Roads of Excess, Palaces of Wisdom: Eroticism and Reflexivity in the Study of Mysticism

The aspect of Kripal's book that I enjoyed the most was seeing the realities of the academic pursuit. These various scholars of mysticism, by virtue of the very nature of academic engagement with the material, were working at the point of convergence of objectivity and subjectivity. And it is this placement at the nexus that invigorated and enlived their research. If one is interested in mysticism, or religious studies, this is an excellent book to read in order to get a glimpse of true scholars at work.

I had the opportunity of studying with Professor Kripal and using the proof of this book as the text. The lives described within this text are fascinating, the analysis penetrating, and the personal details of his own path bring the whole thing home for the reader. I don't know that there is another book like it anywhere and I learned an incredible amount from Kripal about mysticism, as well as analytical methodology. Warning: it is for academics, the lay person will get lost in the language.