John E. Mack (1929–2004)

I selected this biography, among the many written about TE Lawrence because of the Pulitzer and because of its reputation of being balanced. Reviews of other biographies warn of hagiography or vilification and I wanted "just the facts, ma'am". Granted, this is a psychological biography, so the facts are presented beautifully, but there is a bit of interpretation that is well-presented. After all, Mr. Mack had been a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He should know. Mack is a show more compassionate biographer, and it is apparent from the text how deeply moved he was by his research into Lawrence's troubled life. I actually cried several times while reading this, and learned to not sit down with this book unless I had the tissues next to the chair. I never knew when something would leap up from the page and stab at me. There is a scene described, when Lawrence, as a young man, shyly and painfully proposes marriage to a girl he has loved since they were children. She laughs at him. (She thinks he can't be serious. He has never made any indication that his company has ever been other than brotherly.) Later in Seven Pillars he writes, "There was my craving to be liked--so strong and nervous that never could I open myself friendly to another. The terror of failure in an effort so important made me shrink from trying; besides, there was the standard; for intimacy seemed shameful unless the other could make the perfect reply, in the same language, after the same method, for the same reasons." And after a different kind of traumatic experience in Dera'a, he could not bear to be touched. By anyone. This is an excellent biography of a complex and troubled man who tried to do the impossible and failed tragically. Or succeeded magnificently, depending on who you ask, and when. show less

A psychological take on the life of T.E. "of Arabia" Lawrence. Mack tries awfully hard to avoid sensationalism, which is tricky given the subject, but he pulls it off. The history and politics is fascinating but terribly depressing; the analysis of the heroic aspects of Lawrence's personality just plain fascinating. Mack can't avoid some in-depth analysis of his sexual disfunction, but you're left with the feeling that he'd really rather not focus on it -- his preferred topic is the aspects show more of personality that (combined with opportunity) can create a hero (in a rather carefully specified sense), and his take on Lawrence's sexual peculiarities is that these are more fallout from some traumatic experiences during his campaigns than features contributing to his unique abilities. Whether he's right or not, he makes the historical/political/psychological stuff far more interesting (I got the feeling he's also trying to avoid the label of sex-obsessed psychologist/psychiatrist). show less

Initially, the author’s academic and seemingly critical approach to the subject of alien abduction irritated me. It appeared to me that the most important factor for him was the presentation of material evidence of the existence of these aliens and the veracity of the “experiencers’” accounts in the sense that it could be proven that these abductions had actually taken place on the physical plane in some way or another, which of course is hardly possible. It was as though what show more mattered most was what his peers thought. The author was new to me, since I hadn’t read his previous book “Abduction”.

Later in the book Mack convinced me of his belief in the various accounts of the abductees he’d worked with, owing to the depth of their experiences, perhaps particularly their emotional response to them, even though these may not actually have occurred or be occurring on the physical plane – which in fact is of no significance. (my comment).

As opposed to Dolores Cannon, for instance, who presents us with the experiences of individual abductees and the like, one at a time, by interviewing them under deep regression, Mack gifts us with an overview of the various aspects of abductee experiences, collating and comparing the individual experiences.

This is the first book I’ve read in which the author availed himself/herself of an academic, professional and ontological approach to the subject, and I ended by deeply appreciating his modus operandi.

We’re offered the information that these experiences, though often physically invasive, occasionally to the point of torture, and thus terrifying, have as a potential end result great spiritual development, in fact total transformation. Actually, as far as I understand, it is precisely owing to the terrifying nature of the abductees’ experiences that their total belief system and world view are “shattered”, transformation practically being forced upon them.

New to me was the implication that despite the negative factors of these experiences, the true meaning or aim of the aliens’ behaviour towards us is their desire to provide us with advanced knowledge and to aid us in raising our vibration/consciousness so we better can survive the challenging times ahead culminating in the earth changes at the end of 2012. The matter is somewhat unclear, but it appears that the aliens come not only to help us but to help themselves. Some abductees report that the aliens may have breeding problems and need humans for their long-term survival. hence their use of us to create hybrids to “replenish their stock.” These hybrids are more highly developed than us, while having emotional qualities which the aliens seem to lack, Others report that we humans, who are in the process of destroying our own planet. may need a new planet to live on, and it might be easier for these hybrids to exist in another world. (And the aliens themselves may stand in need of a new planet.)

This book presents information about beings vastly more developed than ourselves, and many experiencers have attained remarkable, altered states, a higher vibration and virtual Samadhi-like states, They feel that they have been blasted into a total transformative experience.

It is as though the more terrifying the experience, the greater the capacity for personal growth, “a very deep heart opening” and “an incredible love for people”, this being what Whitley Strieber experienced. Reptilian beings can be particularly frightening, and one woman responded by bombarding the beings with love energy. They began to “shriek”, ran and “backed off through the wall”. In short, the vile actions of these beings can “provoke” us into resorting to the power of love, the greatest force in the universe, and thus regaining contact with the Source. This is what engenders true healing.

Some abductees are aware that these negative beings reflect dark sides of their own nature, and it seems to me that it may not be everyone or anyone who is likely to experience abduction, but precisely those who have lacked a connection to Source, have not initially believed in the existence of aliens, and have in some way had a “need” to be “ripped from reality” in order to establish or re-establish this connection.

In the final end it is as though the whole point of the abduction experience, at least as regards the individual abductee, is to be provoked to return to Source. Some experience that they have always known the aliens, that they in fact have a deep, inner connection. In personal relationships with aliens, a deep love can arise, much deeper than is possible in human relationships.

There is much talk of Home, another word for Source, and the incredible love to be experienced there.

This book goes deeply into the spiritual experiences of the abductees and has given me an insight into the etiology of the phenomenon that I could not have imagined. I knew nothing of the spiritual side of the matter before. This is an important work which has expanded my world view, thus contributing to my own personal development. I strongly recommend that you read it. show less

The author, John E. Mack, is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. This book is the outcome of him listening to alien abduction stories from hundreds of his patients and taking them seriously. He takes seriously that his patients had some kind of an experience that affected them profoundly and about which they feel and express authentic emotions. Ultimately, I feel he finesses the question of the status of the abduction reports in terms of objective reality. Still, I respect show more his courage to bear witness to the first hand testimonies he's heard. show less