)

A transcription of a 1971 seminar at the Washington School of Psychiatry, with original diagrams and descriptions of Graves’ foundational research. Includes a reprint of his important article ‘Levels of Human Existence: An Open System Theory of Values’, from the Journal of Humanistic Psychology (Autumn/Fall, 1970).

An overlooked pioneer in developmental psychology, whose work led to Beck and Cowan’s Spiral Dynamics model.

   
 

Graves, Clare, The Never Ending Quest - Dr Clare W. Graves Explores Human Nature: A Treatise on an emergent cyclical conception of adult behavioural systems and their development (edited by Chris Cowan and Natasha Todorovic, with William Lee) (2005)

“Relying on papers, recordings, and the text of Dr. Graves’ previously unpublished manuscript, this is as close as we will ever come to the book Dr. Graves wanted to write,” say the authors.

An overlooked pioneer in developmental psychology, whose work led to Beck and Cowan’s Spiral Dynamics model.
570 pages.

 
 

Grey, Alex, Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey (1990)

Review to come.

   

Grey, Alex, The Mission of Art (2001)

Ken Wilber writes in his foreword: “Alex Grey might be the most significant artist alive”.

Grey argues that today’s artists have lost touch with the transcendent. Grey himself draws on meditation, visualisation, shamanic drumming, Taoism, yoga, Tibetan Buddhism and psychedelics.


Grof, Stanislav, The Cosmic Game: Explorations of the Frontiers of Human Consciousness (1998)

Ken Wilber writes: “a stunning achievement [which] deserves publication to the widest of audiences.”

Transpersonal psychology pioneer Stanislav Grof summarises the philosophical and spiritual insights from his 40-year “personal and professional journey that involved exploration of uncharted frontiers of the human psyche.”

(* Lots more Stanislav Grof books will be added in the 'Transpersonal, Humanistic and Positive Psychology' section)


Hall, Brian, Values Shift: a guide to personal and organisational transformation(1994, 2006)

Another fine – and empirically-grounded – model for recognising the key values in people and in organisations – how they change, and where we may want to encourage them to be, is found in Values Shift.

This Maslow-influenced developmental approach – similar also to Spiral Dynamics – is used in organisational development interventions. Hall has even developed software which can digest your organisation’s mission statement and give you a breakdown on the values contained in it.

Hall’s decades of research uncovered 125 key values arranged through 8 stages of development.

See Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’


Harguindey, S (ed.) Spirit and Politics (unpublished)

Includes a foreword by Ken Wilber. Hasn’t – so far – found an English or Spanish publisher, sadly…

   
 

Harman, Willis, Global Mind Change: the Promise of the 21st Century (2004)

Ken Wilber writes: “Willis Harman’s work stands as a superb testament to the human spirit in the modern and postmodern world. Global Mind Change is one of his finest and most provocative statements, highlighting the utterly fundamental role of consciousness in the evolution of humanity – thus reflecting, as well as helping to bring about, the very changes it courageously announces”.

Influential futurist and President of the Institute of Noetic Sciences Willis Harman maps out the paradigm shift that is under way.

Foreword by Hazel Henderson.

 

Higginbotham, Joyce, and Higginbotham, River, Pagan Spirituality – A Guide to Personal Transformation (2006)

A pioneering attempt to bring Wilber’s integral approach to Pagan spiritual practice. The first chapter outlines Wiber’s model – including exercises.

Covers magickal skills and spiritual growth through journaling, visualisation, meditation etc.

 

Hixon, Lex, Coming Home: The Experience of Enlightenment in Sacred Traditions (1978)

From Ken Wilber’s foreword: “the genius of Lex’s book… the single best introductory book ever written on the world’s great mystical traditions.”

“I touch my forehead to my friend Lex’s – he who is ‘rooted in the divine’, as this book so eloquently testifies.”

Scholar and Sufi Hixon describes 10 paths to Enlightenment – ranging from Krishnamurti, Ramakrishna, Heidegger, Plotinus and Ramana Maharshi to the Zen ox-herding pictures, Hasidic masters and Paul of Tarsus.

The final chapter includes guided exercises in prayer and meditation.


