I just got a book in the mail today entitled PRO EVO and subtitled Pro Evolution — Guideline for an Age of Joy. It’s unclear who the author is (at the top of the front cover is the word “Tomotom,” and at the bottom of the front cover is the word “Asama”). It’s copyrighted to one “Tomotom Stiftung.”
It appears to be a new-agey kind of evolutionist-meets-Eastern-religious-thought sort of book. Browsing through the Table of Contents, I saw that it’s got a blurb on “Morality.” Here’s the blurb:
Morality is man’s conscious pro-evo behavior toward his own body, toward his fellow men, and toward animals, plants, and the natural environment.
And that’s that.
Anyone else received a copy of this book? And does anyone happen to know anything more about it?
I just got this book too. As a budding physicist (well on my way through a masters) i can tell you the science is crap. He’s using poorly defined terms and possible implications as fact. From the research i’ve done so far, the only mention i’ve seen has been in blogs. One person claimed to have found “the Foundation” to be a pseudo utopianist society that excludes itself from anti-Evo people for fear of corruption while “ministering” via this book. I, personally, am going to read it only to try to figure out what the hell it is (and continue to investigate “the foundation” and tomotom.) If this subject is something that interests you, I’d suggest “The Doors of Perception” by Aldous Huxley for the drugier perspective on “one-ness” or anything on the Anthropic Principle if you are curious about cosmology and physics and the theological implications. I, however, would not recommend reading this book unless you plan to be *very* critical of it. I’m still waiting for my head to explode or for the Foundation to kidnap me so i can wake up with only one kidney.
I got a copy in the mail a couple weeks back. Been wondering who the hell sent it to me. I figured they may have got my name because I buy a lot of books about evolution (not the woo-woo new age type evolution the book is about, but the actual scientific theory in biology). Maybe my name ended up on a list somewhere and these kooks got their hands on it.
The blurbs on the back are hilarious. They don’t even make an attempt to make them look like real quotes from real reviews. They’re just “‘Wow. I like book.’ –Dr. O, science guy.”
I’ve been looking around on the internet trying to see if anyone knew who the hell is publishing this book and why it’s getting sent out to random people such as myself. So far, no luck. I have no clue who these people are supposed to be.
I got it in the mail too. I think the blurbs on the back were written that way so the members of the foundation could be anonymous, perhaps belonging to such a foundation could damage them professionally.
It is philosophy not science, if you read he states that although the exact scientific explanation may change over the years(remember it was written in the 60’s) the underlying principle is consistent. And of course, everything out there is open to interpretation and although something may be “discovered” through science it still involves interpretation and assumption of belief. Dont trust science too much, it is often proven wrong or incomplete given enough time, hence the ever changing paradigm.
On amazon they have a review of the book saying that it is geared towards emotional women, I have to agree. This thing has cult written all over it
I was also a recipient of this mysterious book, Pro-Evolution Guideline for an Age of Joy. It arrived in my mailbox in March 2006 from an anonymous source and I was instantly intrigued with its message. I was so amazed with its words that I did some research and this is what I found out.
This book was originally published in the United States in 1974 by Asama AG Publishers under the title, Age of Joy. It was a translation of the German text Zeitalter der Freude and was published in Switzerland from 1971-1974. The author was from Germany and he studied agriculture and economics but then realized that he had a message about the human community. More searching found that the author’s real name was Joseph Haid and he was born in 1911 in Austria. There was a mass mailing of his book in the United States by Asama Publishers in 1974; the books were mailed free of charge. At this publication, the author’s name was spelled Tomot Om. I know this because I bought a copy of this book from the website, Better World Books. The Age of Joy is very similar to the 2002 ProEvolution but there are some additions to the later.
I suspect that there was another mass mailing of this book around 2006 by Asama AG Publishers. I have no idea how people were chosen to receive the book. This seems to be a mystery. What I do know is that during early 2006, I did a search for the book Pro-Evolution and I could get it for one penny from several websites. Interesting, huh? This publisher really wants to get these message out. Now copies are around $5 but still available.
I have heard this book referred to as cult-like, as “some weird form of utopian society,” or even a kind of communist regime. This is utter nonsense. People are not reading into the meaning of this book. This is the message:
We all have choices as to how we want to act and react to the world. A person who has thoughts, words and actions that are sensible, valuable and serve to help better themselves and others are said to be pro-evo. People who choose to make these choices will live lives that are filled with feelings of joy and well-being.
