My Big TOE: Awakening

Meh

Long winded. Spends the entire audio book qualifying what's to come and convincing the listener to keep an open mind. Got it! Now can we get to the point? I wish I could've skipped this one altogether. Too much banter and not enough science.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Bombastic

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I am certain that the author is the author's biggest fan.

Has My Big TOE: Awakening turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He was ok.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No. This book detracts from other books in the genre.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

What a Trip (but to where?)

This is a review of all three books. Sorry it is so long, but I care passionately about the search for truth and a book such as this should not be tossed aside lightly. It is quite long, promises much, and thus potential readers deserve a chance to understand the curiosities contained within before committing the many, many, hours it takes to properly digest this material.

Audible does not have the book figures as a pdf, but you can see them at the author’s website my-big-toe dot com. You may also want to read about the author’s first Psi trips in Far Journeys which is also available online. There you can judge for yourself the scientific procedures used.

I don’t think it is fair that this book be placed under Science/Physics section along with so many other conformist books that are so narrowly focused on science in our physical universe. This should be placed with other mind-expanding works over in the New Age section.

The author/narrator has a very personable, approachable and funny presentation. He presents himself as a no nonsense scientist who insists on hard evidence. Impressively, the author was taught his Psi skills as a child by non-physical beings over a period of years until some non-physical uppity-ups, perhaps the entity he calls the “Big Cheese”, decided Campbell might be getting too weird, so a work-order was issued to close down his astral-projection portal. He forgot about this early psi training until many years later (apparently about the time he discovered people would pay good money to take classes in Psi and out of body experiences). Since then he has engaged in much Psi research and has quite a lot of scientific proof for spatial, temporal and trans-dimensional astral-projection as well as documented shared out of body experiences. I expect this will be peer reviewed sometime soon and appear in a major journal like Nature. Surely he will also demonstrate these skills to the Amazing Randi or another professional skeptic under carefully controlled conditions and finally put such doubts to rest forever. Unfortunately he finds due to “the common fact that some static or noise is usually on the line…there is often more confusion than clarity when comparing accounts…and it is often vague and unreliable…it does not transfer well to those who do not understand…”. Nevertheless it is comforting to know that tumors are very easily detectable and curable using Psi powers, but, again unfortunately, only tumors diagnosed by Psi are easily treated. Tumors with any non-Psi objective physical evidence for existence (like medical test results or being felt or seen) are very difficult to treat. He is generally able to cure tumors with absolutely no physical evidence for existence. This is due to the Psi-Uncertainty Principle. This holds that confirmation of Psi techniques can only be made to small groups with high quality consciousness. Any experiment that could demonstrate Psi techniques to large numbers of low quality consciousnesses is prohibited as it would disturb the growth of those with lower level consciousnesses. Prohibited by whom? I presume the Big Cheese or AUM itself. Paraphrasing Campbell, I guess the proof of the Cool-Aid is only in the drinking.

The presentation of his Theory of Everything starts by claiming that since causality must either be eternal or otherwise metaphysical in origin he must assume a metaphysical absolute undifferentiated oneness (AUO) without time or space which is the source of all consciousness and all reality. Wow – what a huge and fascinating first assumption…I wonder where that might lead?

Along with the AUO Campbell presumes a fundamental process of evolution. Does a “process” or “evolution” implicitly depend upon the notion of time? Apparently wondering such things makes me a close minded, conformist, jackass, (if you see me with this book you are advised to take it away).

He then claims the goal of being is to decrease entropy and notes the second law of thermodynamics holds that entropy must always increase in a closed system. Now-a-days scientists believe the second “law” only holds when the starting condition is a low entropy state and one of the current issues in cosmology is to understand exactly why the universe seems to have started in such an incredibly low entropy state. Alas such thoughts, it seems, are one of my dogmas that are likely to severely limit my spiritual growth.

Time and then space develops as parts of the AUO cycle between differentiated and undifferentiated. My not understanding how “parts” of an “absolute undifferentiated oneness” can differentiate then cycle without differentiation nor time nor space seems to be another of my limitations. I guess “timeless space less absolute undifferentiated oneness” doesn't mean what I think it means. I did check the glossary of acronyms, to no avail.

Campbell goes on and on describing the nature of reality, AUM, PMR, NPMR, TBC, EBC, Belief Traps, Consciousness Quality, Fractal Reality, etc. Campbell indicates that all this is derived from his two simple and self-evident assumptions. I guess I will just have to take his word on that. I suspect this being clear would be a violation of the Psi-Uncertainty Principle.

It is a bit surprising to me that with all the countless myriads of higher level physical and non-physical beings I would happen to get stuck on the very lowest level…What are the odds?….(well, just about zero, actually). It does concern me that Campbell’s TOE seems somewhat non-relativistic. It seems to place humans at the very bottom of a practically infinite cascade of higher levels with AUO at the top. Placing humankind at the bottom seems exactly as odd as placing humankind at the center, or pinnacle, of existence.