Hixon, Lex, Mother of the Buddhas: Meditation on the Prajnaparamita Sutra (1993)

Ken Wilber writes: “Lex’s translation of the Prajnaparamita Sutra is wonderful. From my own knowledge of the Mahayana tradition, I can attest that Lex in no way interprets the text so as to distort it or to make it less than accurate. Rather, he takes the technical concepts and translates them into language that can reach a large number people.”

“I give this text my highest recommendation. The British Scholar Edward Conze has been translating the Prajnaparamita Sutra for over 40 years, yet only scholars read his text. Lex phrases the concepts in a way people can hear with empathy and an undeniable spiritual quality. He makes these teachings available without diluting or violating their spirit. This book is much needed.”


Hixon, Lex, The Heart of the Qur’an: An Introduction to Islamic Spirituality (1988, 2003)

Ken Wilber: “Lex Hixon has taken the precious words of the Holy Qur’an and turned them over in his heart so that they might speak to those of us who otherwise might not hear the radiant wisdom glowing so brightly within. Beautifully wrought and piercingly true.”

Lex Hixon – once called “a pioneer in the spiritual renaissance of America” by Allen Ginsberg – reveals the Qur’an’s teachings as one of the great wisdom traditions of humanity, in his poetic translations of the mystical teachings of Islam.

 

Hoffman, E, The Right to be Human: a biography of Abraham Maslow (1988)

Comprehensive biography of a seminal thinker of the 20th century, and founder of the schools of Humanistic, and later also Transpersonal, psychology.

Includes Maslow’s pioneering work as a sexologist in the 1930s (with findings championed decades later by feminists) and his influence across fields including marketing and management.


Howard, Lew, Introducing Ken Wilber – Concepts for an Evolving World (2005)

An easy and well-structured way into the depth of Ken Wilber’s integral vision.


Irwin, Ronald, Human Development and the Spiritual Life: How Consciousness grows toward transformation (2002)

A leading adult development theorist proposes his own theory of consciousness growth and extensively surveys similar work by Ken Wilber, Kegan, Cook-Greuter, Fowler, Kegan, Kohlberg, Alexander, Pascual-Leone and others – in particular where it relates to transpersonal development.


Itsuki, Hiroyuki, Tariki: Embracing Despair, Discovering Peace (2001)

Ken Wilber writes: “This book is a wonderful description of the ‘other power’ school of Buddhism, written by Japan’s most popular author. It is a beautiful book by a beautiful writer about the most beautiful state of all: liberation from both self and other in the radiant release of Spirit.”


Jaques, Elliot, The Requisite Organization - A Total System for Effective Managerial Organization and Managerial Leadership for the 21st Century (1988, 1998)

The late Elliot Jaques undertook decades of research – and practice in organisations – to uncover the underlying pattern of stages of human cognitive complexity (and time horizons), and how organisations must be re-worked in the light of this. His theory was first formulated in 1956!

The Requisite Organization is recommended as an example of a Second Tier/integral/Yellow meme approach to organisational development in Beck and Cowan’s book Spiral Dynamics (in a section on ‘Resources for Spiral Wizards’!).

Jaques – predictably – took serious flak from those who felt that any such ‘hierarchical’ model with fixed human maturation curves must be elitist, fascist etc.

Art Kleiner writes: “In practice when these ideas are implemented, people tend to feel not pigeonholed but comfortable and relieved. They are no longer shoehorned into a job that doesn’t fit them. If the transition is handled well, the culture stops dividing people into ‘winners and losers’ based on their level in the hierarchy. Instead, it recognises the value and dignity of people performing at every level.”

See Elliot Jaques Levels of Complexity/time horizons


Jaques, Elliot and Cason, Kathryn, Human Capability - A Study of Individual Potential and its Application (1994)

The stages of development of human cognitive complexity – as uncovered by the pioneering theorist Elliot Jaques.

This book presents the findings of one three-year study on this topic – with the usual unique insights into how this translates into the workplace. Includes comparisons with similar work by Piaget, Fischer, Commons.

I enjoyed reading Jaques’ responses to criticisms that his research findings on human maturation are reactionary, neo-feudal etc.


