Altering your consciousness to improve performance? Maybe. "Stealing Fire" by Kotler and Wheal

Title: Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work

Author: Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal

Reviewer: Richard Sesek (educator, wantrepreneur)

Amazon Affiliate Link (I get a small commission at no cost to you)

Topic/Intent of book: "Stealing Fire" explores the pursuit and application of altered states of consciousness (referred to as "ecstasis") by various high-performing groups, including Silicon Valley innovators, Navy SEALs, and pioneering scientists. The authors examine how these states can enhance creativity, performance, and problem-solving abilities. They delve into the methods used to achieve them, ranging from meditation and technology to psychedelics.

I selected this book because: I had heard various stories about “half of Silicon Valley CEOs are on microdoses of psychedelics” and was curious. My brother had read the book and I was intrigued by the concept of optimizing human performance and the various methods employed to achieve such peak states. Understanding how different practices can enhance creativity and problem-solving is valuable for both personal development and fostering innovation in educational and entrepreneurial settings.

Recommendation: I recommend "Stealing Fire" to individuals interested in psychology, neuroscience, and performance optimization. The book provides a thought-provoking exploration of how altered states of consciousness can be harnessed to improve various aspects of life and work. However, individuals should approach the subject matter critically, considering the ethical and practical (and legal) implications of some methods discussed.

Major lessons from this book: The authors define "ecstasis" as a range of non-ordinary states of consciousness that can enhance performance and creativity. These states are characterized by Selflessness, Timelessness, Effortlessness, and Richness (acronym STER). They assert that achieving ecstasis can lead to significant personal and professional breakthroughs. The suggest that various methods can induce ecstasis, including meditation, immersive experiences, technological interventions, and the use of psychedelics. The book discusses how different groups utilize these methods to access heightened states of awareness and performance. Psychology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and technology each contribute to achieving altered states. The authors assert that advancements in these fields have made it more accessible for individuals and organizations to tap into ecstasis for enhanced performance.

While exploring altered states can offer significant potential benefits, the authors themselves caution about potential risks, including dependency, ethical dilemmas, and the importance of approaching these practices responsibly. They emphasize the need for a balanced and informed approach to exploring ecstasis.

Book Inspirations: Personally, I am uncomfortable with significantly altering consciousness in “non-natural” ways (e.g., drugs, lots of alcohol, etc.) and I understand that the concept/context of “natural” can be debated. However, I do see the potential for consciousness altering activities to enhance creativity. For me, I feel that my consciousness can be altered by achieving flow states, particularly associated with intense efforts (both physical and mental) that accompany problem solving. These activities can also be alternated with or preceding innovation sessions to help spike creativity (e.g., going for run, lifting weights, solving puzzles, playing word games, racing against time constraints, playing bug house chess, etc. – doing “challenging things”). I plan to continue to use some of my regular creativity exercises such as fixing or repairing broken items (that “should” be thrown away), building things from left-over materials (that are not really “necessary”), and rapid prototyping invention concepts (reduction to practice) to help induce altered states as naturally as possibly.

"Stealing Fire" has inspired me to consider the problem solving process itself, which I believe, at least for me, can bring me to states of ecstasis. When I am fully immersed and present, the process becomes meditative. I feel that every exercise where I dig deep to solve a problem (even an unnecessary or frivolous problem), helps to make hyper-creative states more readily and quickly accessible. I have seen this many times, particularly in small group settings with like-minded individuals (like-minded in the sense that they value the creative process itself). The excitement that comes with creating something new, particularly with others, provides me with the most reliable, repeatable, and non-hangovery, “high” that I believe is the ecstasis described in this book.