As Daniel Goleman described in the New York Times, Ken Wilber ranks among the greatest theorists of consciousness, alongside Cassirer, Eliade, and Bateson. The Three Eyes of Knowledge represents a decisive step in Wilber's work toward developing a comprehensive model of consciousness and reality, encompassing the fields of science, psychology, philosophy, and religion. Drawing on a famous metaphor by Saint Bonaventure, Wilber examines the three spheres of knowledge: the empirical realm of the senses, the rational realm of the mind, and the contemplative realm of the spirit. Citing the work of thinkers from a wide range of disciplines, the author demonstrates the confusion that can result from conflating these distinct spheres.

The Three Eyes of Knowledge is also a robust critique of traditional religion, materialist philosophy, and certain populist theories of the so-called "New Age." The model Wilber proposes is broader and deeper, leading to a more transcendent understanding of ourselves and the universe.