On the other hand, thoughts, words, or behaviors that are senseless, evil or serve to hurt yourself or others are said to be anti-evo. These kinds of behaviors result in problems like drug addictions, disease, war, mental illness, etc. People who choose to make these choices often live their lives in turmoil and feel unfulfilled.
Tomotom goes on in his book to describe a world that is united and only creates policies that work toward the benefit of all. I love the concept but I’m quite certain it won’t happen in my lifetime or yours. Most human beings are still too self-centered for that but I don’t doubt that it is a possibility.
We all know that technology is changing the world at such a rapid pace that it’s impossible to know what the future holds. But there is one thing that I am very certain of now in my life. I focus my behaviors on ones that are pro-evo exclusively and I have never been happier (or more sane) in all my life.
Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.
I have recieved this book…my beliefs are pretty simular…What is the foundation? Why did they send me their message? Will they contact me again?
i have received a copy of this book today as well- i only can assume that those that receive either harper, the new yorker or the atlantic magazine might have received it.
I have not read it in entirety browsed through it, is i believe not much of a cult, but yet again anything could become one!
another receiver of the mysterious unsolicited “Pro Evo” book.
i did read the whole book and found parts of it to be fairly interesting (regulating structures) right along with parts of it that i completely do not agree with (poor logic – relies on acceptance of the premise).
but even for material i did not agree with i still had a lot of fun trying to figure out why it was so… offending. sometimes i couldn’t really find a good reason…
i wouldn’t pay for it. but if someone or some group is willing to pay the cost of the book and its shipping to me and not ask for any money in return then i will definitely give it a read.
seriously, there was no solicitation, return address or sender information and the only hint of contact information was the book’s publisher’s website address (www.proevo.ch) where even at that site there is no solicitation.
this cult talk is nonsense. it’s a philosophy book. if you don’t like it. okay. why not?
even though parts of it are kind of hokey, it does a fairly good job at staying ‘timeless’. i wouldn’t have realized it was written in the 50s if they didn’t tell me. there’s only a few parts of it which i feel have been rendered debatable due to time and progress. eg. controlled market practices being ‘anti-evo’ (a bad thing). with technology capabilities being mini-revolutionary (see: transistor circuit designs and performance: CMOS, VCSEL) every few years, it really is a good (and perhaps necessary) protectionary tactic for businesses and employees in that industry. or is the current paradigm truly ‘anti-evo’, divergent from the ideal, and does it need to be changed? see? there’s plenty of fun stuff to talk about =).
i had fun with it. thanks for whoever sent it out.
I stopped by my parent’s house and found this book addressed to me. Very weird due to the clandestine nature of the publisher and mailer. It appears that I received it around the end of January.
IMPORTANT TO NEW POSTERS: Everyone needs to rally together and provide some basic information in your posts so that we can make a concerted attempt to determine how or why we were selected to be mailed this drivel. Is there any rhyme or reason to this? Simply posting “Hey WTF is this?” isn’t going to help us get any closer to the answers we are looking for (this book won’t help you find any answers either). My information will be at the bottom of my post.
Be warned people, cults and books like these base their arguments on very simple logic in order to appeal to a variety of dispositions people have in order to gain their trust. They are akin to the people who claim to be psychics and use inference to get people to believe that they are actually reading their mind and understanding them. It is very dangerous and subversive. Keep a VERY critical mind if you are to read something like this, or any other politically or philosophically charged text for that matter. While the logic seems correct in these books, upon closer scrutination, all of the arguments presented in these texts result in contradictions. These people essentially apply a blanket solution (or “Final Solution” as I would prefer to say) to a very complicated issue/problem. If you are strong of mind and are not susceptible to suggestion, read the book for a good laugh and then use it as a doorstop or whatever.
POSSIBLE FACTORS:
-Older returning college student (28)
-Had a Poli Sci professor who is very liberal, possibly a communist. Volunteered to help his congressional campaign before realizing how irrational he was.
-There is a Scientologist living down the street from my parents.
-Participate in several online communities, but only one, SecondLife (a 3D creative environment) has my private information.
-I am critical and very speculative of everything.
-social democrat, economically conservative
-I believe religion and faith are important, but not entirely convinced of any one in particular.
