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The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
A wealth of evidence for doubters and disbelievers "Whether it’s the latest shark cartilage scam, or some new ‘repressed memory’ idiocy that besets you, I suggest you carry a copy of this dictionary at all times, or at least have it within reach as first aid for psychic attacks. We need all the help we can get."
–James Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, randi.org "From alternative medicine, aliens, and psychics to the farthest shores of science and beyond, Robert Carroll presents a fascinating look at some of humanity’s most strange and wonderful ideas. Refreshing and witty, both believers and unbelievers will find this compendium complete and captivating. Buy this book and feed your head!"
–Clifford Pickover, author of The Stars of Heaven and Dreaming the Future "A refreshing compendium of clear thinking, a welcome and potent antidote to the reams of books on the supernatural and pseudoscientific."
–John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper "This book covers an amazing range of topics and can protect many people from being scammed."
–Stephen Barrett, M.D., quackwatch.org Featuring close to 400 definitions, arguments, and essays on topics ranging from acupuncture to zombies, The Skeptic’s Dictionary is a lively, commonsense trove of detailed information on all things supernatural, occult, paranormal, and pseudoscientific. It covers such categories as alternative medicine; cryptozoology; extraterrestrials and UFOs; frauds and hoaxes; junk science; logic and perception; New Age energy; and the psychic. For the open-minded seeker, the soft or hardened skeptic, and the believing doubter, this book offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers.
–James Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, randi.org "From alternative medicine, aliens, and psychics to the farthest shores of science and beyond, Robert Carroll presents a fascinating look at some of humanity’s most strange and wonderful ideas. Refreshing and witty, both believers and unbelievers will find this compendium complete and captivating. Buy this book and feed your head!"
–Clifford Pickover, author of The Stars of Heaven and Dreaming the Future "A refreshing compendium of clear thinking, a welcome and potent antidote to the reams of books on the supernatural and pseudoscientific."
–John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper "This book covers an amazing range of topics and can protect many people from being scammed."
–Stephen Barrett, M.D., quackwatch.org Featuring close to 400 definitions, arguments, and essays on topics ranging from acupuncture to zombies, The Skeptic’s Dictionary is a lively, commonsense trove of detailed information on all things supernatural, occult, paranormal, and pseudoscientific. It covers such categories as alternative medicine; cryptozoology; extraterrestrials and UFOs; frauds and hoaxes; junk science; logic and perception; New Age energy; and the psychic. For the open-minded seeker, the soft or hardened skeptic, and the believing doubter, this book offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers.
990 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2003
54 people are currently reading
1460 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 29, 2015
Carroll debunks everything. From common beliefs like the belief in prayer, guardian angels, and acupuncture - to strange, strange beliefs like people who believe children with ADHD and ADD are really aliens.
I learned a lot from this book and I enjoyed it. Carroll is smart and funny. He destroys without mercy all beliefs that are not rational or based in science.
However, it took me a long time to read because there's only so much you can read of this in one sitting.
Also, there were specific beliefs and delusions that I wanted him to go into more depth about.
Overall a fascinating read.
I learned a lot from this book and I enjoyed it. Carroll is smart and funny. He destroys without mercy all beliefs that are not rational or based in science.
However, it took me a long time to read because there's only so much you can read of this in one sitting.
Also, there were specific beliefs and delusions that I wanted him to go into more depth about.
Overall a fascinating read.
February 21, 2011
Read on my Kindle.
Not so much of a dictionary, more an encyclopaedia - an alphabetical series of short articles covering everything from acupuncture to urine therapy (and more) from a skeptical, rational perspective.
Not really the kind of thing to sit down and read right through - although that is what I did! - but a good book to dip into and browse through, or refer to for an overview of a new concept, and a jumping-off spot for further reading and investigation.
Not so much of a dictionary, more an encyclopaedia - an alphabetical series of short articles covering everything from acupuncture to urine therapy (and more) from a skeptical, rational perspective.
Not really the kind of thing to sit down and read right through - although that is what I did! - but a good book to dip into and browse through, or refer to for an overview of a new concept, and a jumping-off spot for further reading and investigation.
