Book Reviews: Pseudoscience, Paranormal Beliefs, Ideas, Systems
Is there a 'paranormal' world out there, where psychic powers work, where astrology can predict your future, and where aliens come and visit us in UFOs? Some people certainly think so, but others are doubtful about so much pseudoscience. Learn here about some of the best books describing and critiquing paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs.
Skeptical Odysseys: Personal Accounts by Leading Paranormal Inquirers
Skepticism, whether it be focused upon political ideologies, religious doctrines, or paranormal beliefs, is not exactly a popular position. Skeptics are criticized for being cynics, for attacking tradition, and for being humorless. Despite this, quite a few people have championed the ideal of skepticism and of critical thinking. Who are they and why do they buck tradition?
Skepticism, whether it be focused upon political ideologies, religious doctrines, or paranormal beliefs, is not exactly a popular position. Skeptics are criticized for being cynics, for attacking tradition, and for being humorless. Despite this, quite a few people have championed the ideal of skepticism and of critical thinking. Who are they and why do they buck tradition?
Hoaxes, Myths, and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking
People think all the time - it is an important part of human existence, after all. Critical thinking, though, requires some training and practice. People can go about their daily lives without extensive critical thinking abilities, but this can be unfortunate because when done well, skepticism can do a lot to enhance human existence. How can people improve their critical thinking skills?
People think all the time - it is an important part of human existence, after all. Critical thinking, though, requires some training and practice. People can go about their daily lives without extensive critical thinking abilities, but this can be unfortunate because when done well, skepticism can do a lot to enhance human existence. How can people improve their critical thinking skills?
Pseudoscience and the Paranormal
One of the things that makes skepticism so difficult is the fact that there are simply so many paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs out there to be skeptical about. It is difficult to become reasonably familiar with even one or two of these beliefs, but how can anyone be familiar enough to be able to offer a skeptical rebuttal to the claims of dozens?
One of the things that makes skepticism so difficult is the fact that there are simply so many paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs out there to be skeptical about. It is difficult to become reasonably familiar with even one or two of these beliefs, but how can anyone be familiar enough to be able to offer a skeptical rebuttal to the claims of dozens?
Sleeping with Extra-Terrestrials: The Rise of Irrationalsim
America has a buoyant love affair with all things irrational. This is nothing new - it's been going on since last century at least. Some may find this to be quaint, but Wendy Kaminer does a fantastic job of arguing that wide spread irrationalism and uncritical acceptance of things like angels, aliens, gurus, etc. has serious repercussions for everyone.
America has a buoyant love affair with all things irrational. This is nothing new - it's been going on since last century at least. Some may find this to be quaint, but Wendy Kaminer does a fantastic job of arguing that wide spread irrationalism and uncritical acceptance of things like angels, aliens, gurus, etc. has serious repercussions for everyone.
Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology
If there is any scientific field where pseudoscience is not only common, but has actually become widely accepted by the establishment, it would have to be psychology. Unlike fields such as physics or biology, some of the most ridiculous quackery has taken hold in clinical psychology and has even reached the point where for many lay people, they see more of the quackery than of real science.
If there is any scientific field where pseudoscience is not only common, but has actually become widely accepted by the establishment, it would have to be psychology. Unlike fields such as physics or biology, some of the most ridiculous quackery has taken hold in clinical psychology and has even reached the point where for many lay people, they see more of the quackery than of real science.
Secrets of the Psychics: Investigating Paranormal Claims
There are all sorts of paranormal claims out there - ghosts and poltergeists, psychics and mediums, x-ray vision and clairvoyance. But are any of them true? Are there people who really have the power to move objects with their mind, talk to the dead, or communicate via telepathy? No - when such things appear to happen, there are much more prosaic explanations available...
There are all sorts of paranormal claims out there - ghosts and poltergeists, psychics and mediums, x-ray vision and clairvoyance. But are any of them true? Are there people who really have the power to move objects with their mind, talk to the dead, or communicate via telepathy? No - when such things appear to happen, there are much more prosaic explanations available...
The Psychology of the Psychic
Does ESP exist? Are some people telepathic? Can your mind by read by someone else? Are there people, for example Uri Geller, who are genuine psychics? These are all interesting questions, and a large percentage of people would be inclined to answer "yes" to all of them. But why is that?
Does ESP exist? Are some people telepathic? Can your mind by read by someone else? Are there people, for example Uri Geller, who are genuine psychics? These are all interesting questions, and a large percentage of people would be inclined to answer "yes" to all of them. But why is that?
Final Seance: The Strange Friendship Between Houdini and Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini are two of the most famous popular cultural figures of the early twentieth century, with their popularity enduring long after their deaths. They also developed one of the more interesting friendships of the time, centering around the question of spiritualism and whether or not there existed supernatural powers and beings.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini are two of the most famous popular cultural figures of the early twentieth century, with their popularity enduring long after their deaths. They also developed one of the more interesting friendships of the time, centering around the question of spiritualism and whether or not there existed supernatural powers and beings.
The Dream Encyclopedia
Everyone dreams, but what do our dreams mean and where do they come from? Questions like this have fascinated humans for ages - probably for as long as our species has had the intellectual ability to reflect upon and communicate our dreams. Every culture has accorded dreams some religious, spiritual, or psychological status, making any attempt to understand their status complex.
Everyone dreams, but what do our dreams mean and where do they come from? Questions like this have fascinated humans for ages - probably for as long as our species has had the intellectual ability to reflect upon and communicate our dreams. Every culture has accorded dreams some religious, spiritual, or psychological status, making any attempt to understand their status complex.
Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction
Since the beginning of recorded human history, and probably well before that, people have wanted to learn about what the future would bring for them as individuals and for their societies. Despite this common urge, there has been great diversity in the methods by which people have attempted to learn about the future
Since the beginning of recorded human history, and probably well before that, people have wanted to learn about what the future would bring for them as individuals and for their societies. Despite this common urge, there has been great diversity in the methods by which people have attempted to learn about the future
Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe
Book Review: 'Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe,' by Karl T. Pflock, Jerry Pournelle. So what really did happen in Roswell, New Mexico back in 1947? According to popular legend, a UFO crashed, and from the wreckage, the United States government obtained the bodies of dead aliens and all sorts of advanced technology.
Book Review: 'Roswell: Inconvenient Facts and the Will to Believe,' by Karl T. Pflock, Jerry Pournelle. So what really did happen in Roswell, New Mexico back in 1947? According to popular legend, a UFO crashed, and from the wreckage, the United States government obtained the bodies of dead aliens and all sorts of advanced technology.
Possessions: The History and Uses of Haunting in the Hudson Valley
Haunting is a relatively common phenomenon in America, but especially in New York’s Hudson River Valley. This region is practically teeming with ghosts: Indians, Revolutionary war soldiers, Dutch traders, and more. What is so special about this area that it would be so haunted? Why are ghosts attracted to it - or, perhaps more accurately, why are the people here attracted to ghosts?
Haunting is a relatively common phenomenon in America, but especially in New York’s Hudson River Valley. This region is practically teeming with ghosts: Indians, Revolutionary war soldiers, Dutch traders, and more. What is so special about this area that it would be so haunted? Why are ghosts attracted to it - or, perhaps more accurately, why are the people here attracted to ghosts?