Eagle River resident Nick Begich recently announced the release of his latest book "Controlling the Human Mind," which looks at human potential and how it might be enhanced or degraded by technologies.
Part One of Begich's latest work looks at "The Sinister Side of Controlling the Human Mind," which explores topics including psycho-terrorism, Central Intelligence Agency science, subliminal messages and commercial uses and new toys for defense.
"The important thing is to recognize that the technologies that affect our consciousness and our brains are the technologies that are developed either into the most incredible weapon systems or the most incredible ways of unlocking all of our potentials as human beings," Begich said. "I think that's why this is such an important subject. This is the beginning of the 21st century and intelligence and intellect are what are going to make the solutions to all of the very complex problems that we have in front of us."
In the book he cites technologies being developed by the U.S. Air Force called "controlled effects."
"Controlled effects include not just effects on hardware but effects on people," Begich said. "The intention is to be able to manipulate all of the basic senses of the human body, for example the sense of taste, touch, smell, vision and acoustics, so you could actually hear voices in your head that you wouldn't even be able to describe where they came from."
In Part Two, he focuses on "Tools for the 21st Century," such as brain entrainment, brain training for children, kinesiology, acupuncture, brain to computer connections and electro-cranial stimulation.
"On the other side of the coin are advances being made in neuro-biofeedback or what's called brain biofeedback," Begich said. "This is an area that has actually been used in 40 school districts now around the country. It's actually being applied to attention deficit disorder and hyperactive kids by teaching them how to moderate their brain activity using the same basic principles as biofeedback."
He said 80 percent of the population using the technique is removed from psychoactive drugs and able to function normally in classrooms.
Begich also cites advances being made in Europe as a result of acupuncture techniques moving away from needles and using electro laser stimulation instead.
"They're having incredible results with things like diabetes, multiple sclerosis and certain forms of cancer," he said. "What we know is the changes, the potentials that are coming, the things that are already invented, available and being applied if they were more widely known would certainly revolutionize everything."
Begich previously co-authored "Angels Don't Play This HAARP" with Jeane Manning and "Earth Rising" and "Earth Rising II" with James Roderick. His books have been translated into Japanese, German, French and Hungarian.
He was recently interviewed regarding the content of his latest book by the Washington Post for an article he said should appear sometime in November.
"It's an important work not only for getting it out there but initiating a debate on a very interesting and complex issue," Begich said.
He will lecture on the subject from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the University of Alaska Anchorage bookstore.
Begich earned a doctorate in traditional medicine from the Sri Lanka-based Open International University of Complementary Medicines and has lectured throughout the United States and in 19 countries on technology. He serves as executive director of The Lay Institute On Technology Inc., a Texas-based non-profit, which he said is advancing ideas about what technology does and what its potential impacts are.
He is the eldest son of the late Alaska Sen. Nick Begich Sr. and political activist Pegge Begich and brother of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
(Original headline: Sneak peek into local author Begich's mind )