Anyone else get the book? Please share some info so we can get to the bottom of this mystery!
Rec’d this book about a month ago (March ‘08). Still wondering where it came from. I do not fit into any of the groups listed that may have rec’d this thing…so, keep trying I guess.
I too, have been puzzled as to why I received the book. My first instinct was that some people could perceive that I am too bitter or negative about my life and future. As far as who would know this, it could be friends/relatives or my therapist? I doubt that it would be friends/relatives if this was a coordinated mass mailing (I believe I received it in the fall of 2006. Could my insurance company or therapist have given out my address (United)?
Otherwise, I do fit some of the previous posters information, late 20’s, politically moderate (socially liberal, fiscally conservative), registered independent. I receive multiple magazine subscriptions (Rolling Stone, Men’s Health, GQ). And, I graduated with a masters degree from a public administration degree which is closely related to political science and tied to polisci program at the school I graduated from.
I received this book in the mail today, August 23, 2008. It was addressed specifically to me, which I find peculiar because I moved not long ago and haven’t really given my current address out because it’s not permanent. I’m in college, a physics major, and I’m very conservative politically, I choose the title constitutionalist when titles are convenient. I’m in my early 20’s and I don’t have any magazine subscriptions. The only things I have mailed to me regularly are bills. I do occassionally buy books off amazon.com which could be where they got my address.
I think the mailing of these things is probably somewhat random, if not totally. We can’t really find any solid info on this Foundation and the book so I doubt it’s some orchestrated mailing to specific people otherwise there would have to be contacts. Unless these people somehow got addresses from colleges, which seems to be something many of us have in common, and mailed it out to students and former students because we’re typically more open minded.
The message itself though, I hang on to a healthy amount of skepticism but I am enjoying reading it so far. I’ve been a long time fan of Nietzsche and his idea of the overman as opposed to the last man, and the importance of evolving, becoming more, etc. etc.
My daughter received the same book each of you have described. She took a quick flip through and tossed it into the trash describing it as “weird”. I retrieved it out of curiosity. This entry is an attempt to get a better understanding of who may have sent it. A 20 years old art major, my daughter is in her first year at the local college. She recently received a scholar ship award. We and she have a strong Christian belief and attend our community Baptist church. The one thing I’ve noticed from the other entries is that all of the recipients were college students. Hope this helps to shed light on who could be sending out these books.
I just got one, posted from
US Postage Paid. Permit 1232. Hackensack NJ
I, too recieved this book just an hour ago, and was puzzled by the thought of who could’ve sent it to me. :/
I guess I’ll read it. Though its still kind of strange.
I received this book today and I had no idea what it was so I googled it and bam pops this website of how other people got it. =/ I dont fit any of the descriptions above I’m 20 still in college… community college at that and I dont know about you all but I believe I might have been one of the few younger people to get it. I wonder how? I do read a lot but I dont know how they would have gotten my info. Why not my parents or older brothers? /=
My brother just received this book in the mail (2008). I believe they have started their scary mass shipping again.
I just received this book today, and it is probably due to the fact that I am a returning college student. Probably some sort of system in colleges that singles out older students, maybe some hippie in the arts department was smart enough to install a program that filters out students by age. Who knows, but I hope it a cult that knocks on my door so I can shoot them in the face for sending me this crap. Just kidding, but I thought it was my relatives that are very religious. Who knows.
My copy came today. How can one decline free food for thought?
I would fit in the “Older returning college student” though a bit North of 28 :o) Always careful not to register, and not a member of any organization.
Big fan of Amazon though, wonder if they know more?
I just received this book today. Like everyone else, I have no idea why I received it. I am a polisci major (and, coincidentally, had a very liberal/possibly communist prof), a social and fiscal liberal, and subscribe to TIME mag. I also recently worked with a local grassroots democratic organization for a healthcare referendum… In any case, I have skimmed the book and found parts of it both interesting and humorous.
Pro Evo Book was in the mail (Not sent to me). Much is vague other parts are bias. I figure it is some religious cult outreaching to the masses for new followers. I threw it in the trash with the rest of the junk mail.