Johnston, David and Masters, Kim, Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time (2004)

Ken Wilber writes: “As co-host of the integral sustainability domain, David is one of the leading thinkers on how to transform our consumer culture to a more sustainable world. Everyone has a role to play in this transition and Green Remodeling is a great place to start. No matter what your project may involve, there are more environmentally sustainable ways to build and this book takes you step by step toward a better future for all….”

Green Remodeling is a tool you can use today to make your contribution to ensuring a secure future for all the world’s children,” L. Hunter Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism - Creating the Next Industrial Revolution (Buy UK, Buy US).

David Johnston has been interviewed on Ken Wilber’s Integral Naked.

 

Josselson, Ruthellen, Revising Herself: The story of women’s identity from college to midlife (1996, 1998)

Psychology professor and psychotherapist Josselson follows 30 female students, beginning in 1971 – as the women’s movement changed society. She identifies different groups: Guardians, Pathmakers, Searchers and Drifters.

The author offers ‘psychobiographies’ of several representative women from each group.
The final round of interviews took place when the women were around 43 years old.


Jung, Carl Gustav (edited by Anthony Storr), The Essential Jung (1999)

A comprehensive and representative sampling of Jung’s work. Includes: the split from Freud, collective unconscious, archetypes, shadow, personality types, mandalas, anima/us, dream interpretation, integration and wholeness, the problem of evil, synchronicity etc.

 

Katie, Byron, Loving What Is - Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (2002)

Ken Wilber calls it: “A wonderful new set of techniques for spiritual intelligence and glimpsing causal emptiness”.

Katie’s simple, but powerful, method for learning to witness – and turn around – your ‘shadow’ has parallels with the 3-2-1-Shadow exercise now being taught on the Integral Institute’s Integral-Weekend Experiential Seminar trainings and in the Integral Life Practice Starter Kit.


Keating, Father Thomas, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel (1994)

Keating’s classic work offers guidance on the practice of centering prayer – a powerful, specifically Christian, spiritual approach advocated and supported by Ken Wilber. Essentially, it brings spiritual practice into the Catholic Church, drawing on early Christian practices of Contemplative Meditation. With some remarkable similarities to the meditation practices of Eastern religions.

The London Integral Circle found this a very profound and powerful practice when a leading member of Father Keating’s organisation came to work with us at one of our meetings.

Father Keating is a founder member of Ken Wilber’s Integral Spiritual Centre, and has been interviewed by Wilber on the Integral Naked website.
20th anniversary editon.

 

Keating, Father Thomas, Intimacy with God (1996)

Trappist priest and proponent of the timeless technique of centering prayer – which is advocated and supported by Ken Wilber. An explanation and defence of this practice.

 

Keating, Father Thomas, Manifesting God (2005)

Keating et al revive the technique of prayer of the ancient mystical traditions of the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the early Church, St. John of the Cross, and ‘The Cloud of Unkowning’– submission to the Divine Therapist.

 

Kegan, Robert, Wagner, Tony et al, Change Leadership: A Practical Guide to Transforming our Schools (2005)

Leading adult development psychologist (and Integral Institute founder member) Prof Robert Kegan, author of In Over Our Heads - the Mental Demands of Modern Life, helps apply the insights of his team to the problem of transforming schools in the US – based on a five-year study of school reform across the US.

Peter Senge, founder member of the Integral Institute and author of The Fifth Discipline, writes: “Caught between the imperative of preparing students for the next half-century and the political mandate of short-term performance improvement on standardized tests, many educators are dropping by the wayside but a few are stepping forward with new leadership skills and vision. Working with such leaders, Tony Wagner, Robert Kegan, and their colleagues have created an invaluable guidebook for those with the courage to have conviction without answers and the openness to learn together.”

With exercises to guide educators through the development of their practice as agents of chage.

Includes advice on how to use the practical exercises described in Kegan and Lahey’s How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work – Seven Languages for Transformation.

 

Kegan, Robert, The Evolving Self – Problem and Process in Human Development (1982 (1999))

Integral Institute founder member, and leading adult development theorist, Prof Robert Kegan describes his model of the levels of consciousness growth.

Includes comparisons to Piaget, Kohlberg, Loevinger, Maslow et al.

