Secrets of a Telephone Psychic (Paperback)

by Frederick Woodruff (Author) "It's a little after two o'clock, and I'm sitting at my desk again..." (more)
Key Phrases: telephone psychics, psychic lines, psychic networks, New York, Jimmy Jack

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this truly one-of-a-kind book, New Age rabble rouser Frederick Woodruff pulls back the curtain and gives us a funny, irreverent, and spellbinding peek at one of America's favorite pastimes: consultation with telephone psychics. In over twenty fast chapters Woodruff zig zags from comedy to pathos as he recounts his audial adventures with a wild cross section of Americans--and their larger than life fantasies and dilemmas. Who calls psychics? Who answers the calls? What does our culture's fascination with magic and divination symbolize? Does astrology really work? And how did Mr. Woodruff transmogrify from a fourteen-year-old teenage pagan into one of America's most talked to and beleaguered psychics? It's all here, buzzing and humming with the overamped frequency of a short-circuiting fiber optic cable. Includes "How To Call a Telephone Psychic and Not Go Broke."

Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885223897
• ISBN-13: 978-1885223890
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #611,093 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Informative Book..., September 8, 2002

By	William Hefner (EUREKA, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This title barely qualifies as a "telecom book", but sounded amusing enough, so thought that I would give it a try. I'm glad that I did.

Secrets of a Telephone Psychic turned out to be an amusing look inside the world of telephone psychics. Written by a veteran telephone "psychic", the book seems to confirm our worst fears... that people at the other end of psychic hotlines aren't really psychic!

This is not a journalistic expose' of the telephone psychic industry, but the personal account of one man who made his living as a telephone psychic for several years. Over time, he began comparing notes with fellow psychics and learned all the tricks of the trade. The author exposes himself as much as anyone else, and actually makes you feel some sort of empathy for the trials that these low-paid independent contractors are forced to go through.

Besides giving an overview of the industry in general, and an insight into the minds of telephone psychics themselves, the author also delves into psychological issues surrounding hotline callers. After answering thousands of phone calls, the author has been able to gain great insight into what type of people call these numbers, why they call them, when they call, why the general public is fascinated by them, etc. The book reveals just as much about psychic hotline callers and the general public as it does about the telephone psychic industry itself.

For anyone considering calling a psychic hotline, this book is a must. The chapter titled "How to Call a Psychic and Not Go Broke" should save you much more time and money than this book sells for.

For anyone considering becoming a telephone psychic, this book will reveal the sometimes dark world that you may be getting into, and provides tips on how to handle difficult situations. It isn't exactly a "how-to" guide for aspiring telephone psychics, but it comes darned close.

About the only downside of this book is the author's occasional meanderings into new age culture, psycho-babble and spirituality. If you are in to that kind of stuff, it may make the book more enjoyable. To me, it was just a temporary distraction from the rest of the story.

Overall, the book was extremely educational and enjoyable to read. The author's wry sense of humor is prevalent throughout the book, and his colorful stories are ones that you will end-up repeating to your friends. Carrying a cover price of only $$$, this book is a bargain. Well worth your time and money. I'd recommend it to anyone that is curious about the telephone psychic industry, or who just needs a good laugh.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off the Hook!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

The publisher's marketing department must have been pulling their hair out, trying to find the right moniker for this captivating book. I'll admit the title is why I stopped and ordered it from Amazon...(after reading the hediously written and very disappointing "Adventures of a Psychic", I needed something funny and down to earth to clear my palate. And this book delivers!) But it's so much more than just a detailed look at the author's time on the phone lines. A lot more.

Sure the psychic thing is highlighted throughout, but there's a distinct effort by Woodruff to include the reader in his understanding of why our culture is so fascinated with mystics and psychics; astrology and the tarot, etc. And what this symbolizes about our longing for the magical and mysterious in our lives, and how modern day entertainment and diversions just aren't cutting it for most folks (and nevermind our antiquated religious institutions) and he does this with examples, anecdotes, short essays and recounting his personal history with metaphysical subjects and fringe folks from his childhood.

I also appreciated his discursive approach to sequencing the various chapters and subjects (although my wife didn't). One minute Woodruff is writing about hunting down Dionne Warwick for an interview, the next he's conversing with sociologist Camille Paglia about oracles and then, in a loopy segue, he's detailing his struggle with a lovelorn caller and her questions about how a dildo works--I was laughing out loud!

Be warned this isn't a New Agey book. It's a bit naughty, intelligent throughout and a lot of fun!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Postcards from the Phone! Tarot, Astrology, Humour -- Oh My!, January 1, 1999

By	Claudia (Queens) - See all my reviews

Up late? Mesmerized by the electronic promises of another 900 number? Wondering just what the Age of Aquarius holds for you -- or what the heck the Age of Aquarius is? Mute that television, and pick up this book instead of the phone. Frederick Woodruff is a mystical pragmatist -- someone who really seems to understand that we are sophisticated yet silly -- just like our Creator! In this true gem of a paperback, Woodruff recounts his experiences on the psychic lines with the warmth of Mark Twain and the humour of John Cleese as Screwtape! What is most unexpected in this book are the philosphical musings and insights the author shares with us. If any of you have read Sybil Leek or Aleister Crowley, Carlos Casteneda or Carl Jung; Frederick Woodruff rests somewhere in a very comfortable middle quoting any of the aforementioned very eloquently along with Dorothy Parker, John Steinbeck, and Oscar Wilde. I recommend this book for anyone interested in what is truly needed for successful divination or knowing what desires lurk in the hearts of American's with a touch-tone phone. Also included is an excellent recommended reading list and tips for calling psychics yourself. Just read it -- if for nothing more than the hilarious chapter titles!