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The World Is As You Dream It: Teachings from the Amazon and Andes
After 'Hit Man'
The New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man documents John Perkins’ extraordinary career as a globe-trotting economic hit man. Perkins’ insider’s view leads him to crisis of conscience--to the realization that he must devote himself to work which will foster a world-wide awareness of the sanctity of indigenous peoples, their cultures, and their environments. Perkins’ books demonstrate how the age-old shamanic techniques of some of the world’s most primitive peoples have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
Deep in the rain forests and high in the Andes of Ecuador, native shamans teach the age-old technique of dream change, a tradition that has kept the cultures of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar alive despite centuries of conquest. Now these shamans are turning their wisdom and power to the problem of curing a new kind of illness--that created by the industrial world’s dream of dominating and exploiting nature.
John Perkins tells the story of these remarkable shamans and of the U.S. medical doctors, psychologists, and scientists who have gone with him to learn the techniques of dream change. These shamanic teachings have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
The New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man documents John Perkins’ extraordinary career as a globe-trotting economic hit man. Perkins’ insider’s view leads him to crisis of conscience--to the realization that he must devote himself to work which will foster a world-wide awareness of the sanctity of indigenous peoples, their cultures, and their environments. Perkins’ books demonstrate how the age-old shamanic techniques of some of the world’s most primitive peoples have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
Deep in the rain forests and high in the Andes of Ecuador, native shamans teach the age-old technique of dream change, a tradition that has kept the cultures of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar alive despite centuries of conquest. Now these shamans are turning their wisdom and power to the problem of curing a new kind of illness--that created by the industrial world’s dream of dominating and exploiting nature.
John Perkins tells the story of these remarkable shamans and of the U.S. medical doctors, psychologists, and scientists who have gone with him to learn the techniques of dream change. These shamanic teachings have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
26 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
John Perkins
121 books1,221 followersJohn Perkins is an activist and author. As a former chief economist at Boston strategic-consulting firm Chas. T. Main, Perkins says that he was an "economic hit man" for 10 years, helping U.S. intelligence agencies and multinational corporations cajole and blackmail foreign leaders into serving U.S. foreign policy and awarding lucrative contracts to American business.
However, after several years struggling internally over the role he was playing in crippling foreign economies, he quit his consulting job. In the 1980s Perkins founded and directed a successful independent energy company, which he subsequently sold. Since then he has been heavily involved with non-profit organizations in Ecuador and around the world. He continues this work today, in addition to his writing.
His new book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, 3rd Edition: China’s EHM Strategy; Ways to Stop the Global Takeover, a follow-up to international best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will be released on February 28th, 2023.
However, after several years struggling internally over the role he was playing in crippling foreign economies, he quit his consulting job. In the 1980s Perkins founded and directed a successful independent energy company, which he subsequently sold. Since then he has been heavily involved with non-profit organizations in Ecuador and around the world. He continues this work today, in addition to his writing.
His new book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, 3rd Edition: China’s EHM Strategy; Ways to Stop the Global Takeover, a follow-up to international best-seller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, will be released on February 28th, 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 1, 2007
Because I can't say it any better myself, here is a review from: Library Journal
Environmentalist, teacher, and activist Perkins established Earth Dream Alliance to preserve indigenous people, their environment, and their shamanic traditions. This book is a fascinating account of how he and others, through contacts with cultures such as that of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar, concluded "that in order for life to continue as we know it, we must all change our dream from the one of materialism and domination...to a more spiritual, cooperative, and Earth-honoring one." He recounts shamanic journeys to encourage the reader's self-empowerment, so that knowledge long buried by Western culture may be rediscovered. Recommended for large public and academic libraries, especially those with New Age and anthropological collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Environmentalist, teacher, and activist Perkins established Earth Dream Alliance to preserve indigenous people, their environment, and their shamanic traditions. This book is a fascinating account of how he and others, through contacts with cultures such as that of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar, concluded "that in order for life to continue as we know it, we must all change our dream from the one of materialism and domination...to a more spiritual, cooperative, and Earth-honoring one." He recounts shamanic journeys to encourage the reader's self-empowerment, so that knowledge long buried by Western culture may be rediscovered. Recommended for large public and academic libraries, especially those with New Age and anthropological collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
March 12, 2018
An important message for our times but it’s just a primer introducing new (ancient) terminology and ideas to the ‘civilized’ types. If you’re looking for teachings, you’ll have to go elsewhere; but, some interesting, albeit brief, anecdotes from which there isn’t much to extrapolate are included. As for the writing... the editor could have done better. But, this was published in 1994 and I guess I had a different vision of this book when I chose to read it. I give it four stars for the message, otherwise it would have been three. Five stars means I’ll reread and this book just makes me want to move on for more information. Definitely a grassroots effort to inject our society with sensitivity to overconsumption. More work needs to be done and I hope that the message spreads.
