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Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria Paperback – March 20, 2020

by Robert W. Baloh (Author), Robert E. Bartholomew (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the “attack” on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome.”

This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11-chapters which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness. A lively and enthralling read, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th century cases of “telephone shock,” and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints. The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks.

Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness.


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  1. Print length
    210 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 20, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    6.1 x 0.48 x 9.25 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    3030407454
  6. ISBN-13
    978-3030407452
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A book for everyone interested in how scares and social panics start and spread, especially in our era of fake news and conspiracy theories.” (Nigel Watson, Magonia review of books, pelicanist.blogspot.com, October 1, 2020)

“This is a brilliant exposition of how social panics evolve and escalate; every fortean should read it.” (Nigel Watson, Fortean Times, forteantimes.com, August 26, 2020)


From the Back Cover

It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science: the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a “sonic weapon” that led to a major diplomatic row. Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the “attack” on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba. While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of “Havana Syndrome.” This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11-chapters which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness. A lively and enthralling read, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th century cases of “telephone shock,” and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints. The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks.

Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Copernicus; 1st ed. 2020 edition (March 20, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3030407454
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3030407452
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.48 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

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Robert W. Baloh

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4.1 out of 5 stars
46 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Terence M. Hines
    5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive study of this episode of mass psychogenic illness.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This excellent book debunks all the rubbish about what happened to US embassy personnel in Havana. There were no attacks, there were no mysterious super weapons, there were no nefarious plots. There were noisy local insects and a tension filled environment that led people under understandable stress to misinterpret ordinary events as signs of attack. Then people who weren't there picked up the nonsense and ran with it, reinforcing the beliefs of those afflicted. The authors provide excellent descriptions of what actually happened and the psychology behind mass psychogenic illness. The latter includes fascinating accounts of similar events in the past - ever hear of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon? Or the Montreal Slasher? You'll know about them after you read this book.
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  • TealKayAnn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Learn about Havana Syndrome
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Due to Havana Syndrome topic appearing in many news reports, a book describing this phenomenon in a comprehensive manner was an appealing purchase.

    Both authors are mostly sensitive and respectful to people suffering from psychosomatic disorders, and they skillfully explain that alleged sound attacks on United States embassy personnel were not of physical origin, but psychological. There was no attack by external forces; this Havana condition was caused by other factors, like stress and mass hysteria. Baloh and Bartholomew wrote this book to clarify real issues about health symptoms associated with Havana Syndrome.

    Only negative aspect of book: some historical examples may contain errors, possibly from superficial knowledge of Christianity. Example: page 55, one half million people executed in Middle Ages for alleged consorting with devil. Authors cited no source for this statistic.

    Overall this book is an excellent resource on current Havana Syndrome topic, and is recommended for ages 16 and up.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Cookie Dough Pony
    5.0 out of 5 stars False information covered in this book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    The author has a behavioral science background and he has not education as physics and engineering, which you would have been educated in, if you were involved in developing directed energy weapons. A person with a social sciences background has no business talking about victims of directed energy weapons. I would like these authors to bring up biophysics issues like the Auditory Effects of Microwave Radiation. James C. Lin of University of Illinois at Chicago wrote a book about this.
    This book doesn't even begin to demonstrate any knowledge about the brain-computer interface (BCI) aspect to what the US's neuroweapons system is capable of. These authors claiming that "Havana Syndrome is all psychogenic" is not speaking to the biophysical effects of microwave radiation on people, and these authors don't speak to the brain-computer interface capabilities and neural recording/neurostimulating radar. These authors of this book don't have the clearance to see what our government is capable of. They just aren't the people to ask about this subject. Their background is behavioral sciences.
    One person found this helpful
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  • turner2001
    1.0 out of 5 stars The Authors Are Completely Wrong!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2021
    I am 100% convinced the authors of this book - Havana Syndrome - are completely wrong and mistaken. Here's why:
    I'm a retired physician previously specializing in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. I scored 99% in both mathematics and science on the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) in the 1970s. I am not easily fooled. I formulated what I call the Scientific Supremacy Law, which states that if there is an inconsistency between corroborated evidence and established theory, then the evidence preempts the theory. In other words, the evidence overrides the theory. Unfortunately, a number of our theories today are seriously flawed. Back in the day, one of my professors in medical school once told me that half of the information I was learning then would eventually be proven wrong sometime in the future! That's why, metaphorically speaking, it's better to be married to the corroborated evidence than the established theory. My Scientific Supremacy Law also applies to issues involving inconsistencies between personal beliefs and Randomized Controlled (Scientific) Trials (RCTs). And please never forget when there is an inconsistency between your personal belief and an RCT, the RCT overrules your personal belief. Now I understand that is easier said than done. But at the end of the day, you must trust the corroborated evidence as well as the replicated verified RCTs. I have read thousands of various books during my life, and most of them are replete with serious errors. Unfortunately with humans, errors seem to be the rule, not the exception. Here are some aphorisms I coined over the years regarding skeptics and debunkers.
    1. TRUTH is TERRIFYING;
    2. FACTS are FRIGHTENING;
    3. EVIDENCE is EVIL;
    4. SCIENCE is SCARY; and
    5. SKEPTICS are STUPID.
    By the way, skeptics and debunkers seem to be afflicted with MISS - Mental Impairment Suppression Syndrome. For whatever reason, these people cannot handle the truth. I believe there is some sort of brain abnormality that afflicts skeptics and debunkers. History has shown time and again that the vast majority of skeptics and debunkers are wrong. Thank you.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • R. Toelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting and convincing. Well worth reading for those interested in the subjects of bad science, mass delusions, fake news, human fallibility, etc.
    Not particularly well written - not well organized and repetitious. Appears to have been slapped together in a bit of a rush ...
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  • Rich J Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars How to demolish fake news through science
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Taking an academic approach to the recent case of mass psychogenic illness (MPI) falsely attributed to some nefarious weapon of mass hysteria, this book methodically and precisely demolishes the case for the latter. It might be trite to quote Occams razor but the answer was in plain sight from the start and while it shouldn't have needed such a detailed rebuttal, extraordinary claims sometimes need dismantling from their foundations.
    Building the pieces of evidence brick by brick and stretching the field of enquiry into history, psychology and politics allows for a full ranging discussion on what really happened. While doing so it also offers some helpful observations on MPI to the lay reader. In this case, the symptoms were real, as was the cause, it just wasn't the one that got all the headlines.
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  • Christian S. Perone
    3.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The book is very repetitive, could've been summarized in half of the pages I would say, but still worth reading.
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