Customer Reviews

Powers: Testing the Psychic and Supernatural

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Korem's book is quite entertaining. He exposes psychics on a talk show, and a self-acclaimed and notorious master of ESP. Best part is, Korem details how he exposed them, and how these people managed to deceive people. I highly recommend it, especially if you have ever wondered how psychics were so good at what they do. Korem shows how anyone can be a psychic by mastering a few psychological tricks.

This book is an interesting read by a professional magician exposing tricks by psychics. It's along the lines of James Randi, although the examples are less out-of-this-world (no fairies or UFOs).

I think this book dates back to the 70s and 80s. It has that feel to it. In a similar way that health books from the 40s warned against fortune telling gypsies, this one rails against the TV and radio psychics of the author's day.

The author spends a bit of time explaining cold reading. This is a combination of observation, psychological sense, ambiguous wording, and quick recovery. His is a very well broken down description of six elements, but doesn't have a lot of examples (for those who might want to learn how to do it).

After explaining cold reading, he goes through several times when he exposed psychics for TV and radio, and getting a little angry at some TV and radio shows that would not let him on the show to spoil the fun. He goes into some detail about how psychic detectives give prophecies that are so general that they would apply to just about anything.

He saves his best work - and the bulk of the book - to exposing the guy from 'That's Incredible' who claimed to move pencils and such with his mind. What's interesting about these 4-5 chapters is how much he goes into the childhood and psychological make-up of this person. According to him, he was very sensitive to this young man's moodiness.

One negative of this book is that, for the secrets that he deos reveal, he holds back a lot of 'trade secrets'. If you're going to pick up and read a book like this, you want to know the detail. It leaves you wanting more. Despite that, however, a fun and interesting book nonetheless.

As usual, this is a typical "psychic bashing" book. He accuses us of just wanting to make money, yet what is he doing but making money off of bashing psychics?!
I have done psychic readings. I do not charge a lot of money; my purpose is to serve others. Korem, I know what I have felt, sensed and seen when I have done these readings; these experiences have actually occurred, and many of the people for whom I have given readings are really surprised at just how accurate I have been in the details of what I tell them. There was no way I would have known this information. Many have thanked me weeks after the readings, because the information I gave them became true, and/or the info helped guide their lives.
I am not here to boast. However, as a Christian, you should know that it is no more "logical" for me to be a psychic, as it is for Christians to believe that Jesus was the son of G-d, that a virgin birthed him, and that he was resurrected after death.
What is said about believers and non-believers is so true: for those who believe, there is no need to explain the reasons for their beliefs; and for those who do not believe, no reasons will ever be compelling enough for them to believe.