Book Review: Primary Perception by Cleve Backster

By: Dr Raphael Blumenfeld, M.Sc., Ph.D.

(excerpted - please send for complete review)

This book describes an intriguing investigation of Mr Cleve Backster into the possible perception of plants through their responses to stimuli and to other living organisms. In spite of the first reported observations of the author dating back to 1966, this type of phenomena is still well outside the current paradigm of scientific research. Being a professional physicist myself, I am naturally skeptic of observations that cannot be straightforwardly explained by paradigmatic knowledge, but skepticism does not rule out being open-minded. So I read the book trying to closely scrutinize the experiments and the results. I pride myself as usually being able to spot fundamental problems in both the methodology of experiments and in their interpretations, especially if the measurements appear to be in contradiction to the common wisdom.

Reading the brine shrimp experiment I was very impressed by the process of progressive tightening of the control over the experiment and the careful attention that was given to details that could either lead to inaccuracies or to multiple interpretations. In fact, it is one of the most meticulous experiments I have ever read about. Personally, I would have liked to see more repetitions of this beautifully controlled experiment, either by the author or by others. Unlike in court of law, in science it is both up to critics to prove irreproducibility as well as up to the discoverer to convince the community. I would like both parties to have done more in this regard (although I am sure that shrimps would disagree with me on this). I think that from Backster's point of view more statistics could have been very useful to convince the community in the validity of the response of the three plants to the demise of shrimps, while from the point of view of the skeptics it would be useful to repeat the experiments by others in other laboratories, adhering to the letter to the protocol outlined by Backster.

... I note that Backster's specifically states that his aim is not to give conclusive evidence but rather to point out his intriguing observations, and intriguing they definitely are, in an attempt to catalyse further research in the area by others. He appears to have not had much success in that, which to my mind is none of his fault but rather the community's and a direct result of the current system of doing science.

There are descriptions of other observations and measurements in the book, some of which also detailing possible responses (until proven otherwise, I would prefer this term to 'perception') to events so far as to not be explained by any conventional field. These observations are less thoroughly controlled, but are still suggestive and provocative enough for others to try to follow. I personally find it a small probability that these will be reproducible under careful conditions, but this is not to say that publication of the observations is inappropriate. On the contrary, exploration of possible new research frontiers cannot be a total waste of time; just remember how much science has gained from chasing the "wrong" ether idea.

To conclude, I found this book fascinating reading. I did not agree with all the interpretations of the results, but I must concede that the experiments described were very cleverly conceived and that some of them were so carefully controlled that they should set an example for young experimentalists in any field. I would have liked to see more experimental data but, as the author admits, the aim of the book is not to convince the reader but rather to initiate more activity in the direction of plant and cell responses. I totally recommend it to the inquisitive and curious.

Primary Perception by Cleve Backster is a book which falls into the "must read" Category. Cleve's thirty six years of laboratory research into Biocommunication with plants, living foods and human cells now backs up scientifically what "spiritual" people have "known" for eons of time.
Cleve's research has been "backed-up" by Dr. Emoto's research into water crystals, a similar research project in the same arena as Biocommunication. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to be read by children, science school teachers and people interested in all aspects of metaphysical developments. It has certainly given me a new line of thought in regards to the research I carry out on the plants retrieved from Crop Circle Formations.

David Kingston
Lecturer, writer, radio & television broadcaster on the paranormal since 1976
Web Site: http://thecropcirclewebsite.50megs.com

From A Scientist of Mexico

Twenty years ago, I read about the research done by Cleve Backster in the book, The Secret Life of Plants, but that information appeared with a lot of other experiments and thoughts from other authors, so I did not understand the importance of Backster’s work in that time.

I am teaching now the course, Introduction to the Scientific Thought, at the Faculty of Agronomy (Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, México) and while looking for new investigations on the internet, I found Mr. Backster published his own book on his research! I sent for the book and explained the contents to my Bachelor of Arts students, also to two teams of students who looked for more information on biocommunication. They did presentations in class this semester.

The most important aspect for me is Mr. Backster demonstrated experimentally what we supposed for many years: There is communication between all living plants and animals (including man). Some religions indicate this but none demonstrated it! I feel better when we can show scientific results to skeptical persons. My feelings and thoughts on Nature and the Universe have changed after reading this excellent book.

I work with Taxonomy of wasps. Sometimes I sensed that non-stinging wasps came to me and thought maybe they were looking for me. On other occasions, I caress the antennae of different moths, at home or in nature. Maybe I have been feeling biocommunication for years!!

Dr. Enrique Ruíz-Cancino

From Brian O'Leary

Cleve Backster is no ordinary scientist. His path to discovery, so well
described in his autobiographical book Primary Perception, brings
together both the human and objective elements into a gripping detective
story, leading to insights many scientists would not
want to touch because the implications are so profound and in some
respects contradictory to the materialistic world view that grips
contemporary science.

The subtitle well expresses his breakthroughs: Biocommunication with
plants, living foods and human cells. Backster's courage and humility in
breaking out of the traditional box of Western science provides an
inspiration for the rest of us.

As a physics faculty member at Princeton University during the 1970s, I
began to have some experiences that shattered my own materialistic
paradigm. I became hungry for experiments which would reveal the
mysteries of consciousness, of measuring communications of intent with
other living beings as a force that transcends ordinary physics and
biology.

When Backster's experiments came to my attention, I spent time in his
laboratory verifying the extraordinary phenomena on the influence of
human intent on the electrical activity of target cells. I was so
inspired, I used Backster's work in the lead to my book, Exploring Inner
and Outer Space.

The process of Backster's discoveries revealed in Primary Perception is
required reading for anyone interested in how science could be done in a
better world. Ironically, the humility with which he took on the task
made him better qualified to do the work than prestigious scientists at
leading universities who have vested interests in traditional science
and have avoided this kind of research for fear of being ostrasized by
their peers.

It takes great courage to break out of the old, comfortable modes of
research (I call it the box of materialism) and go for the truth for
what it is, rather than for more limited truths inside the box.
Backster's independence is a key to his success, because he is not
trying to impress anybody or placate funding sources; he's an authentic
truth-seeker, intelligent, honest, transparent, generous with his time,
childlike in his sense of awe and wonder with
the phenomena, and willing to take the path of discovery wherever it leads.

This book can be easily understood by almost anyone. It's a great read
and an essential addition to any library on new science.

Brian O'Leary, Ph.D.
www.brianoleary.com

Former astronaut and Professor of astronomy
Co-founder, International Association of New Science
Founding president, New Energy Movement

A review by a former Congressman

At certain times in our history someone has made a discovery that shakes our thinking, and changes our perception of reality. Such is the case with Cleve Backster and his book, Primary Perception. His work and the book are the first step towards a whole new perception and understanding of life on our planet.
Berkley Bedell, former Congressman and founder of the National Foundation for Alternative Medicine.