Pseudoscience and the Paranormal

Book Description

Popular culture fills the mind with a steady diet of fantasy, from tales of UFO landings and alien abductions, haunted houses, and communication with the dead to claims of miraculous cures by spiritaul healers and breakthrough treatments in "alternative" medicine. The paranormal--and the pseudoscience that attempts to validate it--is so ubiquitous that many people lose sight of the distinction between the real and the imaginary, and some never learn to make the distinction in the first place.

In this updated and expanded edition of PSEUDOSCIENCE AND THE PARANORMAL, the most comprehensive and up-to-date work of its kind, psychologist and neuroscientist Terence Hines explores the question of evidence for the paranormal and delves beyond it to one that is even more puzzling: Why do people continue to believe in the reality of the supernatural despite overwhelming evidence that it does not exist?

Devoting separate chapters to psychics, life after death, parapsychology, astrology, UFOs, faith healing, alternative medicine, and many other topics, Hines examines the empirical evidence supporting these popular paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. New to this edition are extended sections on psychoanalysis and pseudopsychologies, especially recovered memory therapy, satanic ritual abuse, and facilitated communication. Also included are new chapters on "alternative" medicine and environmental pseudoscience.

Critiquing the whole range of current paranormal claims, this carefully researched, thorough review of pseudoscience and the paranormal in contemporary life shows readers how to carefuly evaluate such claims in terms of scientific evidence. This scholarly yet readable volume is an invaluable reference work for students and general readers alike.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent breadth.......2007-07-14

This book covers a wide range of paranormal topics and is an interesting read. My only mild complaint (why not 5 stars) is that it needs more illustrations/photos. Compare Flim Flam by James Randi (of which he borrows a couple of photos) and Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer (with non-paranormal stuff too like holocaust deniers). Anyway, since this book is targeted as a text for college critical thinking courses, it does cover topics well, but in your lectures you would need more example photos. I hope in a future edition, lots of photos are added, and not in a middle section like now, but in text near the topic - and Randi and Shermer do.

AMAZING!.......2007-05-21

Being a skepticism buff, I declare this book THE ABSOLUTE authority on the scientific aspect of debunking of the paranormal and pseudoscience!!! I have read nearly every book and publication on the subject, but this one takes the cake.

Book Quality:

Cover and back is soft paper that rolls up permanently.

There is a line down each page where the ink is faded but legible.

The book is riddled with typographical errors.

Piece of trash.......2006-08-21

This book was truely vomitous. What a shame that even a single tree had to die so that the putrid words of the incompetent author could appear in print. What dross!

As a neuroscientist, I found this book beyond mindless. Clearly the author is more impressed with his own opinions than reason. Time and again, a topic that could have been delt with in a few sentences is given a page or so. Moreover, there is nothing original here, but instead the author borrowed liberally from the work of others in order to make his case. Granted, it is case that should be made, but from someone with a million times more insight into areas of pseudoscience and the paranormal than this hack, faux-academic effort. A better title would have been Pseudoscience and the Paranormal Lite!

Pseudoscience Demolished!.......2006-02-12

This book is an excellent primer for any non-closed-minded, rational thinker who wants the claptrap of pseudoscientific thinking (ESP, astrology, etc.) debunked and demystified. The book tells the unvarnished truth and exposes the frauds. My only complaint is that the book is just an overview--I wish it were three times as long!

There is certainly a need for a careful, fair minded review and critique of the many pseudosciences. Unfortunately this is not .......2006-02-02

There is certainly a need for a careful, fair minded review and critique of the many pseudosciences. Unfortunately this is not that book.

The Paranormal and Pseudoscience is sadly superficial, biased, unbalanced and incomplete. Here are two examples

Hines reduces humanistic psychology-a multifaceted, multidimensional a school-to a definition of Rogerian therapy (and a poor definition at that) and lists multiple misunderstandings of Rogerian therapy which he goes on to critique. He then equates the field of humanistic psychology with the worst of the excesses of the human potential movement. Consequently, the critique cannot really be considered an analysis of humanistic psychology per se, although the author does not seem to recognize that. For a good overview of humanistic psychology see James Bugental & Kirk Schneider (Eds.) Handbook of Humanistic Psychology.