About half way through the 35 hour trilogy it begins to become apparent that the promised Theory of Everything is not yet actually ready for prime time. It is only a meta-framework and connecting it to any other science will have to wait for other people, other books, or another day. Campbell instead tells you what to do to evolve your, surely pitiful, little low quality consciousness, into a really high quality consciousness like his, and how to gain really nifty Psi powers, and to reduce your ego. I am sure the notes above will give you a clear indication of how significantly Campbell’s ego has been reduced.

There are a few places that Campbell actually connects his TOE (slightly) with physical reality. Campbell indicates that time in our physical universe starts at t=0 and increments by delta-t (a huge multiple of the delta-t of AUM). This seems odd since in general relativity multiple observers can see the same set of events in different temporal orders. The Heisenberg Uncertainly Principle does not seem to infer a delta-t but instead a delta-something-else, where that something is related to time & energy or position & momentum. I think we should keep an open mind of this one, but perhaps Campbell can check in with the Big Cheese and see if there has been a booboo here.

In the end, Campbell’s TOE is never tied into physical reality; there is no unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity, no quantum gravity, no resolution of dark matter and dark energy, no insight upon cosmic inflation, no insight regarding Bell’s Inequality, no reduction in the open parameters of QM. This is a very-stubbed-TOE. Campbell happily proclaims he has explained all of science. He quotes Einstein many, many times. Perhaps this makes it science?

I have friends, using arguments with seeming equal validity to Campbell’s, who would consider it a clear fact that Campbell’s benevolent seeming non-physical teachers are certainly demons sent by Satan to ensnare him, and through him, me & you! Clearly anyone with an open and skeptical mind must be open to both of these, equally likely, interpretations.

I really can’t tell you how much I loved this book. Nope, I really can’t.

60 of 73 people found this review helpful

When you are ready, this book is mind-blowing.

This was the book that gave me the final push beyond the obvious objective reality we all live in. There is so much more to life and existence, and ironically that knowledge and the awakening that arises from that knowledge makes objective reality a lot more fun and productive.

Tom Campbell is giving us insights into the game - the big picture. How you play is up to you. This book is for everyone, but not just anytime. You have to be prepared to expand your horizons - suspend your prejudices and beliefs.

There is a ton of material on the web from Tom Campbell. He isn't selling anything. He is very generous with his teaching on the web.Explore there to see if this book makes sense for you right now.

Personally I love Tom Campbell's narration and humor, but watching his videos online will give you an idea if it works for you. As one reviewer said, this book is not sufficient to understand Tom Campbell's Big Toe - his theory of everything. That is not a valid criticism in my mind. Tom Campbell just wants to get started on giving people the background so that each of us can develop our own, personal big toe.

Whether we recognize it or not, we all carry in our heads a theory of everything, which guides our thoughts, actions and intents. Tom Campbell simply wants to help each of us expand that theory. For me, he has blown up my previous theory of everything and I intend to spend the rest of my life expanding and developing my own, personal Big Toe.

Thank you Tom - I look forward to your narration of the next two books. And BTW - Tom Campbell is not relation, as far as I know. I have never met the man, although I certainly would like to.

17 of 21 people found this review helpful

A real TOE that shoots itself in the foot

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Had I written this review after only reading the books, I’d be in total agreement with the other one and two star reviews. But I held off because I realized that I was taking issue with the way the ideas were expressed, not with the ideas themselves. So, I did more research, learned more about Tom’s TOE via his videos (watch the Calgary lecture to start), listened to what other well-respected physicists and philosophers have to say about simulation theory, and I’m now convinced that Campbell is not only on to something, but may be a real pioneer in this field. But if you only rely on the books, you’ll miss the forest for the trees.

Campbell is a human being, just like the rest of us, and he’s susceptible to all the same foibles of ego that he warns his readers about. Otherwise, he’d have hired a very good, skeptical editor who would have been able to cull this trilogy into a single volume that doesn’t repeat the same principles ad-nauseum. An editor could have also tempered the undercurrent of patronization that frames many of the more complicated ideas he presents. To make these ideas accessible to the layman, Tom tries his hand at humor by ending each chapter with ham-fisted dialogues to lighten things up. Trouble is, the strategy is painfully obvious. At best, it’s just annoying. At worst, it undermines the gravity of what he’s trying to convey. There’s a difference between simplifying the communication and treating the reader like a simpleton. An editor would have told him that anyone willing to even entertain such ideas as a TOE is already along for the ride. If anything, this stylistic misstep does prove that physicists make lousy comedians (there’s probably an equation for this).

A bigger frustration is that Tom tells us not to believe anything he says, and to be skeptical. Awesome. But then he goes on to describe paranormal events he’s experienced without providing any supporting evidence, validations or third-party testimony. We have nothing to go on without belief. So why bring it up at all? Herein lies the real challenge of trying to objectify the subjective. It can’t be done. But this doesn’t mean it’s not true. Maybe that’s his point. I’m not sure.

