An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
by James Randi, Arthur C. Clarke
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Book Summary Information
Author: Arthur C. Clarke, James RandiEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1997-03-15
ISBN: 0312151195
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Book Reviews of An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
Book Review: OK, could have been better. Hunts for rabbits but ignores the big game
Summary: 3 Stars
The book is interesting and surprisingly less caustic than Randi's others books. The book might better be described as a small dictionary rather than an "encyclopedia". The book was disappointing in some areas. For instance, Randi give Wicca a pass. When you have a hole fake religion with people claiming to have magic powers, you you think Randi would have had a field day. There is a whole industry devoted to selling voodoo oils with names like "Black Art Oil" which are really just colored mineral oil, which Randi also missed. True, Randi couldn't cover every subject...but if he's going to write an "encyclopedia", he should try to live up to the title. Some entries are simply definitions, such as the one for "athame". He doesn't mention Gardner got the idea from a science fiction story. There were plenty of things Randi could have written about, but didn't. He should have done more research.
There are some interesting tidbits in the book, like a "psychic girl" who was featured on "Unsolved Misteries" in the 80's is now in prison for killing her child.
Not a bad book, but certainly not an "encyclopedia".
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Summary of An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural
In this remarkable encyclopedia, James Randi casts his cynical eye on the dubious genes of the occult and the supernatural. With 666 entries and hundreds of illustrations throughout, this book examines the shady world of manipulators, occultists, and shamanists in microscopic detail. Topics include Jeane Dixon's long string of failed predictions, the elaborate hoax surrounding the mystery of the Abominable Snowman, and much more.James Randi, professional magician and skeptic, has put together an encyclopedia with something for everyone. Yes, no matter who you are, unless you're a thoroughgoing atheist, Randi is bound to offend your beliefs at one point or another. As Arthur C. Clarke says in his introduction, the book "should be issued with a mental health warning, as many readers--if they are brave enough to face unwelcome facts--will find some of their cherished beliefs totally demolished." Randi is dryly sarcastic about hundreds of topics, including Catholic relics, speaking in tongues, Jehovah's Witnesses, yoga, the origins of Mormonism, dowsing, magnetic hills, UFOs, and every spiritualist of the past several centuries. A typical entry defines a nymph as: "in the real world, the immature form of the dragonfly and certain other insects, or a young woman with robust sexual interests. Take your choice." Comprehensive, exasperating and exasperated, witty, and unsparing, Randi's encyclopedia provides more debunking per page than any other resource. --Mary Ellen Curtin
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