The truth behind Pro Evo
I am 17 and i found this book addressed to me as well. I subscribe to no magazines, attend a high school. Attending college as well. I give my address out to no one. I have no idea how they found me. No idea why i got it. I am interested in philosophy so i found it an interesting read. Curious to know more from this foundation of theirs… i”m a little nervous that they know my address and information. So I think that’s all i can say.
I recievied this book August 28th 2008 addressed to me, no return info. I flipped through it, as I am weary of ingesting just anything I come across- especially new age philosophies.
I am sincerely sorry for those misguided enough to find comfort in such a way of thinking. Making good choices and having good thoughts will not bring this result to you and a life of joy. Good people can make good choices and still suffer with a “joyless” life. To make it seem like a battle of good forces against “evil” might be a substantial note to make, but it’s not further elaborating on the external forces.
In general I found nothing profound or to my interest in the book. There is so much more to life than the ideas in this book. In my opinion, science is man’s attempt to explain works of God. Kudos to whomever for attempting to establish a moral code by shaky scientific reasoning, but it proves why such a thing is impossible to accomplish. It is only confusing people and diverting them from the truth.
To quote a revered theologian, “Seek truth wherever you find it”. The world is not subjective. And there is only confusion in this book.
For the record:
College student, 21 years old, no mail subscriptions, Christian, Texas, honor society Phi Theta Kappa, no idea how I got on a list….my only clue might be that I purchase a great deal of used books on Amazon.com. Anyone else do this? Maybe one of the sellers is connected to the publisher?
Weird, that I also received this book a month ago…I was very depressed and was about to break down. I went outside to grab the mail and saw this book addressed to me. I opened it and read a bit about it. I thought it was a message from God or something. It made me felt very different. It’s been a month since I received the book and I just began to read the first few pages. Then, I got curious and ended up on this site.
I don’t know like all the others why we all ended up getting this book, but I am going to read it and let whatever happens happens…
Thanks for sharing the all the information.
I also received this book, im just trying to figure out weather or not to read it. I am a member of second life. but thats it from that list. the only problem is my girlfriend also received this book and she doesn’t even own a computer so i dont have any clue how they receive addresses.
I certainly don’t fit any of those groups, but still received the book in the mail in August 2008. I’m a 17 year old girl, still in high school. I tend to be socially and economically conservative. I read lots of books on all kinds of different religions and philosophies, but my faith is firmly rooted in evangelical Christianity. I don’t usually buy the books either. I borrow them from my church or other people. I had a history teacher two years ago who liked to attack the Christians in the class… The only magazine I’ve ever subscribed to is Seventeen (Probably not a target for people interested in promoting their philosophy). I don’t know of any Scientologists that live near me, but I think there are some illegals? Haha sorry. I don’t like the idea of being targeted by this cult/non-cult thing.
I received this book today and so far, this site has been most informative. College seems to be the predominant theme here, I suppose.. So here are my stats:
Registered Libertarian
Female, 31yrs. old
Graduate student – MBA
Psychology undergraduate (different university from current)
Magazine subscriptions: Business Week, Popular Science
Member – NRA
Member – Americans for Fair Taxation
Raised Southern Methodist… no religious affiliation
Just received it on March 5, 2009. I live in Houston, TX and subscribe to the Smithsonian Magazine and some travel mags. Doing post-bach studies in finance. Late 20’s, atheist, skeptic. It looks like complete bullshit after a quick glance-through: talking about “vibrations” and the mystical concept of “pro-evo”. This is utter crap and I recommend that everyone through it out promptly lest it corrupt your otherwise rational thought.
Ahem, “throw” it out.
I just received the book today. I subscribe to nothing. No newspaper. No magazines. I’m years out of college and don’t share my personal info.
No idea why I got it.
I just got this book mailed to me on March 6, 2009. I’m a returning college student in Oklahoma – got my undergrad in 2001 and now working on a maters. I subscribe to Time, Fortune, and RC Car Action. I’m a libertarian-leaning conservative, and I’m a Christian. I don’t use second life or any online communities extensively. I think the “people who attend college” theory is looking pretty good.
I received this book 03/01/2009. I am north of my 20s but not quite hit my 40s yet. I recently went back to school in 2007. Based off everything I have read whoever sent this out used a list of college students or people enrolled in college. I can’t quite tell but as best as I can see they targeted colleges with religious backgrounds or private universities. I am enrolled in one. I did not read the book but did skim over it. To me it is lacking logical sense. It is very strange that whoever would send this out would not ask for anything, money, volunteership, join my club, etc. I think their only goal is to get the word out and then be done with that person. In other words they are not looking to grow their ministry they are looking to try to better the world as they see it. Just my 2 cents!
