Getting Castaneda

Understanding Carlos Castaneda

By: Peter Luce

Narrated by: Clay Lomakayu

In 1968 Carlos Castaneda burst onto the scene with his blockbuster story about his apprenticeship with an awesome, authentic Mexican sorcerer, don Juan.

Roaming the deserts of Mexico, he participated in the cultivation and use of "power plants", psychedelic drugs he felt were making him lose his mind. As an apprentice of sorcery practiced for thousands of years, he survived a leap from a cliff and watched a sorcerer dance across a waterfall. Along the way, he shared with us long-lost secrets about death, dreaming, our other self, and the vast and inexplicable forces of the universe.

Or did Castaneda deceive us all?

With 12 books written over 30 years, this bestselling American author, philosopher, and anthropologist opened a window into another world and era. Writing detailed depictions of practices and beliefs of an ancient civilization, he revealed unexpected, exciting, and frightening events with compelling believability. Revered by followers and reviled by critics, Castaneda, the author and character, and all his works are given a new, comprehensive interpretation in Getting Castaneda.

©2017 Peter M Luce (P)2019 Peter M Luce

I recommend this book

This is my second time to listen to this book. It is a very nice overview of all of Castaneda’s books. The author engages the works and provides the listener with an explanation of the value of Castaneda’s works. He also provides possible interpretations.

This is a pleasant read/listen. I have not been able to get in to Castaneda in the past. Having Luce’s total book in mind might give me the toe and hand holds to return to Castaneda in the future. Or his book book is sufficient to satisfy my curiosity.

A Reference for the Coming Toltec Age

It puzzles me that the first time I read this book, over a year ago, I enjoyed it, thought it a good read but did not truly grasp its depth or power. After listening to it for the second trip, my opinion has shifted towards amazement at the vast organizational effort which Peter Luce has carried out here, and how well it works. Despite all the obstacles, from the profundity of Castaneda's stories to the controversy which swirls around Carlos' personal life and throws his opus into doubt, Luce has created a deeply believable framework for the sheer logical power of the work in question. Without 'throwing shade' on anyone on either side of the question, he pulls us deeper into the mysteries with gentle and relentless force. As the first effort of its type and for all the help it lends to understanding the scope of Toltec ideas, I suggest that this will be the key reference book for these works which have resisted all efforts to dismiss them, for those who have already grappled with them and for the new readers who will surely fall under their spell.

Excellent overview of Castaneda’s works

If you are a fan of the texts of Carlos Castaneda, you will certainly appreciate this text and audio rendition. Peter Luce summarizes the teaching of Don Juan that Castaneda elucidates is his stories. Luce adds depth and clarity to the large body of work by demonstrating how the time line of the narrative changes with each book based on Castaneda’s expanding awareness and remembering of his time in the second attention. For me this clarified my understanding of the basic tenants and definitions presented in the teaching.

A very smart analysis

I’m a big Castaneda fan and the book provided a lot of insight on a very familiar subject. The analysis is both profound and comprehensive, and the references for a topic across multiple books (the fliers, for example) as well as the times attached to each section, helps put things in order.

Good story about other worlds, spiritually.

Was the first book I read about this author. This made me look into other books from him chronologically. I'm going to read his first book next.

about time , someone wrote a brief synopsis

Gives clarification, better understanding of the terms . Author gives a more complete insight. Because sometimes Castenada is vague with his presentation .