Extrasensory Deception: Esp, Psychics, Shirley Maclaine, Ghosts, Ufos (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In an eye-opening collection of essays, aptly titled "Extrasensory Deception", Gordon, a professional magician and journalist, takes on psychics, astrologers, myth-makers and other assorted purveyors of the paranormal, and shines the light of common sense into the murky darkness that is the world of paranormal claims. Culled from Gordon's weekly columns for the "Toronto Sunday Star", this book collects his commentaries on 'The Paranormal', 'Prophecy', 'Spirits', 'Superstition', 'Pseudoscience', 'Higher Life', and 'Truth'. Not one to pull punches, he gives a hard-hitting, often humorous, first-person account of his adventures among some of the 'big names' in the paranormal movement, including New Age heroine Shirley MacLaine, faith-healer Peter Popoff, UFO guru Stanton (the Flying Saucer Physicist) Friedman, and psychic superstar Uri Geller. Gordon exposes the methods used by 'psychics' and other practitioners of 'extrasensory' powers for what they are - the sleight-of-hand and mentalist tricks that he and other magicians have used on stage for decades. The focus of the book is not, however, to merely debunk the excessive and unverifiable claims made by the paranormalists. As Gordon states, 'It seems clear. Once a person comes under the influence of these supernatural beliefs, his or her mind ceases to function at a normal level of reasoning'. By laying bare the dangers of uncritical acceptance of such claims, this book makes an impassioned plea for an increased use of rational intelligence and critical thinking skills for solving our problems.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 227 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; First Edition edition (September 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879754079
• ISBN-13: 978-0879754075
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,369,632 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great introduction to critical, skeptical thinking, May 28, 2001

By	Daniel Knepshield (Akron, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Before I review this book, I must first respond to the below review about dinosaurs being warmblooded. What the reviewer is referring to is a story that appeared in the popular press awhile back. The trouble with getting ones science news out of the daily newspaper is that one only gets a fraction of the story and the newspaper rarely ever gives follow ups or corrections to the original story. In this particular case the scientists warned that their "conclusions" were speculative and premature, however, the newspapers ran the story as if it was a scientific consensus to the fact that dinosaurs were indeed warmblooded. In reality, the scientists never made any such claim, their speculations were sensationalized by the press, and the jury is still out on the subject. The fact that I even had to write this proves the need for more critical thinking.

Now on to the book review. This is a fun, informative, fast paced, engaging and easy to read book. It is one of the best indroductions to critcal, skeptical thinking that I know of. The book teaches one to be skeptical of supernatural, too good to be true type claims. To a reader already familiar with the writings of James Randi, Ray Hyman, Joe Nickell and others, most of the material in this book will be old hat. To others, the material will be quite an eye opener.

This book is not as in depth or advanced as James Randi's Flim Flam Or Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, so if one has already read those books, this one is not really needed. If one is new to this type of writing, this book is probably the best place to start. Start with this book, as it is so easy to read, and then as you wish to learn even more read James Randi's Flim Flam, Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, or any of the books by Ray Hyman, Kendrick Frazier, Joe Nickell, Martin Gardner, or Phillip Klass.

Another great application for this book is to give it to someone to read that you know who tends to be just a little too gullible. I have found that asking someone to read a book like Flim Flam tends to be a little overwhelming, especially for someone not necessarily interested in having their worldview questioned. For example, one may have a family member who is just a little too open minded and one wishes to give this family member something to read to provide a balanced perspective to this person's thought process hoping that he or she will be just a little more rational when all is said and done. So the family member is given Flim Flam to read, but the family member, who is not really interested anyway, gets bored after a few pages and nothing is ever accomplished. This book, however, with its larger type point size, shorter paragraphs, and quick paced style will draw the reader in and hook them from the very first page. Then hopefully the family member will be be just a little bit smarter for reading this book and then, if interested, can be given something else to read like Flim Flam.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars so ALL beliefs are valid?, January 25, 2000

By A Customer

The two reviewers believe that no one should try to criticize or "discredit" another's beliefs- hmmm...So all beliefs are valid, then? How about the nazis' beliefs in Aryan superiority? How about the KKK's beliefs in White supremacy? How about the Theosophists who believe in fairies and wood sprites? It's all valid? No one should try to "discredit" another's views?

There is really no point in arguing with people like the two "reviewers" who have weighed in here; if one wants to believe, as shirley does, that thousands of years-old beings are somehow "channeling" their thoughts and knowledge through living humans, or that ufo's are kidnapping people from their beds at night, or that James Van Praagh really speaks to the dead, there is nothing you can do to convince them otherwise. It's very sad, actually...

It always amuses me to see people get angry about those, like Mr. Gordon, who debunk this kind of nonsense- er- "phenomena;" everywhere else you look it's accepted, in the media, especially; it's totally one-sided. Why begrudge skeptics when they get to say their piece? Why does it make you so uncomfortable...? Thanks Mr. Gordon, for taking the time to write this- you're not alone!

3 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I don't like it., March 21, 1998

By	[e-mail] (US) - See all my reviews

I think that anyone who tries to discredit people or beliefs should be discredited. First of all, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, at the same time, should also get criticized if that person doesn't know what he is talking about. Gordon seems to come from a religious background and it shows in his book.