Yep, just for a copy yesterday. 03/10/2009
I assume I got it as a result of The Foundation soliciting college students, maybe even political affiliation. Not sure.
I too received the book and was fascinated by the first couple of chapters. But I have been trying to figure out why it was sent to me and who sent this to me. OK, I am not a older student returning to college, but old in age, though not in mind – in my late 40s. Live in Texas now, originally from asia, have an advanced degree, a xian who pleads with god in times of trouble and conveniently questions him in good time – forgive me.
Someone here mentioned it could be a thesis against the existence of god at the end – which is a thesis I am not willing to accept. I was willing to question at one time, but life experience has shown me there are moments in one’s life where you can be utterly helpless and no human – even your most loved ones – can really help you even if they want to…It is those moments you will realize that you most need God as it can be the only power that will get you through it. I have had those moments – a few – and as i stood helpless and pleading, I realized why I need faith and why my children too need to have faith in God.
So call me what you may, I am not going to read the rest of this book – especially a book that came to my doorstep without a sender address – mysteriously. IF the source had to hide itself, one can only assume there is something they want to hide – which again cannot be really PROEVO in the first place.
One more thing…guys, I think they could be targetting people who buy books off Amazon – especially books of fantasy such as Harry Potter, Twilight and the like. I had purchased those for someone in the family.
I received this book the other day, 3/10/2009. After reading through some of the posts above, the only thing I find we have in common is college. I got my MBA about 2 1/2 years ago and am over 30, it was from a private university. I’m actively Jewish and was a Philosophy student in undergrad.
After flipping through this book it had a Scientology feel and honestly, it’ll make a decent door stop. I love books and read a ton… my soul feels tainted after reading but a little of this drivel. (And no, I don’t really feel my soul is tinted… saracism people.)
Do many of you do a fair amount of book ordering from Amazon? That’s my best guess as to how I got on the Pro Evo mass mailing list.
I got this book today, it was addressed to my boss. He’s the head of a German company in the automotive sector.
Absolutely weird how he got a copy of this.
It’s March 2009 and I just received this book a few days ago. As everyone else, I freaked out that someone would send me a book for free and ask nothing of me in return. I admit that it freaked me out even more so because like one of you had mentioned, it came at a difficult time in my life. I am well out of my 20’s and done with my master’s long ago. I don’t suscribe to magazines and am a math professor so I don’t think that I fit into any of these categories as mentioned above. So why me? Well, you know, it doesnt consume me as much as it seems to consume everyone else. Of course, I was curious, otherwise I wouldn’t be on this site adding a comment. But I actually welcomed the book. I am definitely straight on what I do and dont believe in and have always been strong enough to not be led astray that easily. What I appreciate about this book that only a few of you seem to do, is that the deeper meaning is what is really important. Get past all the difficult to read and iffy science and read the real meaning. It’s just what the pro-evo ii commentary said it is. Try to live a life that is good and positive and do the best that you can to avoid the negative while at the same time helping others to be the best that they can be. Why is that such a scary thing to so many of you? Why are so many of you afraid of even reading this book? If you are truly a strong person, you are only going to take the good out of this book and get beyond the weirdness that you are feeling. People are so skeptical now in life and don’t think that for one minute, something good was done just to be good!! For goodness sakes, its not like these people are asking you to donate or join a cult! Did anybody bother to read the last few pages where it says that there is no group formed on this book? So why are you all so afraid of reading? So skeptical? No, its not going to fix all the problems of the world and it never said that bad things wont happen to good people. It’s just a message of hope, that’s all! Try and live your to its highest potential, that’s all. Really, learn to take the good out of a situation. Don’t make everything seem so alterior motive! We all need to reminded of the good that we can do with our lives from time to time. What’s so wrong with that? Life is what you make of it. What i do with this book is still up to me, not the person who sent it to me. So dont be afraid of a book! I can only imagine how skeptical most people were in the time of Christ! How are you all different from those people that questioned Christ? Really?! Why is it bad that someone tried to get you to see that living a life that is good and productive is pro-evolutionary? Don’t you think that doing good things towards humanity and earth itself, is beneficial? Or shall we all just go on worrying about ourselves only and continue destroying the earth? Because my friends, that is where we are headed, whether you believe in Christ or not, open your eyes and see the world around you! And you bash a book and an author that while maybe misguided in his belief of evolution, really seeks to send out one message…being good? I think I am more afraid of everyone that just threw this book in the trash and didn’t bother to find out its contents or look at the deeper message? You’re the ones, I am worried about? If you comment on my message, answer me one question. What is wrong with sending out a book who’s main message is to be good and do good things? I’d like to know.