The core stumbling block is this: There comes a time when a writer can become lost in the jungle of their own ideas, navigating the thickets of important declarations and assertions over and over, restating the previous day’s work rather than re-reading and re-writing it. With a work of this size, it’s easy to imagine working on chapter 93 while having no memory of having written the exact same passages back in chapter 2, 18, 32, 46, 68, 91… you get the idea. A second set of eyes, open to the ideas, but discerning, would have provided the kind of sharp machete needed to clear a path forward. The lesson? Never self-publish without first investing in a good, dispassionate editor. Ideally, someone who can keep you on your game and staying the course.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

But if/when you can get past these shortcomings, there’s a very profound truth that emerges over time. I found myself returning to Tom’s TOE due to its explanatory power and synergy with the emerging science of digital physics and the simulation hypothesis. And I keep coming back to it as I learn more. As simulation technology continues to advance, it becomes more likely – not less – that the simulation hypothesis will emerge as the missing link between classical and quantum events along with objective and subjective observer experience.

Tom is now proposing six quantum mechanics experiments that could falsify his theory, and that’s real progress. It’s taken a while, but I’m glad to see that he’s not just making declarations about reality. He’s finally starting to do some real-world, objective science. And if it pans out according to his predictions, his work may very well be taught for centuries to come – using very well-edited textbooks, of course ;-)

What three words best describe Thomas W. Campbell’s performance?

Laconic, and a bit tedious. But at least he read it himself.

Could you see My Big TOE: Awakening being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

Watch his Calgary lecture for a better, shorter introduction to his ideas.

10 of 13 people found this review helpful

Very disappointing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Unfortunately I can’t say that my time listening was well spent. The topic is interesting and I absolutely acknowledge that Thomas Campbell is an authority in this field with a great amount of wisdom to share. But this book, and likely the other two, are literally a lesson in why physicists should write scholarly articles and not books. Mr. Campbell actually states at some point in the first 6 chapters that he will provide multiple explanations of the same material in each section of the book with the intention that all people will at least be able to grasp the information in one explanation or another. I commend Mr. Campbell for having that idea, however in practice it results in what can only be described as verbal diarrhea. It just got to the point where I completely lost interest because it dragged on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on...you get the point. It was relatively easy to understand the material it was just really difficult to stay interested. Very disappointing.

Do you think My Big TOE: Awakening needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It has two; and I will not be reading/listening to them.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Who are we? Why are we here? What's it all about?

Would you consider the audio edition of My Big TOE: Awakening to be better than the print version?

I read the first part of the My Big TOE trilogy and found the audio version of the same book to be more enjoyable. Read by author Tom Campbell, his humor, jokes and slightly sarcastic observations in the asides make his book fun to listen to. Because there are so many complex ideas that are new to me, I am listening to the first book a second time now.

I first read Robert Monroe's books, and listened to free Explorer audios on TMI's website, and then discovered that Explorer "TC" was Tom Campbell, and ordered his trilogy in paperback form. I find the audio version easier for me since I am usually sleepy at night when I have time to read and the audio version allows me to get the same information while doing other things in the day.

9 of 13 people found this review helpful

Pfffft!!! Why arent there negative star ratings???

Would you try another book from Thomas W . Campbell and/or Thomas W. Campbell?

Heck no. I BARELY made it through one.. and suspect the "necessity" of a trilogy and his endless prompts that "all will be clear by his third book" is more an attempt to maximize profits than provide reputable, reliable, replicable, scientific proof that he speaks with "beings not of this world" and can travel out of body, etc, etc, etc.. (yawn)

I honestly cant stomach contributing even one more credit on nonscientific and not even very imaginative drivel.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something written perhaps by an actual scientist.. who follows scientific procedures, can reproduce results, and has credibility among their peers. This big TOE (theory of everything) is more or less another walk down a church aisle. He can only ask for faith, trust, and belief in things which are so ludicrous, Id rather go to church. .... and being a devout atheist, that says A LOT!

What didn’t you like about Thomas W. Campbell’s performance?

Most everything. But i can say the trilogy marketing concept is quite good.. keep people buying at least two more books before they realize for good that the whole premise is a sham.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I'm actually embarrassed for him.. were he not probably already rich from the above marketing scheme. And I'm actually embarrassed that I truly made it allllllll the way to the end in a desperate attempt to find something redeeming about loosing that audible credit to such hogwash.

Any additional comments?

I recommend saving your credit(s) and a good 12+ hours of your life and move onto something intelligent. Unless you just like toddler fantasy from a grown man... then have at it. : )

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Only a third of the story

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

BEWARE This is only the first book of a trilogy and it explains nothing in itself. It is interesting enough as it goes, very self serving and overly hokey. If you're interested in understanding Cambell's Theory of Everthing, this audiobook by itself won't get you there.

6 of 10 people found this review helpful

Hold On

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recomment this book to a friend. I'm at a loss for words!

What was one of the most memorable moments of My Big TOE: Awakening?

Tom Campbell's humor when discribing AUO.

What three words best describe Thomas W. Campbell’s voice?

American, Pragmatic, Wise

If you could give My Big TOE: Awakening a new subtitle, what would it be?

I wouldn't want to.

Any additional comments?

If you've ever questioned reality because of experiences you might have had, this book gives those experiences some perspective.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful