Castaneda has a large and vocal following. Judging from previous reviews, all of them are not at the highest level of literacy, but they do seem to have confidence in the tales he relates.
I often wonder how it is that people will believe stories that can only be described as preposterous--stories at which they would scoff, if told them by a friend or coworker, simply because they are in book form.
Castaneda achieved great success with his 'Tales of Don Juan,' which the New York Times called "an extraordinary spiritual and psychological document." This book is a follow-on, only the sorceress, Dona Soledad, is a female who was trained by Don Juan, this gaining the loyalty of a feminine audience.
I have met a sorcerer's apprentice who lived with the Weshaw Indians of Mexico and used the sacred mushroom with them, and learned to use the water drum, and experienced other aspects of their culture. There are many deep mysteries to examine, and I am open to them.
Carlos Castaneda, however, does not resonate with me. Well-written, perhaps. I can see no reason to rush to judgment to believe him, though.
Joseph Pierre, Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Eternity
Mr. Castaneda's rendering of his experiences with his cohorts, and teachers has to be taken in the full context of all of his books. The ideas that he speaks about obviously are not his, he was an uptight, overachieving academic type. he would not have the full imagination to think up all of this "stuff".
but the whole group of books where he explains in detail the specific way to become a "warrior" is not for the massess. The massess have no thought over and above their everyday life, much less such an esoteric explaination of a unique way of life. And very few would take this walk of life.
I know alot of people obviously think that the things described are from his imagination or maybe from his drug induced thoughts, but as one reads each and every book it is obvious that there is something more that is going on. each of his books builds upon the last and tries to explain the full impact of what he was told and what he saw and experienced.
life is full of mysteries that we have not delved into...other dimensions that we have not explored this does not mean that they are not available.
it just means that most people cannot make that leap into another reality.
that of course is their loss.