Reddit reviews Valis

More than how, I think the emphasis with PKD is why. Several of his other books feature transcendent, reality bending experiences, and particularly with VALIS, and The Divine Invasion, gnosticism. I think a key to Isidore's experience is that he is an imperfect human expanding his spirit to a more perfect, unified consciousness. For the reader, I don't think the technical reality of the situation is at all important, anymore than knowing the chemical composition of the material that makes an android's skin makes a significant narrative difference. Rather it is important to know four details of Isidore's experience:

1.) He perceives it as real.
2.) It has a literal impact on his life.
3.) It may be illusory, despite 1 and 2.
4.) The microcosm reflects the macrocosm.

4 may seem like a leap, but again, looking at VALIS in which a pseudonymous Kilgore Troute seeks to express a god that is a "macrocosmic mirror to man the microcosm" (Valis, Chapter 6) it seems reasonable to assume that Dick might have set these beliefs out in story to better understand them. Isidore belives he finds unification with mankind while he interfaces with the box, but this belief and experience can not only mislead him and hurt him, despite being virtual, but it can kill. This, I believe, is a metaphore for the gnostic experience. We are trapped in an illusory belief system setup by a narcissitic god, and if we don't escape that illusion, it can kill us.

A few books I read recently (within the last couple of years) that really stand out for me:

Non-fiction:

• On Writing by Stephen King. The first half is a combination of a memoir of King's early life and professional writing tips on things like grammar, character development, etc. The second half is an application of these skills in a very lucid and memorable description of his recent automobile accident and subsequent rehabilitation. Even if you're not interested in writing as a craft, it's still a good read.
  
• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. If you're a non-believer, or someone in the process of questioning your faith, you'll love it. It clearly states many of the things you think and feel much more eloquently and clearly than you yourself could. Even if you're religious and an opponent of Dawkins, it's still a good peek into the mind of an atheist to understand where they are coming from. Because of its eloquence and clarity, it's a dream to read.
  
• Lennon Legend by James Henke. A very simple and accessible biography of Lennon featuring tons of amazing photographs, incredibly detailed reproductions of memorabilia (such as the scrap of paper on which Lennon composed the lyrics to "In My Life"), and an accompanying audio CD containing rarities. It feels like the kind of book Lennon would have written himself.
  
  Fiction:
  
  
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. One of my personal favourites and a book that's become something of a cultural phenomenon. As the Amazon review says: "Had The Blair Witch Project been a book, written by Nabokov, revised by Stephen King, and typeset by Blast." It's a pretty scary book that plays with your mind. You'll understand what I mean once the nightmares start...
  
• VALIS by Philip K. Dick. A semi-autobiographical tale of a man who may or may not be crazy and his quest to find God... Literally. It combines ancient religion with contemporary philosophy and screwup characters.
  
  Unfortunately the two fictional books aren't easy reads. Not difficult, mind you, but not as straightforwardly easy as, say, The Road. But I think they're engrossing enough that you'll get sucked in nevertheless.
  
  I hope this helps!

Valis by PKD

I'm merely pointing out one possibility however it's the possibility I believe has the highest probability of being true. You're trying to ask me what has influenced me in this direction. I would have to tell you it has to do with direct experience with phenomena that falls outside the realm of everyday ordinary reality. To go into it here would make too many people uncomfortable and since it was my direct experience it is not something easily provable or transferable. In other words I could tell you but you'd never believe me and I'd have no way to prove it, so I might as well not even go there.

I can however furnish you with reading material that may eventually help you have your own direct experience of non-ordinary reality which might lead to your own revelations.

some of these links will be amazon links but I'm not getting paid by them no worries.

You can do it with buddhist meditation here is a decent guidebook: http://www.interactivebuddha.com/mctb.shtml
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

here are some other resources that may be helpful.
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0880103728
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1882692047
http://www.amazon.com/Not-His-Image-Gnostic-Ecology/dp/193149892X
http://www.workofthechariot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trigger-Final-Secret-Illuminati/dp/1561840033
http://www.amazon.com/Valis-Philip-K-Dick/dp/0679734465
http://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Dream-Yoga-Complete-Conscious/dp/156455743X

You could always just go the lazy route and eat 6 grams of dried psilocybe cubensis alone in a silent dark room. I hear that works for a lot of people but it's not really what I'm into. :)

good luck!

Here's some that I recommend:

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. A classic. Deals with censorship, dystopian future society (very similar to our current way of life), criticizes television, etc.

1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell. Both deal with corrupt government, religion, conformity, etc.

VALIS by Philip K. Dick. A disturbing account of Dick's own struggles with finding a personal God. In fact, I can recommend anything by Philip K. Dick.

And, of course, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. It's an essential.