The Mask of Nostradamus: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Prophet [Hardcover]

James Randi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this breezy but effective biographical study, magician and self-appointed debunker Randi takes aim at Michel de Notredame, better known as Nostradamus, the famous 16th-century French physician, astrologer and seer. Commentators claim that Nostradamus's cryptic verses accurately prophesied such events and personalities as Napoleon, Hitler, the French Revolution, the Great Fire of London and the invention of the Montgolfier balloon. Nonsense, argues Randi, and his meticulous readings of key quatrains make a potent case for his contention that the seer's alleged clairvoyant abilities rest on translators' embellishments, interpreters' excessive reliance on anagrams and "hidden" names, distortions and wishful thinking. Despite its overkill in challenging all prophecy and the occult in general, this hard-hitting critique throws down a gauntlet that no one with a serious interest in Nostradamus can ignore. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-- An in-depth analysis and research into the writings of Nostradamus and his followers. Randi investigates and exposes the questionable and sometimes fraudulent claims of those who profess to possess supernatural powers and/or perform supernatural works. He explores the life and times of Nostradamus, examining the conditions that pervaded the lives of ordinary people and of the nobility. He discusses how the belief in astrology became widespread and popularized. The integration of the historical perspective makes the book interesting and informative. In addition to examining the writings pertaining to Nostradamus, the author references other seers throughout history.

Jeanette M. Lippencott, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons; 1st edition (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684190567
• ISBN-13: 978-0684190563
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,261,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Randi (born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge; August 7, 1928) is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician, as The Amazing Randi, but after retiring at age 60, he began investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls "woo-woo." Although often referred to as a "debunker," Randi rejects that title owing to its perceived bias, instead describing himself as an "investigator." He has written about the paranormal, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and was occasionally featured on the television program Penn & Teller: Bullshit!.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping it honest, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mask of Nostradamus: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Prophet (Hardcover)

Randi's book gives you an excellent--and most importantly--a reliable account of the life and alleged prophecies of Michel de Nostradamus. This book is truly a gem. It was really fascinating to read of the many instances of utter credulity (and unfortunately instances of dishonesty) that so many believers and followers have had to resort to in order to hold onto this illusion of mystical prophetic fulfillment. Though Randi (correctly) debunks virtually every one of Nostradamus' allegedly fulfilled prophecies, I believe it serves Nostradamus' memory finer, and ourselves better, if we remember and commend him for what he was, rather than for what he was not. That is what Randi has done. Nostradamus was a fine man and a fine physician, but that's all, and that only.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Randi is Amazing for Sure!, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mask of Nostradamus: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Prophet (Hardcover)

Ignore the reader from NY. Like many he believes any small measure of "psychic" power "amazing". What Randi finds amazing is what I myself do, the beauty and miracle of a flower growing, the skills of the pyramid builders, when you can do that "psychicly" then I'll believe all the money wasted on "psychics" worth it. In the meantime, don't be fooled, question, and ask yourself as Randi does, "so what!"

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nostradamus triumphant, May 25, 2005

By 

Jose Gomez Reguera (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Mask of Nostradamus: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Prophet (Hardcover)

Randi subjects Nostradamus to an intense scrutiny, applying strict logic every step of the way
The end result is a colossal waste of time--- logic and prophesying don't mix. Neither do logic
and Quantum physics, for that matter. In the matter of Nostradamus' most famous prophesy,
i.e., the death of French King Henry II, Randi dissects the quatrain and scornfully proclaims
that:

Lions were not King Henry's heraldic animal.
His jousting opponent could not be considered "young" and the king "old".
The king's visor was not made of gold.

Did I say Randi applied strict logic? Well, maybe not. Let's see:::

If you hear, "King of the beasts", what animal do you think of? That's right, lions, and the keyword is "King."
Henry's opponent is also a lion, as part of the pride, as it were.

At the time of the joust, Henry was 40 or 41, (pretty old for those times) while his opponent was 29.
Old and young, hmmm--- sounds okay to me.

Lastly, the king's visor was not made of gold. I dunno, but then neither does Randi. Anyway,
who cares? Maybe the visor was gilded, or something. Or maybe Nostradamus used the term
"golden" for some deep, mysterious, spooky reason! Hoo, hah!