George Vaillant, author of The Wisdom of the Ego, writes: “If one could buy only one book on adult development, The Evolving Self would be the one to buy... It reflects the state of the art.”

 

Kegan, Robert, and Lahey, Lisa Laskow, How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work – Seven Languages for Transformation (2001)

‘We are already the most overinformed, underreflective people in the history of civilisation,’ say Kegan and Lahey. They offer seven practical exercises (now popular with many integral change agents) for overcoming resistance to change, both within yourself and within your organisation. We continuously manufacture immunity to change without realising it, they warn.

These ingenious exercises can help us to objectify our immune systems, making us aware of them so that we will no longer be held captive by them. For instance, the first exercise digs out the untapped potential hidden in our complaints at work – the last place most people look for the possibility of transformation.

"Beneath the surface torrent of our complaining lies a hidden river of our caring, that which we most prize or to which we are most committed", advise the authors.

Prof. Kegan is a founder member of the Integral Institute.

 

Kelcourse, Felicity, Human Development and Faith: Life-Cycle Stages of Body, Mind and Soul (2004)

The ‘good-enough’ conditions of parenting, family and community in each phase of life.

Draws on Freud, Jung, Piaget, family-systems theory, Erikson, Kohlberg, Kegan, Fowler, Teilhard de Chardin and Gilligan – as well as the mystical visions of Julian of Norwich.

 

King, Patricia and Kitchener, Karen, Developing Reflective Judgement: understanding and promoting intellectual growth and critical thinking in adolescents and adults (1994)

This influential work – drawing on a 10-year longitudinal study – looks at how students and adult learners think and reason about complex issues, growing through stages of increasing complexity.

Social science graduates tend to score higher on the Reflective Judgement Interview than those in natural and mathematical sciences – perhaps as the social sciences tend to reason more about ‘ill-structured problems’, from a range of perspectives.

 

Kofman, Fred, Conscious Business - How to Build Value Through Values (2006)

Ken Wilber writes (in his foreword): “Integral mastery begins with mastery of self, at an emotional level, a mental-ethical level, and a spiritual level.... Fred Kofman is a living example of what he preaches, a man of sensitivity, impeccability and keen consciousness.”

Integral Institute founder member shows how there is no contradiction between spiritual excellence and material success: “Doing business consciously fosters peace and happiness in individuals, respect and solidarity in the community, and mission accomplishment in the organisation.”

See my ‘Kalman’s Kosmos’ review of Conscious Business in Integral Leadership Review.

 

Laske, Otto, Measuring Hidden Dimensions - The Art and Science of Fully Engaging Adults (2006)

This dense but very valuable book is a guide to using the interview-based assessment technique developed by Integral Institute founder member Prof Robert Kegan for assessing a person’s stage of consciousness.

It also has much to say about topics such as developmental coaching and other things too. Also draws on the models of Wilber, Cook-Greuter, Elliot Jaques etc.

For a full description see my review in Integral Leadership Review (March 2007).

 

Laszlo, Ervin, Grof, Stanislav, and Russell, Peter, The Consciousness Revolution (2003)

Ken Wilber writes: “The Consciousness Revolution is an extraordinary discussion among three of the very finest minds of our time, spirited in its exchange, compassionate in its embrace, brilliant in its clarion call to awaken our conscience and consciousness.”

 

Leonard, George and Murphy, Michael, The Life We Are Given - A Long-Term Program for Realizing the Potential of Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul (1995, 2005)

Ken Wilber calls this book “a powerful, compelling, comprehensive approach to individual transformation and community enrichment”.

“[A] practical guide to one type of integral practice… highly recommended”.

Leonard and Murphy – both founder members of the Integral Institute – pioneered ‘Integral Transformative Practice’, as advocated by Ken Wilber – who later developed his own more modular variant, ‘Integral Life Practice’.

 

Levin, Michal, Meditation: Path to the Deepest Self (2002)

Ken Wilber writes in the foreword: “a superb introduction to… the secret of how to find who and what you truly are… in the deepest, highest part of you.”

Includes: energy work, group meditation, visualisation, and in-depth explanation of chakra meditation.

