In 1998, I first read this and it truly blew my mind! Sadly, I lost my original copy. So, recently I re-purchased a paperback and even managed to find the PDF somewhere online.

The book delves into the Stanford Sleep Experiments, where trained subjects took part in a series of lucid dream sleep experiments. The findings from these experiments had a profound impact on me. They completely changed my views on consciousness and altered states of consciousness, as well as what the human mind is truly capable of.

Personally, I believe that shamans and monks have been harnessing the power of lucid dreaming, using various techniques, for hundreds or even thousands of years. It's only in recent times that science has started to take a closer look at this fascinating phenomenon. Perhaps this is an example where logic and the more mysterious "woo woo" aspects of the mind sort of converge. It makes one wonder about the vast potential that lies within our own consciousness and what else we might discover as we continue to explore this area.

Full of practical, evidence-based advice on the practice of lucid dreaming from Stephen LaBerge of Stanford University.

With the help of the information presented in 'Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming', I became a proficient lucid dreamer. After just a couple of weeks of practice, I easily achieved more than 30 successful attempts. As I grew better at lucid dreaming, I could directly transition from a hypnogogic state into a lucid dream while maintaining awareness. I'm aware that I might be unusual in this regard. I'm a light sleeper and have experienced sleep paralysis several times in my life, and these factors seemingly have something to do with it. However, your experience may vary.

A few key points that have stayed with me since reading this book are as follows:

1) Behaviors that make you question reality are extremely useful for lucid dreaming. You should regularly ask yourself during the day whether the things you perceive are real. This behavior will carry over into your dreams.

2) Utilize a few tests to determine if you're dreaming. For instance, I attempt to push my right index finger through my left palm. If I can do it, I know I'm dreaming. Additionally, closely examine written words, signage, your watch, and so on. Usually, upon close inspection, what you read won't make much sense in a dream or will change when you look away and then look back again. Practice these tests during the day, and you'll be more likely to perform them in your dreams.

3) It's easiest to lucid dream by waking up very early in the morning, staying awake for half an hour, and then going back to sleep with the intention of entering the lucid state. Lucid dreaming occurs during REM sleep, and REM cycles are most frequent during these hours. Once again, intention is crucial.

4) Keep a dream journal beside your bed to jot down what you've been dreaming about. Dream memories are quickly forgotten and overlaid by awakened perception. By doing this, you'll soon learn to recognize the things you tend to dream about. These frequently dreamt-about things can serve as clues to the possibility that you're dreaming, which should prompt you to perform a test (as described in point 2)).

There's a wealth of other really interesting information and practical advice to be found in "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming". I've since given my copy away to a friend, but I might pick up another one at some point if I return to the practice of lucid dreaming.

Mēs miegā pavadām 1/3 daļu no dzīves. This alone is a significant reason why it is important to master the art of achieving self-awareness in dreams. Delving into this topic, the potential for exploring one's dreams becomes very clear. It is a way to communicate with one's subconscious. Initially, we can experience various activities in dreams, but over time, it is possible to learn with the help of dreams to find answers to deep, philosophical questions about life, oneself, and the nature of existence. It is possible to overcome one's greatest fears.

The book very simply and clearly describes various exercises to improve the ability to induce conscious dreams. The exercises are based on many studies, so the author does not talk about this topic out of thin air, but rather based on his own and many other people's experiences, which were carried out either independently or in a controlled environment.

For some, such dream awareness may seem unheard of, for others it may seem like a common thing, as they have mastered it without problems since childhood, not even knowing that it is not the case for others. Everyone has a unique experience in this area. But just like with other skills, the more you master it, the better the result will be.

TL;DR Read this book and go do whatever you want in your dreams.

While I truly appreciated the information that was provided in the book, and there were indeed some interesting processes and methods given for implementing lucid dreaming, I have to admit that I found myself getting bored with the presentation and format of the information.

I understand that this book is older, but I firmly believe that if it were refreshed and updated, it would only enhance its value.

Furthermore, the methods for attaining lucid dreaming that were presented require a significant amount of free time and the ability to function through potentially sleepless nights or nights of constant waking. It would be beneficial if these procedures could be adapted to suit the working adult.

I have personal experience with lucid dreams, which is precisely why I was interested in looking into this book. However, it simply doesn't align with my lifestyle. Additionally, I felt that the book could be trimmed down as I often found myself looking ahead, getting distracted, and eager to move on to the next book on my list.

In conclusion, although there are some valuable aspects to the book, there is room for improvement in terms of presentation, adaptability, and length.

This is a truly remarkable book for delving into the realm of lucid dreaming. It's no surprise that it serves as a fundamental resource!

It expounds on a plethora of information, and it's well worth giving it a try. Even though it may be an older publication, its value remains intact.

I perused it simultaneously with Patricia Garfield’s Creative Dreaming. The fact that Garfield’s approach to dreams is more comprehensive, encompassing non-lucid dreams as well, alleviated my frustration when I couldn't master certain techniques from this particular book.

I'm not especially proficient in many of the lucid dreaming techniques (currently, I'm rather inept at WILD and MILD), but with such a wide array of them available, something is bound to click (what I typically do is DILD).

Indeed, ever since I started reading, I've been experiencing at least one lucid dream per week, I believe (after the initial one, which took nearly a month). It's comforting to know that people's abilities in this regard vary significantly. While some individuals can achieve lucid dreaming frequently and effortlessly, for others, it may take months of perseverance. So, just relax, don't stress, and keep on trying. There's a vast and exciting world of exploration awaiting you!

If you've ever been interested or even curious about what Lucid Dreaming is (think Inception), this book is for you.

Stephen LaBerge offers a remarkable introduction to the topic. He not only presents a comprehensive overview but also provides amazing exercises that can help you achieve your very first lucid dream.

Once you've mastered the basics, he delves into great detail regarding the potential applications of lucid dreams. This exploration opens up a world of possibilities, from personal growth and problem-solving to artistic inspiration and enhanced creativity.

I highly recommend this book as it was an invaluable resource for me. It provided me with the knowledge and tools I needed to embark on my own lucid dreaming journey.

Whether you're a beginner or someone with some experience in the field, this book has something to offer. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating world of lucid dreaming.

This book served as a good guide to lucid dreaming.

However, there was an overwhelming amount of information for me to handle.

In his attempt to be comprehensive, the author incorporated numerous lucid dreaming methods that the majority of readers will neither use nor have any inclination to attempt.

The book could have been more succinct and offered more content on problem-solving and intention-building.

Moreover, the author was rather dismissive of out-of-body experiences, which might potentially offend some readers who have had such experiences themselves.

Overall, while the book had its merits, it also had some areas that could have been improved upon to make it a more user-friendly and engaging resource for those interested in lucid dreaming.

This is a rather strange non-fiction book to assess.

On one hand, it provides you with quite practical advice, and you sense the author's attempt to raise this above pseudo-science.

However, on the other side, it cannot completely avoid it (especially after page 150), and many of the techniques seem to be anecdotal.

Nevertheless, the topic is captivating, and with all the advice in this book, many people should be able to find something useful in it.

Just like with many topics based on psychology, you have to make a bit of a choice for yourself.

Perhaps you can take the practical advice that makes sense to you and discard the parts that seem less reliable.

In the end, it's up to each individual reader to decide how much value they can extract from this somewhat unusual non-fiction work.

In the early 1990s, it was undoubtedly pioneering.

Back then, it was a revolutionary concept that captured the attention of many.

Now, it has become historical and classic, a significant part of the evolution of the field.

It is still very good for those who are interested in the topic.

However, it does feel a bit dated, especially since it comes with a CD!

In today's digital age, almost all of this information can be found online.

Nevertheless, it remains an excellent single source from one of the pioneers of lucid dreaming.

It is also quite practical, offering valuable insights and techniques.

It somehow oversells lucid dreaming (in my humble opinion), but everyone has their own opinion.

Overall, it is a valuable resource that has stood the test of time, despite its few drawbacks.

A great book on the topic and rather thorough.

Diamonds discovered:

- Keep a dream journal and use it to identify your dream signs. Dream signs are those elements in your dream that indicate you're actually dreaming. For example, did you realize you were dreaming when elephants took flight? Or when you walked through fire? Dream signs are crucial as most dreamers become lucid upon noticing an unusual event in their dream.

- Ask yourself, “Am I dreaming?” when awake. This practice will carry over to your sleep, helping you develop a critical-reflective attitude and preparing you to become lucid in your dreams. When your dreams seem overly real, use critical state testing. Check if the content of a book remains the same when you open it the first and second time.

- There are two types of lucid dreams: dream-initiated lucid dreams (DILDs) and wake-initiated lucid dreams (WILDs). In DILDs, lucidity is achieved after losing consciousness while falling asleep. In WILDs, it's achieved by keeping your mind active as you fall asleep, without losing consciousness.

- There are several ways to induce WILDs. One popular method is through hypnagogic imagery. These are the images you see in your mind's eye during the transition. They often start as light flashes or patterns that gradually form faces and shapes, eventually creating the dream scene. Focus on these images and observe them neutrally as they unfold.

- To avoid waking up too early, engage in dream activity as soon as you sense the dream starting to disintegrate. You could touch an object, look at your hands, or simply turn around in the dream. Staying active in the dream reduces the likelihood of waking up. If you start to lose lucidity, try talking to yourself in the dream, repeating something like, “This is a dream.”

- Lucid dreaming can improve psychological health by integrating imbalanced personalities. In dreams, these may appear as fears or monsters. Instead of resisting or running away, embrace their presence. You'll find they become less threatening, leading to a better balance in your waking life. Nightmares are caused by fear. Facing your fears in dreams makes them disappear.

- You can also improve skills from your waking life while lucid dreaming. Practice mental imagery and mental rehearsal. Studies have shown these techniques can enhance performance at work and in leisure activities, like playing football. The more you use these techniques in your dream life, the more likely you are to improve your overall performance in your waking life.

This is generally regarded as the best guide to lucid dreaming.

I can affirm that I reached that amazing state by means of one or two of the lessons imparted here.

Although I have no interest in any of the spiritual aspects that are included (at least not in a book about lucid dreaming), the extensive variety of techniques offered implies that you can select and choose what suits you best.

This maximizes your odds of being able to 'become lucid'.

In fact, I have friends who have accomplished lucid dreaming merely from hearing me describe techniques from this book.

It is indeed possible to do.

However, it requires time and effort.

If you are new to the topic, the book is wonderful.

It seems to offer a wealth of information and insights that can be quite captivating.

However, for those like me who already know about all of this, the value obtained from it may not be as lasting.

The serious ones would be better off just lurking in the Dreamviews forums, where there are numerous techniques and tips available.

To be honest, I don't remember much from this book, despite having had high hopes for it.

Perhaps it's because my prior knowledge made it difficult for the book to offer something truly new and groundbreaking.

Nevertheless, for beginners, it could still serve as a useful introduction to the subject.

But for those who are more experienced, exploring the forums might be a more fruitful way to enhance their understanding and skills.