Analysis Of Steven Kotler's West Of Jesus

Many books attempt to draw in the reader by focusing on one central idea through out the course of the story. This is typically an effective approach because it keeps the reader organized on one concept without incorporating convoluting details. Steven Kotler’s West Of Jesus takes a far different approach by confronting the reader with many different ideas and themes, it is the quest to find the perfect wave, the quest to discover the origin of myth, even the quest to discover the origin of belief itself. Yet somehow the book still finds a way to tie all these ideas together, relating them all back to one central idea, the role of belief systems. The main underlying idea that the book addresses is the role of belief systems in society, and
Towards the end of the fourth chapter, Kotler described how his way of life he currently knew was beginning to fail, in which he states: “When all else fails, I thought go on a dam quest.” (Kotler 14.) What he meant was that since his reality he created was no longer possible due to illness, it was time for a needed change of pace in his life. It would be valuable to mention that this is not any type of quest Kotler was setting off on, it was a surf quest, a quest to find the perfect wave. His quest began in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where Kotler started his search to find this aforementioned ‘perfect wave.’ So in the short period of a few months, Kotler’s entire belief system shifted from attaining comfort in his idealistic manifested world to seeking adventure through traveling to new exotic locations on a surf mission, and without the power of his belief in the quest, his journey would not have come into
While in Bali, Indonesia, Kotler surfed an area known as the Nusa Dua, a very dangerous zone to surf for those of inexperience. He recalled taking on a wave so large that it plunged him against a coral reef, leaving Kotler near death with scrapes and bruises, when he made it back to the boat he spoke to his Australian friend: “Close one mate.” “I nodded in agreement and bled a little more and said something about the goddess of the southern sea feeling forgiving this morning. He shook his head. “That wasn’t any goddess; that was just the conductor having his way with you.” (Kotler 28.) He was then told about the story of the Conductor, who in essence was a surf god able to control the waves and the weather with but a single human bone, and that Kotler only survived the wave because the Conductor came to his mercy. Seven years later in Mexico, Kotler was told the same exact story by a different person he met; yet it was during a similar near death experience. “I didn’t notice Ben had paddled over. “Looks like the Conductor had his way with you was what he said.” (36.) This was the real beginning of Kotler’s adventure, the premium fuel of belief in the bottomless tank of knowledge, now his belief shifted form