And Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work

Our company is rabidly enjoying coherence and flow state business coaching, and this is one of the books we read together. I read the hardcopy and listened to the audio book. Since then, I've also purchased two copies for friends and recommended it to others. Challenge your notions of what makes you tick and why you're on this planet. What will you do with your life? How will you do it, and what is the impact on those around you? This book has encouraged me to push my limits -and relish it- in ways I didn't think possible at 60 years old. Forever young! Let's go skydiving ...

This fascinating book needs to be read by anyone who is interested in living an enhanced productive life. The ideas presented in it are critical knowledge of the newest research in neruobiology, psychology, technology and pharmacology and their practical application. The authors have real life examples that make it so much more enjoyable. I had trouble putting it down once I started. It is so important to have this data open sourced and widely known so it can't be misused for marketing or military manipulation. With the information shared in this book we have the potential to live in ecstasis- a flow state of Selflessness, Timelessness, Effortlessness and Richness, without being bliss junkies. Bravo Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal.

A solid read for anyone wanting to learn about modern uses of ecstatic techniques. From Plant medicine to breathwork to meditation... all of these previously considered "woo woo" practices are coming online as effective tools in mainstream coaching and high level performance work. Having used all of the above and as a meditation teacher myself, this book was very helpful in helping me make the case for my work to the more sceptical and buttoned clients that come my way.

Coaches, Healers, Woo-woo practitioners... read this!

-Jesse Gros, Coach, Adventurer & Breathwork Practicioner

As Jason Silva commented recently, "Become the steward of your own internal life", Stealing Fire shines a spotlight on the potential of the real possibility. If this is your first real look at the Flow State, this book may seem all over the mind geographical map. However, if you have been doing the work- taking care of your body and soul and going to yoga and meditation, getting into nature, experiencing altered states beyond alcohol and tobacco then read on. The possibilities are staggering and you should take a deep breath and step forward. Our collective future depends on your participation. Blessings.

What a great read! Steven and Jamie really know how to hook you in, I read aloud the prologue to both my wife and my son and they absolutely loved it. Have read it all the way through, though have gone back a few times to reread certain sections. I love their philosophy of analyzing all the different mystical traditions and drilling down to the underlying neurobiological, psychological, and pharmacological technologies underpinning them and separating those universal techniques from their mythical trappings. While the movement they describe has been gaining steam for the last century, I don't believe anyone has quite articulated it's staggering breadth, depth, and sheer scope before. Bravo!

Highly, highly recommended!

Breaks down the mindsets of great leaders and how leadership shouldn't be a single person but the person on the team who knows best in the moment. Discusses the flow that every great performer knows exists -- where an extinct takes over and achievement in the moment becomes routine and natural. Many people giving poor reviews don't believe in this, but they are just being negative and likely the reason they have never experienced it.

Leading from the front, Steven and Jamie provide a text which serves as an evolutionary steroid for the reader. Stealing Fire is the poster-child for a revolution that is already occurring. A Staggering 4 trillion dollar “altered-states economy” is a bold testament to our desire to ‘get out of our own heads’. This page-turner provides some of the knobs and levers needed to democratize transcendence.

We are reminded once again that to be in Flow is - quite literally - to be in God-mode; it is a verb we temporarily personify. Esalen has the motto: "No one captures the flag." I think it is more accurate to say: "no one successfully returns it to base." Flow is the temporally fleeting sensation of connecting with the flag before life re-captures it. Stealing Fire shows us we must dive headlong and alone beyond the pale of the rational mind. Only then can we reemerge like the phoenix from the fire.

Steven and Jamie provide a stunning testament to how far biometric feedback has come in empirical flow induction. Our expanded knowledge in psychology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and technology is improving our collective CTF stragety. From highlighting personal inclination via neurotransmitter quantification, to hacking consciousness via biotechnology, this book brings our humanness into question. Stealing Fire shows us we are nearing the point of demystified peak experience.

Prometheans all over the world are re-tuning the planet’s nervous system to dance coherently to its own accord, and as observed, “Everyone’s consciousness is doing the wave.” Drop the ego and grab a torch – spread the light Stealing Fire has to offer.

If you're ready to change your perspective and hence your life - READ this book! It opened me to a whole new world of Excellence and even better How I can also follow the FLOW - Which is that FEELING we crave in life!
This book and the groups forming around it are very exciting, grounded and expansive at the same time.
Not often do I buy a book and have access to webinars, videos, FaceBook group and programs that help us live what we've learned until it becomes second nature to have more Bliss in each day!

Stealing Fire is a thoughtful touchstone exploration of the edges of our evolution as a species. The time is now to evolve together with our amazing technologies and spiritual capacities into the next chapter of our human story. This book has the power to spark a global revolution in consciousness and assist us in having an expanded understanding of our place in the Universe. Bravo Jamie and Steven! Look forward in participating in the RL follow up work with the Stealing Fire Community that is forming at an exponential rate.
Pyros will rock this world! Bring on the Revolution!
"This is what it looks like when a species prepares to leave for the stars"
Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work.

Biohacking, Ancient Shaman, Elite Athletes and Google CEO's all are looking for the same state of mind. Now that science can measure the brain state of the mystics and peak performers alike and are realizing the state is one and the same, for the first time maybe we can all learn it. A book that assumes we are smart and teaches us to be smarter aka happier, aka a able to enter the state of Flow at will.

The idea of altered states of consciousness carries hints of either clandestine drug use, old hippies in tattered bell bottoms, or religious nuts. But Kotler and Wheal make the case that ecstatic states are a more normal and valuable resource than we ever suspected. Not just for mystics and stoners. the focus and abilities that can be unveiled apply to the highest levels of both sports performance and creativity - and not just "woo-woo" artists. This stuff is powerful enough to keep our elite military units focused when microseconds make the difference between life and death.

This book is worth the read - and worth considering how even low levels of altered consciousness might improve your performance. You may not choose drugs, mystic meditation, or ascetic deprivation, but there may still be a place for you here.

This is a very entertaining, well written documentary on the history of getting "high". It reminds me of a good PBS documentary on a piece of history I have lived through that fills in the story with pieces I had forgotten or just plain missed. This could become a classic introductory manual for all aspiring psychonauts. One subject I would have liked to have seen covered more fully is the use of nootropics for achieving peak performance and ecstasis. There is a chapter on Pharmacology and a mention of microdosing LSD. However, there is little mention of the many drugs that are being used for cognitive enhancement and altered states of mind. Finally, I would just like to comment on the title "Stealing Fire...". The premise being that there is a way to more easily gain ecstasis even if only temporarily. The popular name for this is biohacking. While biohacking can help one more quickly achieve and experience ecstatis, it is usually temporary. Sages have shown us that it is possible to achieve permanent ecstasis and still fully function in this world. Perhaps in the future there will an easier way to permanently acquire fire without stealing it.

Biohacking, Ancient Shaman, Elite Athletes and Google CEO's all are looking for the same state of mind. Now that science can measure the brain state of the mystics and peak performers alike and are realizing the state is one and the same, for the first time maybe we can all learn it. A book that assumes we are smart and teaches us to be smarter aka happier, aka a able to enter the state of Flow at will.

The idea of altered states of consciousness carries hints of either clandestine drug use, old hippies in tattered bell bottoms, or religious nuts. But Kotler and Wheal make the case that ecstatic states are a more normal and valuable resource than we ever suspected. Not just for mystics and stoners. the focus and abilities that can be unveiled apply to the highest levels of both sports performance and creativity - and not just "woo-woo" artists. This stuff is powerful enough to keep our elite military units focused when microseconds make the difference between life and death.

This book is worth the read - and worth considering how even low levels of altered consciousness might improve your performance. You may not choose drugs, mystic meditation, or ascetic deprivation, but there may still be a place for you here.

This is a very entertaining, well written documentary on the history of getting "high". It reminds me of a good PBS documentary on a piece of history I have lived through that fills in the story with pieces I had forgotten or just plain missed. This could become a classic introductory manual for all aspiring psychonauts. One subject I would have liked to have seen covered more fully is the use of nootropics for achieving peak performance and ecstasis. There is a chapter on Pharmacology and a mention of microdosing LSD. However, there is little mention of the many drugs that are being used for cognitive enhancement and altered states of mind. Finally, I would just like to comment on the title "Stealing Fire...". The premise being that there is a way to more easily gain ecstasis even if only temporarily. The popular name for this is biohacking. While biohacking can help one more quickly achieve and experience ecstatis, it is usually temporary. Sages have shown us that it is possible to achieve permanent ecstasis and still fully function in this world. Perhaps in the future there will an easier way to permanently acquire fire without stealing it.

Total brain candy! As a former Air Traffic Controller, extreme skier and white water rafting guide I've been chasing flow my whole life. Stealing Fire explains why and how I can harness this amazing power that we all have within us.

Thanks for sharing this solid work. For me, it definitely lays out the path ahead and validates short episodes of "Ecstatis" I have been creating for myself all along. Hell, all the pre launch documents on Pyros group got me so inspired that I even floated yesterday. I hope the world at large and our communities here in USA embrace this work because it stands on solid foundation of science, research and experiential knowledge of not only elite individuals but trail blazing organizations. It will be an empowering work for years to come and help blissful people share their experiences with friends and family without shame or fear of rejection. I can only delight in the future this knowledge could help us create if we harnessed its power masterfully. Thanks Steven And Jamie and Flow Genome Project Team. Love you all!!!

What a book. Every so often I read something that leaves me completely and utterly moved. Like being transported, temporarily, to another realm, before being returned to ground zero. A fascinating traverse through multiple disciplines. This book combines brilliant writing with wonderful storytelling. The authors present very challenging ideas in a way that made me question my models of reality and systems for living.

Lightening strikes...again!

Over thirty years ago I was struck by my eleprocon epiphany that ignited a way of being and thought process for me. It was a peek at the human rEvolution of blending our knowledge of electrons, protons and consciousness.

I've been challenged over the years to define that moment of epiphany and being deep in the flow...what happened, why and how to harness those synapses.

With Stealing Fire, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal have leveraged scientific reason and storytelling to delve further into our consciousness. Their discoveries and insights have helped rekindle my passion lighting a path of understanding on how to keep the flame alive.

Such is our new MythOS...our Mythic Operating System.

Thanks guys!

Delicious blend of head in the clouds pursuits with grounded thinking and ground breaking science. .Each time I picked it up it was like a hit of ecstasis. So life affirming and exciting to know of all the research and development propelling us into a glorious, brave new world. It's like a 360 degree view of what's to come. Hopeful, fascinating and inspiring, Stealing Fire will make a wonderful graduation gift!

This is just a really terrible book. I really want to emphasize this - it's an incredibly slanted, evangelical look at "brain altered states" that has one viewpoint and hammers it to death.

It relies heavily on popular characterizations and generalizations to make its points. These points are often poorly made and are popularised abstractions that distort or ignore reality. For example, they claim that Joan of Arc was burned because of her mystical views - not bothering to mention that she was a French soldier who was captured by English allies, and then sold to the English. The author's portrayal was so distorted it was almost humorous. As well, there are often many false comparisons disingenuously made - such as comparing an Eckhart Tolle webcast to attendance at the Pope's speech in New York.

The authors worship technology and contrarianism. Unfortunately, this heavily skews the perspective in the book. You begin to question much of what they are saying because of how heavily slanted their viewpoint is. I'll add in conclusion as well, there is little practically beneficial in this book as most of it is near-mythical stories with a few scientific studies thrown in.

Game Changing Book, no doubt. Once in while a book comes along that changes the intellectual climate of human potential. The work that is in this masterpiece is of the next generation, this is what I call humanity+ material. I read the book in 3 hours, chap to chap being transformed, upgraded, and I am a scientist, a doctor, a designer and writer. I read a LOT. The writing is highly engaging, crazy smart and immediately actionable. Straight-up scientific and creative Genius. This book raises the stage for human performance and consciousness research ahead.

Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal have truly surpassed themselves with the follow-up to the journey they started with Flow and Peak States in the Rise of Superman. Be prepared to be challenged in your beliefs and shaken to your core. It is filled with fascinating stories that outlay the 4th Basic human need. They start the journey in downtown Athens 415 BC and end with the poetic words of Leonard Cohen . It is a definite page-turner, which will make you beg for more peeks behind the curtain. It is a rekindling of Communitas, as already evident on the large community growing online. It is starting the fire of our generation so that we can start remembering again what we forgot.

Loved the approach it gives on the alternatives to reach alter consciousness states. None the less I think their undermining the long term approaches such as meditation that prepare on a small but steady rhythm the person to for an experience so powerful like STER

Why Stealing Fire? Because high performing people, like the Jack and Jill Bowers of the world, use it to learn faster, perform better, and turn off their inner Woody Alan critic, and do it all at once! Because they want to stay on top of the hidden, but real economies driving the world and on top of the powerful forces, sovereign and religious, benevolent and dangerous, trying to control us. And lastly, because they ache for flow, growth, connection, joy and to be of service like everyone else.

Ground breaking book. Provides a radically different lense which helps you see the world in ways which can transform you. It takes amazing insights to find commonalities between Navy seals and Disruptors in Silicon valley. Lots of highlighted sections. Am making my 3rd pass thru highlighted sections to internalize and action. Would definitely reccomend it

This is a classic Silicon Valley spin on spiritual practices that have literally been around for millennia. Somehow its been "discovered" by "innovators and pioneers" and yet people have been quietly doing these things since the beginning of humanity.

This is Silicon Valley douchebaggery at its finest: totally elitist, filled with faux glamour and sexy stories, techno utopian, and incredibly materialistic and shallow. They could re-title it to "How to drop acid and meditate to make an extra buck!"

Anyone engaged with any depth in any of these practices and methods, knows how completely misguided this book is and how it literally misses the point. But if you want a get-rick quick take on manipulating your consciousness so you can pump out another line of code quicker or make more money, since apparently that is the entire point of life according to Mr. Kotler, this is your book.

In actuality, there are many many different kinds of flow states and altered states of consciousness (the author's simplistically lump all of these together as if they are one generic flow state/altered state) and the deeper and more profound the state, the more it leads you to community, compassion, service, and love. You will not find any of those 4 words written anywhere in this book because it is all about getting into the shallowest level of non-ordinary states so that you can do better at your writing code in your cubicle.

Thrilling. Stimulating. Educational. Inspirational. Strap on your seatbelts as they show you how wild parties from millennia ago relate to precision modern-day warfare. Jamie and Steven weave together a compelling narrative of why we are at the inflection point in the widespread adoption of, and benefit from, the neuroscience of ecstasis. This is a fun and compelling read and an utterly critical manual for those wading into these waters.

Jamie & Steve (and their respected contributors) have brought together a comprehensive summary of both the history and the current state of peak performance, and the various dimensions, tools, and limitations of this emergent field.

This is the climax to Stevens previous book; "The Rise of Superman" which explains how to master Flow states. I'm blown away how great this book is. I'm a big fan and student of Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal. Their Flow Fundamentals course is nothing less than incredible. It provides a great stucture and learning experience to create the habits required to optimize Flow. It's like putting Miracle Gro on your life! Way to go, Steven and Jamie! I hope the world is ready for this.

If you have any desire to discover the cutting edge path to high performance, and you like to both excel in life (fully on your own terms) AND you like to live life on the edge of acceptability, this book is a must read.

Stealing Fire is the answer for those of us tired of much of the BS being delivered by the personal development industry, the schooling system, and traditional notions of success. We've known there is something more, and now Jamie and Steven show us, we've been right. I do believe this book is the proof we've been waiting for that we are just the right kind of crazy. Read it and weep. I literally had tears at the end because I felt so much hope for the future. And in today's current reality, that's no simple feat.

Very good and well-recherched book. For people interested in altered states of consciousness, this is a must-read.

I absolutely love Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal. They are very smart guys and their enthusiasm is contagious. They have dedicated their life to the psychology of ecstasis and I thank them for doing so; they have changed my life in a very important way.