The Altered State

About the Book

The Altered State presents a startling new theory of the most universal brush with eternity we can have - falling in love. In the lonely city we cross a street, turn a corner, run into someone and fall in love. Our life is forever altered by a ´chance´ encounter. Yet afterwards, we are haunted by the feeling that it was destined to happen. The Altered State is a unique and revelatory exploration of that great adventure of the human spirit we call erotic love. The author draws on the literature and wisdom of East and West, on research into parapsychology and even the semi-mystical theories of modern physics, but above all he draws on the remarkable love encounters of ordinary people. This original book guides the reader towards an understanding of the miraculous encounter with erotic destiny. Paul McLaughlin comments: "Readers tell me that they are astonished by the ideas in my book and fascinated by the accounts of individual love affairs. Falling in love is probably the most important thing we do in our lives and perhaps the most mysterious. We usually try to explain it by saying ´it´s all chemistry´ or even ´we get on well together´. But these are not explanations at all. Rather they are ways of saying we have no idea. Those who have encountered erotic destiny will understand the book easily. I hope it helps those who have not yet encountered their erotic destiny."

About the Author

Paul McLaughlin has published in the USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland and the UK. Currently a university lecturer, his interests are music, travel and fine wines. He divides his time between Ireland and Verona, Italy, where, after a passionate love affair, he first conceived The Altered State. In the lonely city we cross a street, turn a corner, run into someone and fall in love. Our life is turned around and forever altered by a 'chance' encounter. Yet afterwards, we are haunted by the feeling that it was destined to happen. Our love affair seems to belong to a realm beyond our understanding, to a timeless domain where our secret lives have their origins. Why do lovers feel strongly that in some mysterious way, they share the same soul and are bonded by fate? What if forces and influences unknown bring us together? What if sexual passion has its origins somewhere in that shadowy land of the soul beyond time and space? The Altered State is a unique and revelatory exploration of that great adventure of the human spirit we call erotic love. Drawing on the literature and wisdom of East and West, on research into parapsychology and the semi-mystical theories of modern physics, but above all drawing on the remarkable love encounters of ordinary people, this original book guides the reader towards an understanding of the miraculous encounter with erotic destiny.