I received this book in March 2008. Never requested this, and I don’t know how they knew where to send it because I had just moved like two months before I got the book. I hadn’t even changed my mailing address with my bank yet (I’m kind of lazy with those things). I have an B.A. in History and Mathematics with a great deal of exposure to physics, my original major. I’m about to graduate with an MBA, and am currently pursuing my CFA. I, like several other people, found the back cover incredibly funny but haven’t read the book yet. Also, like several other people, after skimming the first few pages, I’ve found that the book seems to espouse a philosophical outlook similar to my own. I’ll read the book, when I have time that is, to see if it is crap like some of you have said or intriguing like some of the others have said.
You have to give the “foundation” credit for their stealth appeal. Of course the science in this book is trash, based upon what we know today. But don’t forget the world was flat at one point. I suggest you read the book before you comment, unless you are of weak mind, in that case you better just send it to the circular file. We don’t want to corrupt you. Then again, if you are of weak mind, don’t read anything because you might just become corrupted. I don’t know about you, but the more I learn, the more I learn how little I really know. The world is in sort of a tough time right now, could a little positive thought and kind actions to others be all that bad? I was not a philosopy major and never took Logic 101, hammer away but you better watch out because that would be anti-evo behavior….
The first time I got the book, it hit the trash immediately. The second time I got it, I gave it a read to give the foundation credit for persistance. I recently graduated with my M.S. from a major (accredited) University, but young I am not, I am old enough to be the parent of most of the commentors. Lot’s of people buy off Amazon, me too, mostly hard science books. After reading this book, I’ve cut a wee bit back on my negative comments and I am treating my dog better. But I reserve the right to continue my Bush bashing sessions, they make me feel good.
I got this book too, same shrink wrap, but it was addressed to a friend of mine who was staying with me while finishing his Phd. I wouldnt be too freaked out. He too orders a lot of books and is on several mailing lists due to the university. I have not received a copy, but I graduated years ago.
I received this book in my mail box March 09, but it didn’t seem to have come via normal mail, as my address was not on it. I have no idea why I was targeted. I do subscribe to a similar philosophy so there was nothing that shocked or disturbed me, just kind of ho hum. How can it be cultish if there is no invitation to follow up?
Recv’d spring 2009. MBA (attending), 28. No subscriptions for a while. Last one, to the WSJ back in 2006. Going through some difficult decisions but I guess most people over 25 are. At the start also thought to be a sign or sent by ‘destiny’ to help me through these difficult times. Good thing I found this thread. Probably going to read it anyway, but giving it less importance. Great posts everyone, very helpful.
I received Pro-Evo in probably 2004. Unsolicited. Anonymously. I too was somewhat intrigued by the methodology of the distribution. At the time I received the book, there were only two listings on google regarding Pro Evo.
I both agreed and disagreed with some of the statements and premises in the book which is natural for any kind of philosophy. I even marked in pencil the paragraphs I felt strongly about, one way or the other, and wrote some notes in, as well. I know I re-read it at some point in the intervening five years.
I recently was “guided” to re-read it and I find that I am slightly more open to it’s tenets than I was five years ago. But I have also had some serious awakenings since then, on many levels.
It’s not tripe. It’s not crap. It’s been written in a simple style, purposely, I believe. It seems to be somehow distributed to people with a certain mindset, though that impression is obviously subject to a given amount of statistical bias. (People who have enough of an “open-mindedness” to actually read an unsolicited book on some random guy’s philosophy, let alone digest and discuss it online, probably biases the demographic of the recipients toward the liberal, younger and college-attending end of the spectrum, by default.)
I received it as a married woman, working in the medical field, no kids, not in college, but active on many forums which discuss politics, self-transformation and philosophy definitely leaning toward New Thought/New Age. But all my forum IDs are anonymous. I’m thinking Amazon may be the source and they are (or were) not above selling a member list and could have somehow connected by my common email address which forums I participate on.
As far as this being a cult, I think that is probably not a reality. It’s too hard to find information on this author and book, they have no “place” on the web or even in reality. Unless they are kidnapping people from their beds, never to be seen again, I don’t think it qualifies on any level as a cult. Most conventional religious dogma is way more “cultish” sounding than this book’s tenets.
On the whole, it was worth at least three reads from me. It’s a short book, takes about an hour to get through and is food for thought. Not everything stands up to scrutiny but the world was a much different place when this was written and in some ways we are better off as a species than when the book was written and in some ways closer to destruction. One has to keep that in mind when evaluating the value of this knowledge.
Anyone who automatically slaps the “communist” label on this is nothing but a rabble rouser. To them I say: the world is made up of shades of gray that fall comfortably, and practically, between capitalism and communism. In fact, this country is, and has been, a hybrid for almost it’s entire existance. Don’t be so quick to look a gift horse in the mouth. There is no such thing as useless knowledge.
Jennifer
OK, I’ll add to the list of “Why did I receive this book”. It arrived today, and I’d read up to page 27 when I decided to Google it and the author. I’d noticed some hedge words and dubious science just in this short 27 page distance, though I still will likely read the entire thing just because I’m the curious kind. I do believe in God, or as some would say a higher power, and I don’t belong to any established religion or church, although I do consider myself Judeo-Christian, so thanks to the above posters’ warnings about the Atheist or Humanistic slant contained within the later pages of this book. I did, however, consider myself both of the latter in what I can only say were my naive days and did subscribe to and receive publications issued by the main disseminators of these belief (or non-belief) systems.
I did notice that the mailing label for this book was identical to the one on the Scientific American magazines I currently subscribe to, and very similar to the one on my Mensa Journals. As to my profile, I’m a 55 year old male, and I dropped out of college in my second semester in 1973. This appears to be quite different from many of the previous posters here, so it would seem that in some cases this is book is just a targeted mass mailing, and foundations, regardless of their country of origin, do have to spend a certain amount of their funds every year, as directed by their charter and home country laws. So, bottom line, I get an unsolicited free book in the mail full of mind candy (things to think about and ponder) and I will read the rest of it in this spirit.
Well it has started again. I just received a copy today 12/10/2009. I do fit into any of the profiles previously presented. I am a 53 year mail with 2 years of college dating back to the mid 70’s. I am politically conservative and very inactive other than involvement in my 3 kid’s activities. It was addressed specifically to me as I have 22 year son who just graduated from college with an Education degree who shares my name with a middle initial differing the 2 of us. This came to me! Read through enough of it to get an idea of the message and then proceeded to discover this website. Thanks for all or your input.
I got a copy in the mail today (12/10/2009), and there are again many copies available from Amazon for $0.01. I am active online and getting my mailing address is easy done. Sharing info is bad way to figure this out though – there are too many variables and not enough data. What we need is someone that works in the Hackensack, NJ Post Office.
Found the book in my mail 12-10-09. Most facinating, many thoughts agree with ideas gleaned from undisclosed source during our CIA “Star Gate” sessons.
Reaction to contents is good tool for depth of mind evaluation. I love it, our social order needs its pot stirred.
Hey I just recieved this book today so I guess they started mailing them again
I’m a 17 year old high school junior with fairly liberal economic and social ideals
A member of my organization (engineering) called to say he received the book yesterday with our organization name included with the address. I assured him we didn’t provide his address, but have a theory that signing up for a discount subscription through us years ago could have lead to this.
I read this book. And received it after ordering some books for an Eastern Philosophies class at the University of Texas. After taking several courses in Easter Philosophy, I can say this is more along the lines of Tantric thought, although without the sexual features. There being sort of a tantric “turn” to the world and acting just or (dharmic) to help enlighten the world. This is nothing but Eastern religion disguised as something other than Tantra, but that’s essentially what it wants to be–tantrism.
Just recieved this book in the mail (December 2009). I guess they’ve started another mass mailing? Anyways, seems like quite a waste of resources to just randomly mail paperbacks to people..
