TechGnosis

Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information

By: Erik Davis

Narrated by: Steve Wojtas

How does our fascination with technology intersect with the religious imagination?

In TechGnosis - a cult classic now updated and reissued with a new afterword - Erik Davis argues that while the realms of the digital and the spiritual may seem worlds apart, esoteric and religious impulses have in fact always permeated (and sometimes inspired) technological communication. Davis uncovers startling connections between such seemingly disparate topics as electricity and alchemy; online roleplaying games and religious and occult practices; virtual reality and gnostic mythology; programming languages and Kabbalah.

The final chapters address the apocalyptic dreams that haunt technology, providing vital historical context as well as new ways to think about a future defined by the mutant intermingling of mind and machine, nightmare, and fantasy.

©2015 Erik Davis (P)2018 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

“TechGnosis is an essential work, tracing the co-evolution of technology with the urge for transcendence. It helps put today's obsession with the singularity and post-human consciousness into perspective, without condemning them as mere symptoms of millenarian fantasy nor worshipping at the altar of the eschaton.” (Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock)

“Erik Davis has written one of the best media studies books ever published. There’s never been a more lucid analysis of the goofy, muddled, superstition-riddled human mind, struggling to come to terms with high technology. Unlike most tomes about tech, the occult, and social theory, TechGnosis is literate, accessible, and funny. A real winner all around!” (Bruce Sterling, author of Gothic High-Tech and The Epic Struggle of the Internet of Things)

“Erik Davis’s compendious recitation of the history of communications technology dominates the discursive landscape of techno-exegesis like a Martian war machine. In the grand style of H. G. Wells, TechGnosis is an apocalyptic synopsis of technological climax.” (Terence McKenna, author of The Archaic Revival)

awesome

amazing listen. definitely worth it. what a fun auditory journey this thing was. thanks

A bit difficult to read but worth it

Techgnosis provides great insight into the relationship between technology and the occult, exposing the intricate web connecting the two.

Very interesting book but narrator mispronounces too many words

The narrator’s disregard for traditional pronunciation of many words were so distracting for me, even though the subject and writing style of this book was interesting. Exoteric, laissez fair,

This book is relevant to our times!

It is the story of those whose lives are about the intermingling of spirit with technology. For those of us whose life path merges magick and New Age with our current computer science, the book speaks of lived experiences of those following their dharma. When minds of deep thinkers reflect back on the lives they've lived, the book speaks about encounters and thoughts they've had. I've listened to this book and thought, "This book is all about my life!" and I can imagine that many more feel the same way.

Irresistible Classic of Digital Theosophy

Relevant more than ever, this masterpiece of modern-day gnosticism would warm you up to my own recently published book The Syntellect Hypothesis: Five Paradigms of the Mind's Evolution on the directions of teleological evolution of humankind and of us as individuals.

Very excellent topic for this book.

I am surprised that this book covers both esoteric thought and technology. It is the perfect convergence of topics, done in a similar manner to, but without the cultiness of, Scientology. Now this landed at a perfect time in my life, which in fact was destiny. It's a synchronicity of my scholarship in gnosticism and high technology. Excellent book.

Nobody understands High Weirdness like Erik Davis

This guy is simply the best. Nobody I've read groks the waning days of the 20th century and the twilight of the American Empire like Erik Davis. He breaks down the barriers between philosophy and religion, technology and pop culture and how they work to empower some and oppress the rest.

This is the book you may be looking for

I had this book in my wishlist for years. I was interested in Gnosticism/religion/occultism and the sociology and politics of technology, but I never bought the book because I feared that it would either be too superficial or too technical. It was nearer to the latter, and I did well to wait before reading it, because I know I could not have understood it this well a few years ago. Now it feels like it came just in time. The book is not for everyone; but because following it can be prohibitive for people not already following certain conversations.

This author is very well read, and is able to address a broad range of subjects, deeply, and with a clear, fairly impartial, and humorous style.

I enjoyed this read because it convincingly connected a lot of dots for me between spirituality and technology.

I think the point of the book was to be a historical overview and a lucid connector of what seem to be different things, and not a conclusive manifesto about what to do about this, and I appreciate it for that.

I think the Narrator had a great voice and inflection for this work, but I must say that he mispronounced a lot of words throughout. But I can’t really blame him because the subjects are often so esoteric. Few people would notice an error anyway, and the intended subjects would not be missed by those already in the know.

New Age wish-thinking

This book is an attempt to modernize the kind of wish-thinking that has enabled charlatans, hucksters, and snake-oil salesmen throughout the ages.