Margins of Reality: The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World [Paperback]

Robert G. Jahn (Author), Brenda J. Dunne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009

WHAT HAS MODERN SCIENCE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG? This pioneering work, which sparked intense controversy when it was first published two decades ago, suggests that modern science, in the name of rigor and objectivity, has arbitrarily excluded the role of consciousness in the establishment of physical reality. Drawing on the results of their first decade of empirical experimentation and theoretical modeling in their Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) program, the authors reach provocative conclusions about the interaction of human consciousness with physical devices, information-gathering processes, and technological systems. The scientific, personal, and social implications of this revolutionary work are staggering. MARGINS OF REALITY is nothing less than a fundamental reevaluation of how the world really works.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ROBERT G. JAHN is Professor of Aerospace Sciences and Dean, Emeritus of Princeton University's School of Engineering and Applied Science, founder of the PEAR laboratory, and Chairman of International Consciousness Research Laboratories (ICRL).

BRENDA J. DUNNE holds degrees in psychology and the humanities, was the manager of the PEAR laboratory from its inception in 1979, and is currently President of ICRL.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: ICRL Press (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936033003
• ISBN-13: 978-1936033003
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #516,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expanding on Ben Finn's Review..., September 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Margins Of Reality: The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World (Paperback)

I think Ben Finn's review is spot-on, but I'd like to add a few things.

Section I of the book deals with a review of many paranormal topics and inquiry (scientific and otherwise) into their origins. The best thing I took from this section is that the authors were acutely aware of the criticism that has been made of such research, and were determined to exercise caution in designing their experiments.

The PK research --- that demonstrating the ability of human intent to influence a probable outcome --- seems to have been designed very carefully to address anticipated criticism. It's difficult to read through this section of the book and not come away believing that something has been proven. And whatever that "something" might be, it is distinctively weird: it's one thing to obtain operator-specific profiles of statistical influence over some random process, but downright bizarre that they were able to obtain similar results using a *pseudorandom* source. This research, detailed in section II of the book, is what makes this work really shine --- it's the strength of this section that really earned the four stars I gave it. This section is *worth* it, and does much to convince a skeptic (like me).

Section III deals with remote perception, and a system the authors devised to quantify the results of such experiments. The sample sizes and the data here are necessarily more sparse, but are still quite engaging. The anecdotal evidence at the end of the section made for some enjoyable reading, though stories of experiments where the subject completely missed the target seem conspicuously absent.

Sections IV proposes a theoretical framework for the anomolies demonstrated by the experiments, and comes off as quite silly. Sweeping metaphors are taken from the realm of quantum mechanics, to a level of detail that isn't remotely supported by the research. One does need to theorize *something* after such experimentation, but attempting to build a rich framework from a few targeted experiments is more than is necessary, and certainly more than is warranted. Furthermore, the authors' model attributes conciousness even to simple devices such as the "Random Event Generator" or a bunch of foam balls bouncing off pegs --- a truly embarrassing stretch, in my opinion. (For some much better theoretical ideas, I'd suggest a book called "The Physics of Consciousness" by Evan Harris Walker.)

Section V rambles in the authors' usual heavy prose about implications and applicability, and, unfortunately, builds upon section IV. If there was anything interesting in this section, I'm afraid it slipped past me.

My rating of 4 stars is for some genuine, solid research in section II and, to a lesser extent, section III. As a skeptic, the results of these experiments will compel me to dig deeper; barring outright fraud, the results cannot be dismissed as mere chance. It's too startling to rate it any lower, even if the closing sections of the book are rather goofy.

If you're already convinced that such paranormal effects are real, however, I doubt that this book has much to offer. Buy it for a skeptical friend, but give them a disclaimer about the stretch made on the theoretical side.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally a respected authority presents hard evidence for Psi, September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Margins Of Reality: The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World (Paperback)

The core of the book is a detailed description of the key experiments which the Princeton group has performed and which offers some of the first well documented and scientifically rigourous evidence for the reality of psychic phenomena. Indescribably thrilling to read how the authors and co-workers set out to show that there could be even a small effect (on average 1 in 10,000 trials may be 'unusual'). The descriptions of the statisical analysis lends credibility to the results. The discursive padding is interesting, but maybe a trifle too speculative. In general, though, a riveting read.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific evidence for mind influencing physical reality., April 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Margins Of Reality: The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World (Paperback)

This is a beautifully written book about the interaction of mind and matter. It is science with a heart. Those of you who would like more information about the lab from which this came should check out their award-winning web site: http://www.princeton.edu/~rdnelson/pear.html