Levin has been interviewed on Ken Wilber’s Integral Naked website.


Liebert, Elizabeth Ann, Changing Life Patterns: adult development in spiritual direction (2000)

“This splendid text has well served as a dependable guide for defining spirituality, connecting it with developmental thought and placing both in a congregational context. All who are concerned with the necessary spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation of persons who will be living and serving in the complex worlds of our new millennium will be guided, challenged, and graced by its profound insights.”
Peggy Way, Eden Theological College.

The book is structured around the developmental shift through stages including conformity, conscientious and interindividual.

 

Linscott, Graham, Uhuru and Renaissance – South Africa in a new century (2001)

A decade on from the book he co-authored with Spiral Dynamics’ Don Beck – The Crucible: Forging South Africa's Future – Graham revisits the fault-lines and strategies he described there. He finds hope, but also daunting challenges.

Includes a nice (colour) Spiral Dynamics ‘Psychological Map’ of the parties, organisations and leaders in South Africa.

Chapters include: ‘The Chimera of Race’, ‘Do-Gooders and Power Demons’, ‘Colour-Coding Africa’, and ‘Tackling the Real Problems’.

   
 

Loevinger, Jane and Hy, Le Xuan, Measuring Ego Development - Second Edition (1996)

The training and scoring manual for assessing Jane Loevinger’s levels of ego development, which I think is the current model preferred by the Integral Institute (in Susanne Cook-Greuter’s extension of the Loevinger model to include more higher stages, that is.).

As well as the detailed ‘Item Scoring Manuals’ for each of the 36 sentences of the written test, there are two appendices of practice exercises and chapters on ‘The Concept of Ego Development’, and ‘Manifestations of Ego Level in Sentence Completions’ etc.

To master the scoring system takes “2 to 3 weeks of study, of course not full time”, say the authors. (I’d love to hear from anyone who’s has successfully learnt to score Sentence Completion Tests from this manual).

Also available is a short-ish 1998 companion volume, Technical Foundations for Meausring Ego Development - The Washinton University Sentence Completion Test (Buy US, Buy UK), edited by Jane Loevinger. It includes chapters on the history of the Sentence Completion Test, reliability and validity, cross-cultural applications, children and youth version of SCT etc.

The Washington University Sentence Completion Test actually began life as the ‘Family Problems Scale’, an objective test of mothers' attitudes.

"Jane Loevinger's model of ego development is one of the monumental contributions to personality and developmental psychology of the past 50 years. No other empirically-anchored approach matches Loevinger's conceptual sweep and methodological precision. Marking a major event in the study of personality development, this volume presents the long-awaited revision of the ego development scoring system."
Dan P. McAdams, Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Psychology and Human Development, Northwestern University

"Diagnostic testers and researchers on personality and development will be delighted to see this revised and updated manual for scoring the WUSCT, the most significant contribution to instruments for personological assessment in many a year. The first edition set a new mark for clarity, ease of use, and higher psychometric standards, but the new one is better in many ways, most notably in being usable with both genders. It's a fitting crown to Jane Loevinger's distinguished career."
Robert Holt, Professor Emeritus, New York University

For more information see: Levels of Ego Development/Action Logics.

   

   

Loori, John Daido, Riding the Ox Home: Stages on the Path of Enlightenment (2002)

Influential Zen Buddhist teacher Loori describes the progress of spiritual development, as depicted in the 10 famous Ox-herding pictures of 12th-century Zen.

 

Loori, John Daido, The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life (2005)

Ken Wilber writes: “John Daido Loori, one of the truly great American Zen masters, has given us a simple yet profound guide to art, creativity, and life itself… The Zen of Creativity is a rare, elegant, beautiful book, highly recommended.”

With exercises, anecdotes and visual tools, the founder and abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery, in New York State, shows how ancient practices can jump-start our creativity – in parallel with spiritual awakening.

 

Lowry, R (ed.) The Journals of A H Maslow (1979).

Review to come.

 

Lynn, Adele, The Emotional Intelligence Activity Book: 50 Activities for Promoting EQ at Work (2001)

Review to come.


More: Integral-related recommendations (M-K)

 

Copyright © 2007 Matthew Kalman