Works by
John C. Lilly
(Aka John Cunningham Lilly)
(Writer)
[1915 - 2001]

Books

• Lilly on Dolphins (Date?)
  Including Man and Dolphin, The Mind of the Dolphin, and other scientific works.

• Mental Effects of Reduction of Ordinary Levels of Physical Stimuli on Intact, Healthy Persons & Discussion of Paper (1956)

• Programming and Multiprogramming in the Human Biocomputer: Theory and Experiments (1972)

• The Human Biocomputer (1972)

• Dyadic Cyclone (1976) with Antonetta Lilly

• Simulations of God: The Science of Belief (1976)

• Communication Between Man and Dolphin: The Possibilities of Talking With Other Species (1978)

• The Scientist: A Novel Autobiography (1978)

• Center of the Cyclone: Looking Into Inner Space (1985, 1997, 2007)
  In this long-out-of-print counterculture classic, Dr. John C. Lilly takes readers behind the scenes into the inner life of a scientist exploring inner space, or “far-out spaces,” as Lilly called them. The book explains how he derived his theory of the operations of the human mind and brain from his personal experiences and experiments in solitude, isolation, and confinement; LSD; and other methods of mystical experience. It also includes glimpses into Lilly's friendship with such 1960s' notables as Oscar Ichazo, Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Albert Hofmann, Fritz Perls, and Claudio Narajo. Written for the non-specialist, Center of the Cyclone shows an important, modern thinker at his most personal and profound.

• John Lilly, So Far... (1990) by Francis Jeffrey and John C. Lilly

• Tanks for the Memories: Floatation Tank Talks (1996) by E. J. Gold and John C. Lilly

• The Quiet Center: Isolation and Spirit (2003) by John C. Lilly, Phillip Bailey Lilly, and Tom Robbins
  In today’s world, many people seek shelter from the stresses and stimuli of everyday life as a way to reconnect with their inner reality. Scientist John C. Lilly, whose work inspired the films The Day of the Dolphin and Altered States, devised the perfect means of finding serene self-awareness: the isolation experience. The Quiet Center presents the core of Lilly’s groundbreaking isolation experiments and the path to higher consciousness. As a leader in consciousness research, Lilly, like his peers Timothy Leary, Alan Watts, and Carlos Castaneda, should be read by a new generation seeking to discover truth about themselves. By learning to create their own isolation space, readers will discover the healing powers of the “quiet center.”

• Programming the Human Biocomputer (2004) by John C. Lilly with Beverly A. Potter (Translator)
  Drawing from his extensive knowledge of and experimentation with brain biochemistry, the inventor of the sensory isolation tank outlines the parallels between computers and the human brain and offers methods for stepping out of the mind-body, leading readers on a profound journey of self-discovery.

• The Deep Self: Consciousness Exploration in the Isolation Tank (2006)
  First published more than 20 years ago and now with a new introduction by the author, this classic work presents the methods and conclusions of more than 25 years of experimentation with the isolation tank meditative experience. Drawing on the personal testimony of many who tried it, including Burgess Meredith, Gregory Bateson, E. J. Gold, and Jerry Rubin, the evidence shows how, by eliminating the presence of shifting physical input patterns, the tank allows participants to dive deep into their subconscious and focus immediately on their inner perceptions. The different domains of reality and how various experiences with solitude affect different people are discussed along with practical details on the standards for isolation tank manufacture and use.

• The Steersman: Metabeliefs and Self-Navigation (2007)
  In this intellectually bracing work, John C. Lilly likens humans to biochemical robots without an operating manual. By learning to program the robot, he argues, humans gain spiritual independence. Knowing one’s core beliefs and understanding how they direct one’s actions are critical steps towards such independence. But for many people, spiritual beliefs are like clothes, put on and taken off for various occasions — and like clothes, become a kind of confining uniform, rendering one person virtually identical to the next. In The Steersman, Lilly shows readers how to identify their guiding beliefs and, most importantly, how to change them in ways that they choose, making it possible to break out of the confines of beliefs accepted without consideration and navigate a new path of self-discovery.

Movies

Lilly's work was adapted into two feature films:

• The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
  Mike Nichols, Director with George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere   DVD  VHS

• Altered States (1980)
  Ken Russell, director with Blair Brown and William Hurt  Director:  DVD VHS

See also:

• The Complete Book of Extraterrestrial Encounters: The Ideas of Billy Graham, Carl Sagan, Carl Jung, Erich Von D'Aniken, John G. Fulle, and John C. Lilly (1979) by Randall Fitzgerald