Paranormal Borderlands of Science: Best of Skeptical Inquirer

Book Overview

Headlines and television news reports feature accounts of reincarnation, the predictions of astrologers, and psychic "miracles." Citizens report UFO sightings. Police departments call on psychics to provide clues in baffling crimes. From every available information source, the public is bombarded with unsubstantiated claims of paranormal phenomena. How much of the evidence is reliable? What is the truth behind these claims? Paranormal Borderlands of Science is an exciting, well-informed examination of the most publicized and exotic claims of astrology, ESP, psychokinesis, precognition, UFOs, biorhythms, and other phenomena. Written by respected psychologists, astronomers and other scientists, philosophers, investigative journalists, and magicians, the 47 articles in this superb collection present a skeptical treatment of pseudoscientific claims - an aspect often sorely neglected in sensationalized media reports. This book is an effort to help readers sort fact from fiction and sense from nonsense among the astonishing variety of assertions labeled "paranormal." Never before published in book form, the essays in this anthology originally appeared in the Skeptical Inquirer, a leading magazine devoted to the critical investigation of pseudoscience from a scientific viewpoint. Among the contributors are: Isaac Asimov (distinguished science fiction author), Martin Gardner (Scientific American columnist), James Randi (The Amazing Randi), Philip Klass (noted UFO skeptic), Scot Morris (Omni), and James Oberg (NASA). An essential contribution to skeptical literature, this book will be of lasting value to all those wishing to balance the case for paranormal claims by reading the dissenting critics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879751487
• ISBN13: 9780879751487
• Release Date: June 1981
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 484 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great Book Exhibiting Skepticism as a Science

This book is a collection of essays and articles from the publications of CSICOP. (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims Of the Paranormal.) I think this is a fine book for people who are interested in the relationship between science and skepticism, and it exhibits the kind of critical thinking that needs to be handed out in the educations of all people. I've widely read in this area and I found some parts of PARANORMAL BORDERLANDS OF SCIENCE out of date. (Published 25 years ago.) It discusses topics like Velikovskiism and spoon bending that I think have disappeared from wide public fanaticism. It is a relief to know that these ideas have faded away.

Great Book!!!

This is an excellent book. If you are a theist, your whole world will be turned around, because this book will present you with so much evidence, that your head will start hurting. This evidence will be against myths, superstition, tarition and other things, that are also known as god. If you are atheist, you will love this book, because there is so much logic, thought, and sense put into this book. In the conclusion, this is an excellent book.