Turning to parapsychology, Hines gives a partial, selective and biased review of the voluminous research on this topic. He selects one of the arch critics, Hyman, who is notorious for giving erroneous critiques, as his spokesperson. It would not be so bad if there was also a balanced presentation of the research, but there is not. Virtually none of the many meta analyses that have found such surprisingly positive results for both clairvoyance and psychokenesis are mentioned. For a far more comprehensive and accurate book, see Dean Radin's The Conscious Universe (1997). For a balanced analysis, pro and con, see the 2003 issue of The Journal of Consciousness Studies titled "Psi Wars."

Hines gives some appropriately devastating critiques of some of the pseudo- sciences. Unfortunately the book cannot be counted as trustworthy, and people looking for balanced assessments of the paranormal and pseudosciences should look elsewhere.
R. Elliott, A contemplative reader

Average customer rating:

great book!
GREAT BOOK!
GREAT BOOK!
It wasn't that good
Mindwarp rules!

OUT OF TIME: MINDWARP 9 (Mindwarp)
Chris Archer
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0671021699

Customer Reviews:

great book!.......2002-07-31

out of time was a great book! you really should read it cause it has lots of excitement and action. if you like the other books, this one will be one of your favorites! its about they find out about their parents, and have to decipher alpha 8's clue. want to find out who alpha 8 is? you'll be a little suprised when you find out if you read the book!

GREAT BOOK!.......2002-01-29

i don't even need to read it to no it's 5 stars!i've read the other 8 and they were all wonderful! i can't wait to order it. but you really shouldn't read it unless you've read the other eight.

GREAT BOOK!.......2002-01-29

i don't even need to read it to no it's 5 stars!i've read the other 8 and they were all wonderful! i can't wait to order it. but you really shouldn't read it unless you've read the other eight.

It wasn't that good.......2000-07-30

I think that the idea about Alphas and Omegas is to fake to belive.The Alphas are supposed to be the kid's parents and the Omegas the enemies.Yeah ,right.That seems sooooo fake.If the book were about finding the inventor of the Omegas only it would be really good.But The Alphas and Omegas fighting to destroy each other is not the best idea for a fiction book.

Mindwarp rules!.......2000-04-12

I thought Out of Time was really, really, really good! I love all the Mindwarp books and i must say, YOU HAVE TO READ THEM! I'm not forcing you or anything, but after you read the you'll understand!Toni finally works out how to use her time-jumping skills properly and Todd finally learns what his powers actually are! My favourite characters are Toni Douglas, Ashley Rose and Jack Raynes! Well, i hope i've been helpful!

The Case of the Flying Phantom (New Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley, No. 18)

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The New Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley: The Case of the Flying Phantom
Flying Phantom
Well written
Can't stop reading!!!
This is a great book!

The Case of the Flying Phantom (New Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley, No. 18)
Mary-Kate Olsen , and Ashley Olsen
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0061065919

Book Description

Ashley and Mary-Kate are having a terrific time on a family vacation in Washington, D.C. They especially like spending time at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. But during their visit, the famous Wright Brothers' plane starts to tremble--and spooky voices float down from the cockpit! Could there be a ghost in the machine? Mary-Kate and Ashley are on the case!

Customer Reviews:

The New Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley: The Case of the Flying Phantom.......2006-03-31

Book:

Mary-Kate and Ashley are on vacation when they decide to go to the famous airplain musium. That's when they discover that there not dealing with a normal vacation destination, The Phantom, a famous plan is haunted.

Can the Trenchcoat twins find the villian or is it really ghosts?

---
My opinion:

I liked this one it's your basic mystery and anyone who has seen Scooby-Doo could probally crack the case before the twins.

That's why I give this three out of five.

Flying Phantom.......2006-03-29

Inside Look:

Mary-Kate and Ashley are on vacation when they decide to hit the famous musium. They are shocked to find out that it's haunted and get a first hand look at one of the hauntings.

The trenchcoat twins set out to find the ghost or person behind this spooky mystery...

---

My feedback:

This was a cute little story took me only fifteen mins. to finish. It's not scarey for older kids but it may spook the younger ones.

But anyone who is ever seen Scooby-Doo could probaly crack the case before the twins.

Well written.......2005-09-20

This book is very well written and is a good horror type book for younger kids! Though it wouldn't scare older kids it's still good!

Can't stop reading!!!.......2001-11-07

This is another great book!
I coudn't stop reading this one!
It's so good that maybe little kids get scared by it!
Now i,m reading the case of the golden slipper and it's great too!
If you love reading buy one of mary-kate & ashley's adventures!
Even if your not a fan! Try it!You'll love it!