At first I thought “Oh cool a free book” (i’m a heavy reader) but then I got sort of a bad vibe considering this was mailed to me out of the blue with my full name on it as well.
From what I have garnered this seems to be some dude’s self proclaimed philosophical epiphany. One in a sea of countless many.
I suspect the workings of your typical new age, pseudo-scientific ‘guru’ at work.
The fact that the quotations on the back of the book are from unamed “world-famous” scientists doesn’t do much for the books credibility either.
Read it with a healthy dose of skepticism if you plant to.
I received the book yesterday. I was an older student until May when I graduated. My husband and I subscribe to Harpers and The New Yorker and buy too many books from Amazon to read unsolict books received mysteriously in the mail.
This came in the mail yesterday (12-12-09) and as an investigator; I found the clandestine nature of its source fascinating. I’m a Christian and have no idea why I would receive this type of publication.
After performing a cursory scan and reading bits of it, I’ll be content to pray that all who buy into this come to know who is really in charge of the universe.
This has mindless cult written all over it. It’s most certainly a “book” for people that are spiritually lazy and actually believe that we can save ourselves. It’s just one more way that Satan leads those who believe this away from Christ their Savior.
I’d highly recommend it to those who believe that the world is ending on 12-21-2012. It reminds me of the pseudo intellects I used to hang out with before becoming a believer in Christ as my one and only Savior.
Sorry folks, but anyone who actually believes this is an idiot, plain and simple
Lighten up folks – this book is a scream – (Prof. T. B. a university professor)
The writer above named “proevo” is a disciple and publisher of EVO, thus his effervescent waxing. Have we seen this stuff before? German scientology is no less pseudo-scientific than L. Ron Hubbard’s version, and no less omniscient in its voice. Everyone here is correctly suspicious. Christians sure have a lot of money to send it around, eh? Ever wonder who funds this effort? Intelligent Design is all the rage with Christian intellectuals. How many angels can dance in Planck Time? They just can’t get it right. “Humans cannot contemplate the complexity of nature, THUS some intelligence far greater than Man must have.” Quaint. Dismissive of science, “modern” ID scribes recycle the same nonsense as did their medieval predecessors. As for “the origins and meaning of existence”, why not just love your neighbor and help the world feed itself?
for some reason this book gets to people who have some questioning about life or existence.
I also received this book: December, 10, 2009 no return address
I;
Live in East Bay California
recently slammed door on some Jehovah Witnesses
Do not get a lot of junk mail
Subscribe to Scientific American
Buy from Amazon.com
Get Rss feed from United Scientists, Scientific America
Lesbian Female 50 years of age
No religious affiliations. agnostic
Use Ebay
Very rarely post opinions- a few on Wikipedia and urban dictionary
Use facebook
I hope this helps
Well I got this book in Dec. 2009 and I’ve never been to college, being 16. That’s not really compatible with the theory that college students get it so I’m led to believe that they choose the recipients randomly.
But I’m not sure how they got my name. Even though personal information can be bought from companies, I don’t think the publishers/ “Foundation” did that.
Got this today in the mail (December 14, 2009). I’m in my late teens, am left politically and economically, and am an atheist. I buy a lot of Sci Fi books and often read on the subjects of physics and astronomy. I’m sub’d to Scientific American and Discover. I’m not sure how they’re determining who to send these books. A lot seem to be philosophy or science majors or interests but people not even in college or having one of those degrees are getting them.
A suggestion: The mailing list may jibe with that of an East coast e-mail book vendor. That’s the only common thread that comes to mind. As for the financial backing of the “Foundation”, I’ve no idea. As for Joe Haid, I guess that he died happy and happily. R.I.P.
Received today, December 15, 2009, in Texas. Scientist by education, Meteorology degree from a large state school about 10 years ago. At present, I’m an Information technology manager at a large company. I believe Scientific American’s subscription list is the culprit…I take that, ESPN and Sports Illustrated under my name at this address. I think I actually recall seeing an add for this in a recent SciAm a few months ago.
12/16/09
I received one as well. Here’s my stats
16, high school sophmore
Multiple magazine subscriptions, Time, Popular Science, Rolling Stone, etc.
Heavy interest in science and philosophy.
Winner of state anatomy tournament, possibly how they found me.
They seem to be targeting the young, promising intellectuals who will hypothetically further their “foundation.” Very pro-evo in itself.