A Natural Awakening: Realizing the True Self in Everyday Life (Tigerfyre Publishing, 2005). My first book. I began writing it in 1996 and by 2000 thought I was mainly finished, but then revised it extensively during the years 2001-2003 when I was very involved in the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, and finally published it in 2005. It is mainly an attempt to integrate the great Vedantic teachings of non-dualism with modern psychological perspectives. 295 pages. Only 250 copies of it were printed, all sold in the first 6 months or so, although a PDF can be obtained by emailing me at pmistlberger@yahoo.com. I didn't bother reprinting it as I consider my later book Rude Awakening to be in many ways an upgrade of this book. That said, A Natural Awakening is useful for those very committed to a non-dualistic path.
The Three Dangerous Magi: Osho, Gurdjieff, Crowley (O-Books, 2010). My 714 page study of three radical 20th century 'rascal gurus'. The book is 230,000 words long and yet I cranked it out in 5 months, a brisk pace that reflected the enjoyment I had in researching and writing it. My strong familiarity with the three figures in question didn't hurt either. This has been the bestselling of my books to date.
Rude Awakening: Perils, Pitfalls, and Hard Truths of the Spiritual Path (Changemakers Books, 2012). 282 pages. This has been the most popular of my books among my students and clients over the years.
The Inner Light: Self-Realization via the Western Esoteric Tradition (Axis Mundi Books, 2014). My most scholarly book, a kind of mini-encyclopedia of Western wisdom traditions, broad in scope, and 585 pages long. I also see this book as the most unappreciated of my works, probably not helped by it being the driest. It represented 18 months of painstaking research and writing, and is the book most reflective of my esoteric work.
The Way of the Conscious Warrior: A Handbook for 21st Century Men (Changemakers Books, 2019). This is my book for men, 300 pages. It was originally written for the men of my men's community in Vancouver (the Samurai Brotherhood), and later expanded into a book. Of all my writings this one contains my most journalistic approach, veering as it does many times into current affairs and popular culture. I enjoyed writing it.
The Dancing Sorcerer: Essays on the Mind of the Magician (Anathema Publishing, 2020), 368 pages. A collection of ten extended essays on Western esoterica and occultism, with an emphasis on psychospiritual interpretation. The book is designed by Gabriel McCaughry and illustrated by Rowan Cassidy, available in hardback and softcover. The Inner Light was my broad overview of esoteric traditions, whereas The Dancing Sorcerer more closely zooms in on specific branches.
Going Within in a Time of Crisis (Changemakers Books, 2020). One of my publishers commissioned me to write this short book in response to the 2020 novel coronavirus pandemic, as part of a 'Resilience' series written by several experts in their fields. The book is not about the pandemic per se, but rather about our psychological reactions to crises in general, along with some guidance for navigating the inner worlds during such times, utilizing it as an opportunity to do work on self.
