Better World Books Podcast: Daniel Pinchbeck
10/30/10 • 28 min
Daniel Pinchbeck is out there. Maybe even way out there, depending on where you are, but he is also most definitely a man of action. As a young man living in New York City and working as a journalist, Daniel faced what he calls a spiritual crisis. Many people in his situation might have just weathered the storm, maybe taken up yoga or found a hobby like bungee jumping. But not Daniel. He wanted answers.
So he went on a journey – both physically and psychically. The journey led him to Shamanism, psychedelic drugs, Mayan culture and more – and led him to believe (to know – in his words) that these things had meaning, were real and tangible and should and could be applied to the economic and environmental challenges of today .
His journey into Shamanism and psychedelics is chronicled in his first book: BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD. His second book 2012: THE RETURN OF QUETZALCOATL (which I was afraid to pronounce in the podcast – even though I really practiced ahead of time!) digs deep into the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar and what that really means in terms of the year 2012 and the immense change he believes is already underway.
His latest book NOTES FROM THE EDGE TIMES is a series of essays Daniel wrote since the publication of 2012. It touches on topics from the environment to the economy to monogamy and psychic ability.
As a man of action – Daniel is not afraid to call it like he sees it. Daniel quotes Einstein and others in the book who say “You don’t solve problems with the kind of thinking that created them” – and whether you buy into his solutions or not, you have to admit that sentiment rings true.
Interviewing Daniel was a challenge to be sure! He’s a smart guy who backs his thinking with lots of research. Give it a listen, then check out the books and form your own opinion.
— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host
PS – did I mention Daniel is the one of the creators of 2012: Time for Change, a documentary with stars like Sting, Ellen Page and David Lynch. It’s currently debuting in selected cities around the world.
Like this interview? Subscribe to the podcast today!
Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!
Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.
Daniel Pinchbeck is out there. Maybe even way out there, depending on where you are, but he is also most definitely a man of action. As a young man living in New York City and working as a journalist, Daniel faced what he calls a spiritual crisis. Many people in his situation might have just weathered the storm, maybe taken up yoga or found a hobby like bungee jumping. But not Daniel. He wanted answers.
So he went on a journey – both physically and psychically. The journey led him to Shamanism, psychedelic drugs, Mayan culture and more – and led him to believe (to know – in his words) that these things had meaning, were real and tangible and should and could be applied to the economic and environmental challenges of today .
His journey into Shamanism and psychedelics is chronicled in his first book: BREAKING OPEN THE HEAD. His second book 2012: THE RETURN OF QUETZALCOATL (which I was afraid to pronounce in the podcast – even though I really practiced ahead of time!) digs deep into the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar and what that really means in terms of the year 2012 and the immense change he believes is already underway.
His latest book NOTES FROM THE EDGE TIMES is a series of essays Daniel wrote since the publication of 2012. It touches on topics from the environment to the economy to monogamy and psychic ability.
As a man of action – Daniel is not afraid to call it like he sees it. Daniel quotes Einstein and others in the book who say “You don’t solve problems with the kind of thinking that created them” – and whether you buy into his solutions or not, you have to admit that sentiment rings true.
Interviewing Daniel was a challenge to be sure! He’s a smart guy who backs his thinking with lots of research. Give it a listen, then check out the books and form your own opinion.
— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host
PS – did I mention Daniel is the one of the creators of 2012: Time for Change, a documentary with stars like Sting, Ellen Page and David Lynch. It’s currently debuting in selected cities around the world.
Like this interview? Subscribe to the podcast today!
Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!
Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.
Previous Episode
Better World Books Podcast: Gin Phillips
THE WELL AND THE MINE is the story of a family living in an Alabama coal mining town in the 1930s. The story begins when nine-year-old Tess watches from the darkness of her back porch as an unknown woman lifts the cover off the family well and tosses a baby in without a word.
As Tess struggles at first to be believed and then later to find the “Well Woman” the family and the town struggle to survive the difficult and complex time they live in.
The book tackles the racism and sexism of the time period as well as the immensely difficult lives of coal miners and their families. It does all this with a grace and fluidity that make it feel like more of a classic than a debut novel.
Gin Phillips is as thoughtful in person as she is in her writing. She came by our offices while on tour for the book and we had a great conversation about how the story came about and why she chose to tell it from multiple perspectives. I picked up on some dualities in the book that Gin had not even realized were there but was pleased to discover. You’ll have to give it a read and see if you saw what I did!
— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host
Like this interview? Subscribe to the podcast today!
Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!
Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at podcast AT betterworldbooks.com.
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