This is a great book!.......2000-07-05

This book is great! The twin detectives go to learn about an airplane and a tour guide said it was haunted! They didn't think so until.......... well, I don't want to spoil the mystery. But get this book!

Scooby-doo 8x8: And The Alien Invaders! (Scooby-Doo)

Average customer rating:

True to the Cartoon
ONE OF THE BEST SCOOBY DOO BOOKS TODAY

Scooby-doo 8x8: And The Alien Invaders! (Scooby-Doo)
Jesse Leon McCann
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439177006

Customer Reviews:

True to the Cartoon.......2001-04-13

Scooby and the gang of Mystery, Inc. are at it again! Stranded in the Southwest when their Mystery Machine once again bites the dust (you'd think as grown-ups they'd have AAA and cell phones by now), the gang finds the locals are being kidnapped by aliens and experimented on before they're returned (safely) home. But are they *really* aliens?

If your kids enjoyed the movie version of "Scooby Doo and the Alien Invaders" they'll surely enjoy this little paperback based on the movie. The illustrations are bright and colorful and full of energy. My four-year old "reads" this to himself and just loves looking at the detailed pictures.

If your children love Scooby Doo but you're afraid the movie version of "Alien Invaders" might be too scary for them, this would be a nice compromise.

ONE OF THE BEST SCOOBY DOO BOOKS TODAY.......2000-10-16

IF YOUR CHILD LIKES SCARY THINGS. THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOUR CHILD. IT IS NOT TO SCARY FOR A YOUNG CHILD TO READ. IT IS A GOOD BOOK FOR A CHILD TO USE ITS AMAGINATION AND STILL HAVE FUN READING A BOOK. MY GRANDCHILDREN LOVES SCOOBY DOO. THIS IS ONE OF THERE FAVORIRE SCOOBY DOO BOOKS. THEY LOVE FOR ME TO READ THIS BOOK AND OTHER SCOOBY DOO BOOKS. BUT IF I ASK WHICH ONE FIRST THEY ALWAYS CHOOSE THIS BOOK. ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL BOOK AND OTHER SCOOBY DOO BOOKS.

The Flying Canoe (Aesop Accolades (Awards))

Average customer rating:

The Flying Canoe (Aesop Accolades (Awards))
Roch Carrier
Manufacturer: Tundra Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Book Description

On New Year’s eve, 1847, eleven-year-old Baptiste finds himself far from his friends and family and his home in La Beauce. He has come to the woods of the Ottawa Valley to live and work among “the finest lumberjacks in Canada.” As the New Year approaches, Baptiste and the lumberjacks grow more and more homesick. Resolved to see their families again before the stroke of midnight, the crew board a magical canoe that lifts them into the air, across villages, and closer to home.

This beautiful retelling of the Quebecois folktale reunites Roch Carrier with illustrator Sheldon Cohen and translator Sheila Fischman. (The Hockey Sweater, The Basketball Player, The Longest Home Run), and brings this beloved story to life.

Average customer rating:

No Flying in the Hall (Pictureback(R))
Erica Farber
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0679873775
Release Date: 1997-04-07

Book Description

Thistle Howl attends witch's school and unwitchingly turns Miss Prickly and Miss Prune into toads while trying to make Magic Potion Number Nine. Can Thistle save them? The fledgling socceress has her hands full trying to reverse the spell, especially with a sea monster and monsterous mother bird in close pursuit!

Average customer rating:

Intriguing and entertaining
Truth or fiction?

The Awful Thing in the Attic
Brad Steiger
Manufacturer: Galde Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Parapsychology | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Ghosts & Haunted Houses | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1880090171

Product Description

From the master of the haunted and the unexplainable comes a ghostly, ghastly, terrifying collection of true accounts of the weird side of existence. Visit a dark shadow-world populated by ghosts, extraterrestrials, and nameless beings. Read about the vicious devil of Borley, the terrible flying jelly bags, the horrible hag, more.And whatever you do, don't read these true stories alone on a dark night!