January 26, 2018
A beautifully-written and important book...
September 13, 2019
Good points about climate change and our western society that is cause of all natural disasters. Difference between fantasies and dream. Less interesting the journeys under the effect of indigenous drug.
June 22, 2015
Read: Confessions of an Economic Hitman. It's much better!
August 15, 2023
This 1994 book is the second John Perkins work I've benefited from. I wish the secular friends and family around me could at least sample his key insights about dreams vs fantasies, construction as the prime mover of our rapacious way of life and thought, and how reorienting our present states by reconsidering the terrors we've each suffered in the past might in turn better both now and our individual and collective energies towards unity rather than greed, folly, and a determination to build what we demand to last, to dissect what we've been given by nature, rather than leaving a lighter, ephemeral imprint upon earth. My only improvement: link the bibliography to more of the main narrative, for footnotes direct readers to only a few of the many resources listed. Many may scoff at this investigation, but patience will enable wisdom to emerge. I admit psychonavigation bewildered rational me, but as a sympathizer with the goals Perkins advocates, I gained profound lessons.
March 27, 2024
1994. The title refers to the idea that it's what we imagine or dream that becomes our reality. The author was instrumental in founding several organizations [including the Pachamama Alliance] meant to help people reconnect to Mother Earth and learn from indigenous S. Americans how best to do this. It involves quite a change in our cultural values and ways of thinking. This white N. American author is uniquely able to describe the changes that need to be made.
August 9, 2022
3.5 stars! This book was a very fascinating and easy read, learning about a lot of indigenous wisdom geared towards essentially environmentalism and saving the planet. It got a bit redundant but I liked reading it
July 3, 2011
I loved every moment about this book. It helps us to change the way we live through what we dream. This is rooted in the Shamanic teachings of the Amazon and Andes. i find that what we dream completely changes our relationship with the world. If we dream about buying our next new car or large home than more concrete, steel and resources will be used to help us fulfill that dream. However if we dream about unity, peace and the wonderfulness of nature than we will probably be more content with our relationships, the quality of the food we eat and invest into renewable resources and sources of energy. I am going to read a lot more about shamanism and hope to read more by John Perkins
July 24, 2016
Absolutely fantastic, it makes you see at things in a totally different way.
I would suggest to everyone to reed it, on Amazon it is really cheap and it takes a few days to read it, the flow is really good and gives you a different prospective on the world!
I really loved it
I would suggest to everyone to reed it, on Amazon it is really cheap and it takes a few days to read it, the flow is really good and gives you a different prospective on the world!
I really loved it
January 28, 2009
Not my favorite book on shamanism, it's a little too stiffly written and sparse for that. It did bring me back to the same place of dream change that is so awesome with these books.
May 4, 2009
Hard to put down. If you're ready to open your mind to wxpereinces that challenge our medical world, give this a read.
June 2, 2012
brilliant - yet again perfect thought evoking material from John Perkins
March 5, 2014
This was an absolutely astounding book that spoke to me on every page.
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October 26, 2014The World Is As You Dream It: Teachings from the Amazon and Andes 10092006b John Perkins
March 13, 2016
Full review forthcoming, but definitely a book I will have to purchase for my own collection!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews