I studied at Cornucopia, a "school" Ken Keyes Jr. founded, in June of 1978. Here's what's good about Ken's ideas. 1)He wants you to focus on your own thinking, your own demands and expectations, so that you can lead a happier life. He says, correctly, that it's very difficult to change events and situations to make them fit your models of how things should be, so why not try and change the way you think about things--smacks of Stoicism, right? But there's more. 2) He has this plan, a bunch of things to do, intended to help you demand less and enjoy more. He wants you to memorize some...aphorisms, to shout out new thoughts into a bucket which is placed over your head (he calls it consciousness focusing), and so on. Yet here's where he's crazy. 1) He tries to explain something called "unconditional love." Now the word "love" as understood by 99.99999% of the population means "an attraction to something perceived as good." Inherent in this definition are conditions. We love ice cream because its condition is good, great tasting. We do not love being boiled in a cauldron. So unconditional love renders the word meaningless. 2)He uses these abstractions ubiquitously, such as "I am freeing myself from security, sensation, and power addictions which..." Say what? "Awakening beings" and "us space" and "cosmic" and "inner light [or wisdom]" are everywhere. Ken's ideas are often solid; I wish that he had a far more straightforward way of communicating them. Yet all in all it's worth wading through the thorns to get to the berries. There's enough good stuff in here to qualify it as a good read.

When I was first introduced to this book by a close friend, I read it. Then I ordered 3 more just so I could share it with my other friends. Of all the books I have read about love, relationships, and life, this is easily the most significant and I'd urge anyone looking for self improvement to read this at least once.

I purchased this book first in the mid 80's while I was laid up after an injury. I was deeply impacted by it and the messages about the levels of consciousness. I have to admit that I have not yet finished it. I continue to work my way through the first 5 levels, over and over again. This book impacts my life in how I interact and whenever I find that I am in "pain" I recognize this, look to where I am stuck and accept myself. I was amazed to find this book cited in one of my Graduate school classes. Apparently Ken was a quadriplegia, nothing in the book talked about this, and these messages of acceptance are important to those who work to overcome the impact of a disability on their life. I have purchased and given away numerous copies of this book. A must read!!

I had this book for about 10 years.I didn't really read it until aboout a year ago.The methods in this book has helped me out emotionaly,spiritaly,with my work and family life.

This is a pragmatic book. I first got this book back in the 70s. I didn't realize what a treasure this book is.

This book will simply teach you how to be successful and happy always. Successful as in let go of the emotional junk that keeps you held back, keeps you sleepy, and all that. Sounds hokey? Well, that's why I didn't read it for about 20 to 30 years. I skimmed it, saw one line in there which sounded "hokey" and didn't read it. However, I kept it; a feeling told me to keep it. Now that I have had major things happen in my life, new career, new kid, and new challenges, this book came to the rescue.

Let's be clear. Had I read this book 30 years ago, I would have saved myself a lifetime of different moments of pain and suffering.

I suggest you read it all the way through as fast as possible, reread it and apply what you learn while reading it the second time.

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