"While living in Berlin in my early twenties, I had what I can only describe as 'an enlightenment experience', which lasted a number of weeks. I had been a straight edge, vegetarian, so it wasn't the result of drugs as people sometimes laughingly suggest. I always reply that of course, some chunk of mescalin still lodged in my brain from high school, might have gotten dislodged...

Anyway, at the time, and as a result of that experience, I wrote a simple book called The Book of You, by You.

Since as the title implies, I felt no more the author of the book than anyone else, I decided to publish it on the web anonomously. This year is the first year I have admitted to writing it. You can heck it out at http://www.youbyyou.com

At the time, everything from hardcore to metal, classical to country, and any other type of music, seemed like the most amazing thing I had ever heard. I realized that it was all people expressing themselves, and that all those people put together are one big thing expressing itself...

After coming down from that perfect state though, I went through years of manic depression, abeit mixed with and coupled with some pretty amazing adventures. I'm still trying to find my way back, although I finally realize how important it is to also be the unique individual that you are, even while remembering you're also part of the whole."

Philip Lawvere 2014