Customer Reviews:

Intriguing and entertaining.......2001-02-02

When I first saw the cover, I knew I had to read this book! I have other books by Brad Steiger, and know him to be a ghosthunter of some repute, but it was the cover, showing a cemetery statue superimposed over an abandoned house, that grabbed my attention. Steiger takes the reader on a tour of frightening and sometimes sad true ghost experiences. Some already known, such as the Bell Witch and Esther Cox, but many which had not been related before now. My only complaint was I thought the stories would have been more suspenseful---I wanted to be scared out of my socks! However, it is a entertaining way to spend an afternoon, and if you desire a very good book for teens or young adult readers, this would fit the bill.

Truth or fiction?.......1997-10-29

The jacket blurb says the author has written more than 100 books on "the strange and unknown." In this book he, "draws upon his forty years as a psychic researcher to select the eeriest, spookiest, scariest true stories from his own investigations and from his extensive files." Steiger adds fictional dialogue to some of the stories, and generally relates his stories with flair, not always sticking to the facts as published in other books.

Average customer rating:

A Pine Bush native tell it like it is

The Pine Bush Phenomenon
Vincent Polise
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Supernatural | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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Night Siege: The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings

ASIN: 1412047129
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Customer Reviews:

A Pine Bush native tell it like it is.......2006-08-27

I up grew in Pine Bush, NY so this book had special meaning for me. Yes, Pine Bush has alot of strange phenomena aruond it. It is not as pronounced as it was in the 80's and 90's. I was in contact with the author of this book some time ago. I really thought he would include alot more detail and broad accounts in his work, but he did not. The book seems like it is more about Vincent Polise than Pine Bush, and at the author's website (pinebushufo.com) there are clues that much detail was left out of the book, so I wonder what is the purpose of writing a book at all? It is interesting but not very revealing or insightful, and it seems that it barely scratches the surface, compared what I KNOW about my hometown and have heard from my peers there through the years. I don't feel this book at all captures the depth or detail of the paranormal phenomena near Pine Bush, NY but it's a good start. It's probably still a "must-have" for anyone interested in Pine Bush. Therefore I give it 4 stars because it does have focus, but it was a difficult decision not to settle for 3 stars on account of the weak content. Shall we say 3+1/2?

Flying Ghosts (Gemini Books (Toronto, Ont.).)

Average customer rating:

Flying Ghosts

Flying Ghosts (Gemini Books (Toronto, Ont.).)
Shirlee Smith Matheson
Manufacturer: Fitzhenry and Whiteside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0773674004
Release Date: 1993-09-01

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Jay Smith's quite life in the Alaska wilderness is shattered when his uncle, Midnight, arrives in his yellow Norseman airplane with news of war. It is 1942, and Canada and the United States have joined forces in a desperate bid to defend North America against Japanese attack. Together the two countries will build a 1,500-mile highway through the wilderness in only eight months. Suddenly Jay's life is filled with adventure and the colourful charachers he meets working along the Alaska Highway. As the highway nears completion, Midnight disappears in the Valley of Lost Planes, and Jay sets off to find him. But will a strange old prospector named Goldbug, who guards lost planes, let him into the valley?

Customer Reviews:

Flying Ghosts.......2001-10-17

It is about world war II. Jay Smith has tons of adventures such as romance, saving peoples lives, and risking his own life for someone else. He owns part of a saw mill. He fell in love with a girl who likes him, but the problem about that is she is the daughter of his father's worst enemy. it is a cool book. the coolest part is how Jay has to find his uncle Mathew in the Valley of Lost Planes. Jay searches for him and finds his plane crashed thinking him dead. Though Jay sees a sign that says his uncle is okay .He climbs out of the plane. He looks over him seeing a plane that has a pilot named Mr. walker and he also sees his father and his Uncle Mathew. He relized his uncle walked to the alcan highway and was picked up by Mr. Walker and his father. His uncle and Jay's family is much closer now.

Average customer rating:

Eerie Triangle (Eerie, Indiana)
Mike Ford
Manufacturer: Avon Camelot Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Return to Foreverware (Eerie, Indiana)

ASIN: 0380797763

Book Description

That's quite a handsome statue of Zebediah Eerie in front of the Eerie Town Hall. But how come there's no mention of the town's founder in history books -- or anywhere else? And what about those hundred-year-old pictures of people who still live in Eerie today ? Marshall and Simon know the truth must be out there somewhere, and they're going to find it. Because the earliest appearance of Eerie they can dig up came right after a bunch of UFO sightings in the Fifties. Could the real founders of Eerie have come from...the skies? And if that startling fact has been covered up...what else don't we know about the strangest place in America?

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