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The Integral Vision: A Very Short Introduction to the Revolutionary Integral Approach to Life, God, the Universe, and Everything
Suppose we took everything that all the various world cultures have to tell us about human potential—about psychological, spiritual, and social growth—and identified the basic patterns that connect these pieces of knowledge. What if we attempted to create an all-inclusive map that touches the most important factors from all of the world's great traditions?
Ken Wilber's Integral Vision provides such a map. Using all the known systems and models of human growth—from the ancient sages to the latest breakthroughs in cognitive science—it distills their major components into five simple elements, and, moreover, ones that readers can verify in their own experience right now.
In any field of interest, such as business, law, science, psychology, health, art, or everyday living and learning—the Integral Vision ensures that we are utilizing the full range of resources for the situation, leading to a greater likelihood of success and fulfillment. With easily understood explanations, exercises, and familiar examples, The Integral Vision shows how we can accelerate growth and development to higher, wider, deeper ways of being, embodied in self, shared in community, and connected to the planet, which can literally help with everything from spiritual enlightenment to business success to personal relationships.
Ken Wilber's Integral Vision provides such a map. Using all the known systems and models of human growth—from the ancient sages to the latest breakthroughs in cognitive science—it distills their major components into five simple elements, and, moreover, ones that readers can verify in their own experience right now.
In any field of interest, such as business, law, science, psychology, health, art, or everyday living and learning—the Integral Vision ensures that we are utilizing the full range of resources for the situation, leading to a greater likelihood of success and fulfillment. With easily understood explanations, exercises, and familiar examples, The Integral Vision shows how we can accelerate growth and development to higher, wider, deeper ways of being, embodied in self, shared in community, and connected to the planet, which can literally help with everything from spiritual enlightenment to business success to personal relationships.
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2007
About the author
Ken Wilber
201 books1,105 followersKenneth Earl Wilber II is an American philosopher and writer on transpersonal psychology and his own integral theory, a systematic philosophy which suggests the synthesis of all human knowledge and experience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 14, 2013
Ooohlala, how to describe this thing? This was some very condescending, even occasionally ridiculous airport reading for me recently. It was recommended to me by someone I respect tremendously as an introduction to Wilber's Integral Life Practice and especially the underlying theory. It's a horrible introduction of any and all ideas. It seems to presume the reader has never learned to think critically or rigorously and proposes quadrants, lines, etc. as an *all-purpose* framework for all future consideration of the world. It's heavy on illustration and low on text. It's heavy on vast over-simplifications and low on acknowledgement of its limitations. I remember thinking there were some worthwhile ideas I could extract and appreciate amidst this facile presentation of a so-called vision. I am having trouble coming up with any particular examples to cite here though, I'm afraid.
All this said, I found many more worthwhile ideas, a less condescending tone, and a general lack of vast over-simplification in a second book I ventured to read of Wilber's -- this one coauthored with three other Integral thinkers. For those looking for a thinking person's introduction to what Integral Thinking and Living is all about (and if it could be of benefit to you), forget about taking up this blue object. Instead, take a look at Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening -- by Ken Wilber as well as Terry Patten, Adam Leonard & Marco Morelli. I am reading it presently, and there's some real food for thought.
All this said, I found many more worthwhile ideas, a less condescending tone, and a general lack of vast over-simplification in a second book I ventured to read of Wilber's -- this one coauthored with three other Integral thinkers. For those looking for a thinking person's introduction to what Integral Thinking and Living is all about (and if it could be of benefit to you), forget about taking up this blue object. Instead, take a look at Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening -- by Ken Wilber as well as Terry Patten, Adam Leonard & Marco Morelli. I am reading it presently, and there's some real food for thought.
December 1, 2016
If you're unfamiliar with Wilber's work and are somewhat daunted by the prospect of reading the longer books (A Brief History of Everything or Sex, Ecology, Spirituality) this is a good place to start. It's short, clear, and practical. It provides a concise description of many of Wilber's ideas and also gives excellent advice about how to use them. Highly recommended for Wilber newbies.
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February 21, 2023In some ways, I feel that Ken Wilber has too much spiritual clout for his own good, and ends up with stuff that's hard to understand. This framework is presented as universal and complete, but I think it is not complete enough - it doesn't address the "why" questions of why all these graphs and quadrants and lines should exist in the landscape of human growth and evolution. As a result, I would sympathize with anyone to whom the whole framework feels unmoored and abstract. That being said, I do think the distinctions, graphs, quadrants and lines presented encode real and meaningful distinctions about the classifications of what composes a human being. I think there is a lot of deep insight in here, and hope to one day translate into a more accessible framework. Practically, it is a worthwhile push towards a balanced and holistic approach to spiritual growth.
Also, I haven't all read his longer books so maybe this is more abstract than usual only because it's condensed. But I'm suspicious...
Also, there is a chapter entitled "IOS Apps". (Jokes aside, this was published the same time Apple invented IOS so there was no way he would know about it, but I found that hilarious).
Also, I haven't all read his longer books so maybe this is more abstract than usual only because it's condensed. But I'm suspicious...
Also, there is a chapter entitled "IOS Apps". (Jokes aside, this was published the same time Apple invented IOS so there was no way he would know about it, but I found that hilarious).
August 29, 2010
Wilber presents a methodology that seems to be very abstracted, and I feel that anyone would be totally fine if they did not follow this methodology. In my rational treatment of this review, and with my heart on aesthetics, I will say that I am a person that is interested in the transcendental, and this seems to be far-removed from any kind of method that has any convenience.
I have read only papers of Wilber as well as reading the introduction to another book (can't remember). I suppose any methodology that could compel me to stop thinking is not a good one to practice.
I have read only papers of Wilber as well as reading the introduction to another book (can't remember). I suppose any methodology that could compel me to stop thinking is not a good one to practice.
August 23, 2015
Wilbur is always interesting, even if he does write the same book again and again. This one tries to cram too much into a short "introduction" with lots of graphics. It's a pretty artifact, but not the place I'd start.
March 18, 2013
Simple, distilled to readable basics by those close to him, a good place to start reading Wilber
April 12, 2014
A good short introduction to the work of Ken Wilber, outlining the AQAL approach, and including some very brief exercises on bringing the integral approach into one's personal life.
May 13, 2020
This book raises some interesting ideas and concepts, but only very briefly.
Although it is intended as an introduction, there is a lot of terminology, especially at the end (e.g., Big Mind) that is not explained - this, despite his insistence early on that all the terms used would be explained. I felt like there was a deluge of jargon in the latter third of the book, and the movement into this mystical one-ness did not feel supported by the text. It is one think to talk about concepts of spirituality and existence that extend beyond the limits of our known/knowable mind, but quite another to start talking about the same I-Am-ness existing for 5 centuries or 5 millenia.
The snarky IOS and "apps" terminology is borderline ridiculous, even though I appreciate the principle and the end result he is trying to achieve. There is one glaring omission from the book, and that is providing the reader with any practical examples of how poetry, art, medicine, and business can all use this framework to seamlessly communicate. He spends a lot of time explaining the structures and giving small meditation lessons (nearer to the end), but there are no "real-world success stories" on which to ground oneself in this litany of high-minded claims/ideals.
The tone of this book is also quite uneven, at times it is formal, and in other places it is bizarrely colloquial and informal (e.g., "Shall we see?", "Excuse my French, but the ultimate bitch...", etc.). These tonal shifts didn't work for me, nor did the obvious disdain for New Age thinking... which this book veered very close to, if not became fully enveloped in, by the last chapter and a half.
Also his unsubstantiated claims about how only 1% of people are operating at the highest mental/spiritual level sounded like pseudo-science, as he neither proposes how this figure was derived (though quotes it as though it were established fact after introducing it) nor does he mention how something so precise could be measured when the metrics aren't even agreed upon. As in, the various psychological and spiritual systems he mentions are *not* collated or cohesive (if they were there would be no need for him to bind them all together), so ... how exactly is everyone's aptitude across these disparate systems being measured? It's never even alluded to.
Overall, I do appreciate what he's attempting with a spiritual "theory of everything," but mostly he just comes off as glib and without much substance.
Although it is intended as an introduction, there is a lot of terminology, especially at the end (e.g., Big Mind) that is not explained - this, despite his insistence early on that all the terms used would be explained. I felt like there was a deluge of jargon in the latter third of the book, and the movement into this mystical one-ness did not feel supported by the text. It is one think to talk about concepts of spirituality and existence that extend beyond the limits of our known/knowable mind, but quite another to start talking about the same I-Am-ness existing for 5 centuries or 5 millenia.
The snarky IOS and "apps" terminology is borderline ridiculous, even though I appreciate the principle and the end result he is trying to achieve. There is one glaring omission from the book, and that is providing the reader with any practical examples of how poetry, art, medicine, and business can all use this framework to seamlessly communicate. He spends a lot of time explaining the structures and giving small meditation lessons (nearer to the end), but there are no "real-world success stories" on which to ground oneself in this litany of high-minded claims/ideals.
The tone of this book is also quite uneven, at times it is formal, and in other places it is bizarrely colloquial and informal (e.g., "Shall we see?", "Excuse my French, but the ultimate bitch...", etc.). These tonal shifts didn't work for me, nor did the obvious disdain for New Age thinking... which this book veered very close to, if not became fully enveloped in, by the last chapter and a half.
Also his unsubstantiated claims about how only 1% of people are operating at the highest mental/spiritual level sounded like pseudo-science, as he neither proposes how this figure was derived (though quotes it as though it were established fact after introducing it) nor does he mention how something so precise could be measured when the metrics aren't even agreed upon. As in, the various psychological and spiritual systems he mentions are *not* collated or cohesive (if they were there would be no need for him to bind them all together), so ... how exactly is everyone's aptitude across these disparate systems being measured? It's never even alluded to.
Overall, I do appreciate what he's attempting with a spiritual "theory of everything," but mostly he just comes off as glib and without much substance.
March 19, 2019
The rating is not intended as a label to the thesis presented in the book, namely the Integral model developed by Ken Wilber. Rather, it addresses the format and meta-content of this very short introduction to the AQAL framework.
There are two groups of people that are more likely to buy this book:
The ones who are superficially acquainted with Wilber's model and systems thinking from various internet resources (videos, articles, papers, etc) and wish to learn more. This book is a combination of various resources which can be found for free on internet. The first half of this book is largely a copy-paste of content you can already find on the internet (The first four chapters). The 6th chapter (Integral Life Practice) is also more or less a copy-paste from one of the "Integral Life Practice Starter Kit DVD" booklets - the program itself can be found in its entirety on the web for free (all booklets and the DVD content in video and audio format - there's also a book called Integral Life Practice which mirrors the contents of the program but should offer more depth, at least in theory). I think you're better of starting with another book of his - A Theory of Everything (or a Brief History of Everything), Kosmic Consciousness audio program. Those who don't mind a challenging read and have already decided they want to integrate this model into their "Operating System" could jump straight into his magnum opus - Sex, Ecology, Spirituality. Alternatively, you can go for either Integral Psychology or Integral Spirituality, depending on your interests.
The ones who are not acquainted with Wilber's model and want to learn about it - this is not the right place. The summary of the system is rather shallow and will give you an excessively superficial introduction to the model. I think you'd get a better idea if you watched some videos of Ken Wilber explaining the model or parts of the model in more detail on Youtube, then supplement that with some articles and papers that can be found on Google. Alternatively, go for "A Theory of Everything".
There are two groups of people that are more likely to buy this book:
The ones who are superficially acquainted with Wilber's model and systems thinking from various internet resources (videos, articles, papers, etc) and wish to learn more. This book is a combination of various resources which can be found for free on internet. The first half of this book is largely a copy-paste of content you can already find on the internet (The first four chapters). The 6th chapter (Integral Life Practice) is also more or less a copy-paste from one of the "Integral Life Practice Starter Kit DVD" booklets - the program itself can be found in its entirety on the web for free (all booklets and the DVD content in video and audio format - there's also a book called Integral Life Practice which mirrors the contents of the program but should offer more depth, at least in theory). I think you're better of starting with another book of his - A Theory of Everything (or a Brief History of Everything), Kosmic Consciousness audio program. Those who don't mind a challenging read and have already decided they want to integrate this model into their "Operating System" could jump straight into his magnum opus - Sex, Ecology, Spirituality. Alternatively, you can go for either Integral Psychology or Integral Spirituality, depending on your interests.
The ones who are not acquainted with Wilber's model and want to learn about it - this is not the right place. The summary of the system is rather shallow and will give you an excessively superficial introduction to the model. I think you'd get a better idea if you watched some videos of Ken Wilber explaining the model or parts of the model in more detail on Youtube, then supplement that with some articles and papers that can be found on Google. Alternatively, go for "A Theory of Everything".
November 1, 2023
I’ve been circling around Ken Wilber for the past few months and decided on the shortest, simplest book he has.
Even still, part of me was worried that I wouldn’t understand anything he’s saying. Kind of the opposite happened where I felt like the integral approach is fundamentally a simple idea. I liked his writing but I imagine a lot of people would be appalled by how objective and unsentimental he comes across. To Ken, everything fitting together is the beauty, and less the rich, imperfect details of life.
My main takeaway, was that if you want to be more comprehensive, you need to slice stuff into at least three dimensions (eg. 1st, 2nd and third person views).
I’m not great at this systematic type of thinking.. but it uncovers some very elegant insights like:
1. Many arguments are stuck in one sided “quadrant absolutism” (only science or only spirituality is true)
2. You will interpret any spiritual “state” of consciousness based on your “stage” of consciences. This is why one person can dismiss a vision and another person can become a born again Christian.
It actually reminded me of Sapiens and in a way Yuval and Ken are aiming at very similar targets, but with very different styles and output.
Even still, part of me was worried that I wouldn’t understand anything he’s saying. Kind of the opposite happened where I felt like the integral approach is fundamentally a simple idea. I liked his writing but I imagine a lot of people would be appalled by how objective and unsentimental he comes across. To Ken, everything fitting together is the beauty, and less the rich, imperfect details of life.
My main takeaway, was that if you want to be more comprehensive, you need to slice stuff into at least three dimensions (eg. 1st, 2nd and third person views).
I’m not great at this systematic type of thinking.. but it uncovers some very elegant insights like:
1. Many arguments are stuck in one sided “quadrant absolutism” (only science or only spirituality is true)
2. You will interpret any spiritual “state” of consciousness based on your “stage” of consciences. This is why one person can dismiss a vision and another person can become a born again Christian.
It actually reminded me of Sapiens and in a way Yuval and Ken are aiming at very similar targets, but with very different styles and output.
January 26, 2019
Exploring meaning of life is a long journey or its so simple if you come to know the simple method of experiencing
This book starts like kinder garden school syllabus and relating with this world and Kosmos with "I, We, It"and slowly supply you modules. And an awareness created how these modules are merge automatically and create the awareness "I amness"
This "I amness" was a universal presentation in everybody includes past, present and future Soul of all and it includes living and non living thing. We present in every body and experience universally... If you aware "I amness".
A beautiful attempt to explain we share "I amness" with the world and once you aware, you can experience the world and relate to every one. It's like a aura..
Sometimes some books can hold your hand and take you to the entrance of the destination and this one.
This book help by all means to understand you and we and it
After finishing you have a confidence of connecting the world by just floating your awareness a little about the gravity and the floating takes you to the sky to experience the aerial view of the functioning of the world and how the world relate.
A God like experience..
This book starts like kinder garden school syllabus and relating with this world and Kosmos with "I, We, It"and slowly supply you modules. And an awareness created how these modules are merge automatically and create the awareness "I amness"
This "I amness" was a universal presentation in everybody includes past, present and future Soul of all and it includes living and non living thing. We present in every body and experience universally... If you aware "I amness".
A beautiful attempt to explain we share "I amness" with the world and once you aware, you can experience the world and relate to every one. It's like a aura..
Sometimes some books can hold your hand and take you to the entrance of the destination and this one.
This book help by all means to understand you and we and it
After finishing you have a confidence of connecting the world by just floating your awareness a little about the gravity and the floating takes you to the sky to experience the aerial view of the functioning of the world and how the world relate.
A God like experience..
January 15, 2022
Esse livro me foi indicado como um bom exemplo de explicação/demonstração da espiritualidade por meio de recursos racionais, científicos e lógicos. Seria um texto que faria a fusão/comunhão entre corpo, mente, espírito e universo sem usar discursos esotéricos e religiosos.
Seria... Pra mim não foi nada disso. Foi uma leitura enfadonha, um festival de categorizações que me fez sentir perdido, uma visão demasiadamente evolucionista das coisas (tudo tem sua linha evolutiva, seu caminho rumo à perfeição). O texto carece de fontes, abusando de expressões como "pesquisas demonstram" e "estudos revelam" sem citar nenhum artigo ou sequer abordar como esses estudos mediram aquilo do que se fala.
Sei que era pra ser apenas uma introdução ao conceito de Visão Integral, mas não funciona como tal. Não estou criticando a Visão Integral como modelo de pensamento. Eu não poderia fazer isso a partir dessa leitura, porque minha impressão é que o livro não faz jus a ela. Só sei que não fiquei nada interessado em me aprofundar nessa ideia.
Ou talvez seja só a minha ignorância mesmo. Não consegui entender nada e tô aqui falando mal da obra.
Seria... Pra mim não foi nada disso. Foi uma leitura enfadonha, um festival de categorizações que me fez sentir perdido, uma visão demasiadamente evolucionista das coisas (tudo tem sua linha evolutiva, seu caminho rumo à perfeição). O texto carece de fontes, abusando de expressões como "pesquisas demonstram" e "estudos revelam" sem citar nenhum artigo ou sequer abordar como esses estudos mediram aquilo do que se fala.
Sei que era pra ser apenas uma introdução ao conceito de Visão Integral, mas não funciona como tal. Não estou criticando a Visão Integral como modelo de pensamento. Eu não poderia fazer isso a partir dessa leitura, porque minha impressão é que o livro não faz jus a ela. Só sei que não fiquei nada interessado em me aprofundar nessa ideia.
Ou talvez seja só a minha ignorância mesmo. Não consegui entender nada e tô aqui falando mal da obra.
June 15, 2018
I’m very much a fan of Integral philosophy and Wilber’s program in general and I appreciated this book as a simple presentation of the core ideas of Integral thinking, but the presentation in this particular book seemed just a bit gimmicky.
I’m curious though what my feeling would have been if this were my introduction to Wilber’s work.
For those considering exploring Wilber’s work though, I’d recommend Trump and the Post-Truth World as a great one to start with.
I’m curious though what my feeling would have been if this were my introduction to Wilber’s work.
For those considering exploring Wilber’s work though, I’d recommend Trump and the Post-Truth World as a great one to start with.
January 19, 2020
This book seemed like it could be a perfect introduction to Wilber and his philosophy. Unfortunately, it felt extremely vague and somewhat ponderous in a New-Age-ish way. The idea that one can approach one's life by finding harmony across its many dimensions, psychological, spiritual, material, intellectual, relational, etc., is not exactly earth-shattering. Imposing a framework on these dimensions does not make it less so.
May 29, 2017
"The Integral Vision...." is the author's paradigm of helping one see both yourself and the world around you in a more comprehensive and effective way. The book is very abstract, difficult to follow and makes no connection to how It can improve your life. This book just did not resonate with me and I would not recommend it
July 11, 2020
A decent flavour of what Wilber’s philosophy is all about, but can be very deceiving unless you understand the whole context and have the background to his thinking. It can seem like a very commercial, New Age, self-improvement booklet. But if you know bit more about him - perhaps have read “The Theory of Everything” - it is a much deeper reading.
October 28, 2020
A slickly published primer on integral psychology. Wilber and his editors have produced a very user friendly publication which uses beautiful photography and editing to transmit the core ideas of integral studies in a clear and concise fashion. Very readable and digestible. Same great ideas, published for maximal intelligibility. I enjoyed it.
January 2, 2022
Lo empecé de curiosidad y recomendación, pero no pude enganchar en nada del nombrado modelo integral. Desde el lenguaje grandilocuente sin explicaciones claras o con argumentos, desde el hablar desde "el sentido común", al ese "somos la única visión que intenta ser integral".
Me falta sustento, me falta que deje de dar tantas vueltas con su mensaje.
Me falta sustento, me falta que deje de dar tantas vueltas con su mensaje.
May 23, 2023
Interesting book with thought provoking systems. I read another of his books a history of everything which it was more clear and easy to understand. At the end if felt that it was going around in circle with diagrams that look exactly the same, with nothing new to contribute.
Not the best book to get started with his theories. I would definitely go with 'the history of everything '.
Not the best book to get started with his theories. I would definitely go with 'the history of everything '.
December 11, 2017
Wilber's ideas are well worth getting to know, but the majority of his books are difficult to get through. This book is a gem in its presentation of Integral Philosophy: accessible, humorous, and clear. Start here before going on to his other books.
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May 1, 2020I read it twice. Some of it made sense to me, much like reading a book on quantum physics where I feel the author is seeing something I cannot see. I feel like I may grow to understand more as I see things in life or hear it in another way.
March 12, 2024
The map is not the territory. All models are wrong, but some are useful. And all that.
-1 star for calling what might otherwise be a critically important framework for the future of humanity “IOS Apps”.
-1 star for calling what might otherwise be a critically important framework for the future of humanity “IOS Apps”.
January 22, 2018
This is the book that has put me over the top on integral theory, enough to encourage me to keep going.
March 6, 2018
I read this in order to get a better understanding of AQAL (All Quadrants, All Levels) and the book did just that :)
July 8, 2018
This book is a great introductory medium for those that are seeking out the truth about the interconnected-ness of all systems and the things within them.
November 30, 2018
I think this short introduction to the Integral Theory was exactly what I needed to dig deepter into it.
December 15, 2018
Short introduction to Kens work. Great for those working to make sense, and meaning out of various perspective.
Good for integration of eastern and western growth perspectives.
Good for integration of eastern and western growth perspectives.
February 14, 2019
Even though this was easier than his other works it was still hard for me to grok.
January 14, 2020
This book was so awful that as a tax payer I’m offended that library resources were squandered to purchase it.
March 11, 2020
A long ad for his other book "Integral Life Practice". It should be a free booklet
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews