Werner Erhard The Transformation of a Man: The Founding of EST

by W.W. Bartley III

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517535025
• Release Date: December 1988
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter
• Length: 279 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Revolution Begins

Truly extraordinary. I've been participating in Landmark Education for nearly 6 years now; the difference its made in my life is too much to talk about in this little review, and what's important to me now is the difference its made in the lives of the people around me. It's not that our lives are paradisical. We aren't turning to white light; turning to white light has stopped being a concern since we are playing from what is possible, rather than what is wrong - even those of us who haven't done the Forum. This book has given me a powerful context from which to view my own participation, the phenomenon of transformation, Landmark Education as its now organized and the future of the discourse. That someone who was such an unremitting a--hole to the people in his life for such a very long time found his a--holeness to be the fuel for a new realm of being by looking at it head-on and TRYING ON that he's responsible for all is irrefutable testament to the possibility of being human, testament to a possibility against which riches, fame, being written of in the history books, and "power" without it are shadows. I too am an a-hole. No longer needing to pretend I'm not has given me the freedom to INVENT what my life is about. Reading this book has given me a new gratitude to those on whose shoulders I stand. I know I am not alone as I test the discourse and invite all of you to extend it into uncharted realms. Most of transformation's story has yet to be written. You may read this and think I'm a cult member. That's perfect. That's right where we're supposed to be right now. I acknowledge your concern. And with critical thinking fully intact, and knowing the risks, I putting my money on transformation.

A historical document which will be invaluable in the future

I first read this book back in 1978 when I was able to purchase a copy while at est, training to be a guest seminar leader. I was shocked at the honesty, openness and candid way in which Werner's life was laid out. It showed me that it is possible to live your life in a way that you would not be ashamed to have it published for the world to see. The way he cleaned up all of the mischief of his younger years, and then used it to make a difference inspired me then, and it inspires me today. One of his mentors, Alan Watts, once called Werner a "rogue." This always induced a chuckle from Werner. Indeed he was, but this didn't stop him from making a positive difference to society and to millions of people. Werner often said he took the "low road" to enlightenment. He did everything wrong, as a way of learning what worked. As a fellow, "low-roader" I am inspired to continue my own growth, despite all of my mistakes in life. The late Mr. Bartley has created a document which will be invaluable when historians look back at the age of the transformation of humanity. We are living in the middle of it, an can't yet see the forest for the trees.

Conversations For Transformation

You won't get transformed reading this book. The way you get transformed is by participating in Werner's programs and by speaking and listening transformation in face to face conversations with people. That is why, for the most part, Werner's work has never been widely distributed in books, films, video and audio tape, or other media. Transformation is not gotten that way. Transformation is being in conversations for transformation. Having said that, this book is remarkable on two fronts. In the first instance, this very human story of how Werner's life headed inexorably from birth toward that fateful moment out of time on the Golden Gate Bridge when he experienced transformation for the first time makes for riveting reading. In the second instance, Bill Bartley has provided intersecting chapters giving the essence of the various disciplines Werner immersed himself in before he experienced transformation and then created the est training out of his own authentic experience of who he really is. Each one of these intersections alone is worth the price of the book itself. They are masterfully crafted gems, distilling the very essence of each discipline in very few words - a difficult task for most writers in this genre, yet one in which Bill Bartley succeeds brilliantly. The book ends after the creation of the est training and does not cover subsequent iterations of Werner's work like the Landmark Forum. The sense of transformation which pervades this book (which you will want to read again and again and again) is palpable to the point where if you have ever wondered what transformation is, in reading this book you will almost be able to taste it. Read this book.

Just a small clarification

The earliest review below states that there is no place on the planet to do the est training. est technology and the right to deliver the trainings was sold to Landmark Education Corporation. They are in most major cities in the US, and around the world. They do a fine job. Not only will they let you go home and sleep on it after an introduction, they'll even give you your money back if you're not satisfied. I began the training in January of 2002, and find the organization to be one of the most ethical and effective I have ever come across.