Book Review: Absolute Ibis Monarchy

Reviewed by John M. Murray

A bold, thought-provoking exploration of humanity and the intersection of spirituality with political power

John Houston posits that leadership requires divine wisdom and enlightened governance. Contrary to how civilizations have risen in human history, Houston suggests a society overseen by a philosopher king in tune with spirituality and pragmatism can bypass the limitations of conventional systems. The book weaves historical narratives, mythological allegory, and esoteric philosophy to present the core argument: true power arises from alignment with spiritual principles. The book is the third and final in The Ibis Trilogy seeking to push a more holistic approach to political governance in the hopes of uniting humanity.

Interestingly, Houston suggests that a kingship/monarchy is the preferred, if not natural, method that humanity thrives under. The king won’t be a human but a reincarnated “Philosopher-King” who has been born before and will return as the “Absolute Monarch” to usher in a new age of prosperity. 

The Philosopher-King has yet to return, but after establishing their inevitable return, Houston moves through examining human history with a focus on where governments have failed before and what spiritual wisdom can provide to overcome the mistakes. He breaks down major civilizations including Ancient Egypt, the British Empire, and modern America. There’s a clear sense of society/government failing to uplift humanity and potential ways the Philosopher-King will bring about change.

Houston writes with an expansive and poetic voice: “The Human Race is the evolution of the consciousness which is required to bring the Universe to a state of equilibrium, the entropy of the Universe having run its course.” When discussing the historical record, he shifts into an engaging professorial voice accompanied by direct quotes from pivotal people—Plato and Hawking chief among them. While some of the content can be esoteric and strange, Houston maintains an intricate lyrical tone throughout that encourages an open mind.

There’s a gamut of historical, theological, and philosophical analysis that grounds the narrative, but the inclusion of more esoteric and unusual commentary does undermine the impact of the book. Houston mentions a few times that Scottish people were “seeded” on Earth to eventually rule with the supporting rationale requiring belief to be strained—it’s dependent on a series of personal conversations and letters. The supporting documents are provided in helpful footnotes, but the layout of the footnotes interrupt the book. The footnotes happen at the end of each chapter but contain paragraphs of information that often repeat what the footnote was referencing.

Absolute Ibis Monarchy challenges conventional boundaries of politics and spirituality. Some of the concepts might strain belief, but much of the book is a thoughtful and intelligent exploration of leadership throughout history. Houston lays out compelling reasons for humanity to reevaluate how modern and historical methods of governing were harmful as they did not focus on maximizing human potential.

Thank you for reading John M. Murray’s book review of Absolute Ibis Monarchy by John Houston! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

The post Book Review: Absolute Ibis Monarchy appeared first on Independent Book Review.