For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago and beyond, all the way to the beginning over a decade and a half ago. It will take a while. Until then, we will be posting discussion questions on a weekly basis. Here are the questions from February's title, Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, The Navy SEALs, And Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing The Way We Live And Work. We hope these questions spark discussions of your own.
Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work
by Steven Kotler & Jamie Wheal
Summary:
National Bestseller
CNBC and Strategy + Business Best Business Book of the Year
It’s the biggest revolution you’ve never heard of, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Over the past decade, Silicon Valley executives like Eric Schmidt and Elon Musk, Special Operators like the Navy SEALs and the Green Berets, and maverick scientists like Sasha Shulgin and Amy Cuddy have turned everything we thought we knew about high performance upside down. Instead of grit, better habits, or 10,000 hours, these trailblazers have found a surprising short cut. They're harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and outperform the competition.
New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler and high performance expert Jamie Wheal spent four years investigating the leading edges of this revolution—from the home of SEAL Team Six to the Googleplex, the Burning Man festival, Richard Branson’s Necker Island, Red Bull’s training center, Nike’s innovation team, and the United Nations’ Headquarters. And what they learned was stunning: In their own ways, with differing languages, techniques, and applications, every one of these groups has been quietly seeking the same thing: the boost in information and inspiration that altered states provide.
Today, this revolution is spreading to the mainstream, fueling a trillion dollar underground economy and forcing us to rethink how we can all lead richer, more productive, more satisfying lives. Driven by four accelerating forces—psychology, neurobiology, technology and pharmacology—we are gaining access to and insights about some of the most contested and misunderstood terrain in history. Stealing Fire is a provocative examination of what’s actually possible; a guidebook for anyone who wants to radically upgrade their life.
Discussion Questions
The primary focus of this book is on the concept of an altered, but ultimately understood as helpful, state of mind called either “ecstasis” or “flow,” interchangeably. Have you previously heard of this concept, whether by this or another name? How do you understand the concept?
What support do the authors give for their interpretation of the results? Do you agree with them?
In what way do you see the concept of ecstasis affecting the world?
Examine applications for altered consciousness in our modern world - other than “Men Who Stare at Goats.” Can an altered state of consciousness heighten our understanding of current sciences? The arts? Philosophy? Etc. In what way might it detract?
The title, Stealing Fire, refers to the Greek myth of Prometheus and this myth is referred to several times throughout the book. Those scientists studying the phenomenon and those partaking are often referred to as modern-day Prometheans and rebels. Explore the way in which rebelling changes the world and its perception.
Taking off of the previous question, what ways do you see rebelling against authority improves our lives and in what way does it hurt it?
What about authority? Why do you see authority fighting against progress? Does authority have the right to monitor and/or control what and how experiments are conducted? Should there be limits set on progress? On authority?
The book opened with a look at what led up to the death of Socrates with the theft of a mind-altering hallucinogen known as “kykeon” and sacred recitations from the Eleusinian Mysteries. The authors describe this both as a rebellion against the powers that be, revenge against Socrates for spurning Alcibiades, and as an example of people trying to go beyond what they already know. Discuss.
Not only are the “good guys” examined in the book, but also known tyrannical dictators and other less admirable individuals. The idea is that everywhere there seems to be someone looking to take advantage of “the collective we”. Discuss.
What is your understanding of group think, hive minds, and altered states of consciousness? Both positives and negatives have been mentioned.
Are there any other books this reminded you of?
If you’ve read into this at all beyond the reading, are there any other experiments you found interesting out there? If not, were there any in the book that caught your interest? Why or why not and discuss.
If you could ask the authors one question, what would it be?
Talk about the writing style and language of the book. Was the language engaging, inflammatory, etc.? Did it draw you into the topic or not? Was the language easily accessible? Were unfamiliar terms and concepts explained?
Do you think this book was controversial? If so, which side would you align yourself with?
Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones? Why?
What surprised you most about Stealing Fire? Did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
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