August 22, 2010
must-have topical guide/reference book on all things paranormal and their scientific explanations (eg ufo's, phrenology, faith healing, witchcraft, psychics, prophecy, acupuncture, alternative medicine, chiropractic, etc.
your a-z on reality!
your a-z on reality!
January 2, 2017
I can't believe that this little gem of a publication has been sitting on my hard drive/s since I read it over several leisurely months from late 2012 to 2013!
I feel guilty on several levels - mainly because I feel that this is a book which really deserves recognition as the brilliant resource it is.
Personally I recommend that every parent invest in a copy (augmented by the website www.skepdic.com by the same author) for the "But WHY?" years the parents of inquisitive children everywhere apparently have to go through. They will be rewarded with a seemingly inexhaustible repository of rational but slightly tongue-in-cheek explanations of commonly held, bizarre beliefs and the neurological and psychological reasons for such phenomenon as Cognitive Dissonance etc.
This is a book that teaches one how to think for themselves rather than what to think - and I feel that makes it a very special, if underrated tome indeed.
I feel guilty on several levels - mainly because I feel that this is a book which really deserves recognition as the brilliant resource it is.
Personally I recommend that every parent invest in a copy (augmented by the website www.skepdic.com by the same author) for the "But WHY?" years the parents of inquisitive children everywhere apparently have to go through. They will be rewarded with a seemingly inexhaustible repository of rational but slightly tongue-in-cheek explanations of commonly held, bizarre beliefs and the neurological and psychological reasons for such phenomenon as Cognitive Dissonance etc.
This is a book that teaches one how to think for themselves rather than what to think - and I feel that makes it a very special, if underrated tome indeed.
October 17, 2014
This book is a must-read if you're a skeptic or a believer. It covers just about every paranormal and pseudoscientific topic out there!
July 21, 2016
This was an insightful read but there was a few things I did disagree with. Still it was a good book and I actually learned more about different topics then I would actually reading books about them.
May 31, 2019
.. but as you may have read in the previous reviews, the book goes well beyond the website and I'm looking forward to a newer edition.
I consider myself a skeptic for at least 10 years, when I started reading James Randi's book. Skepdic.com was the best reference work for all my doubts regarding unexplained phenomena. And I knew I had stumbled upon a crossroads of my skepticism when I saw there was an entry about deja vu. I had deja vu all my life, and wouldn't accept if the article said that such a thing did not exist. This would have corroded my admiration for critical thinking, because it was one thing to scorn other people's beliefs on ghost, quite another to have the existence of deja vu challenged. I'd certainly want an explanation for that!
But, of course, the article was a positive surprise. It offered a tentative explanation and one that fit so perfectly well, I was at a loss for words. Intellectual honesty always goes a long way, and I admired how the entry made it clear that there was not a established answer. But who cares about easy answers? If you want the easiest answers, skip the book. If you accept that you'll be challenged, this book is for you.
I consider myself a skeptic for at least 10 years, when I started reading James Randi's book. Skepdic.com was the best reference work for all my doubts regarding unexplained phenomena. And I knew I had stumbled upon a crossroads of my skepticism when I saw there was an entry about deja vu. I had deja vu all my life, and wouldn't accept if the article said that such a thing did not exist. This would have corroded my admiration for critical thinking, because it was one thing to scorn other people's beliefs on ghost, quite another to have the existence of deja vu challenged. I'd certainly want an explanation for that!
But, of course, the article was a positive surprise. It offered a tentative explanation and one that fit so perfectly well, I was at a loss for words. Intellectual honesty always goes a long way, and I admired how the entry made it clear that there was not a established answer. But who cares about easy answers? If you want the easiest answers, skip the book. If you accept that you'll be challenged, this book is for you.
August 7, 2020
The author gives an opinion on every strange belief (and there's plenty of them). Overall it's a fascinating book. A lot of the information is common sense. It covers copious amounts of subjects from acupuncture, alien abductions, to fortune telling and reincarnation. Worth the read!
April 20, 2018
Fun and funny!
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October 11, 2011
Eh, it was a good-ish "dictionary", but whatever was up with all of the other book ads-sorry, "recommendations"- in every page? They annoyed the hell out of me and made it a bit of a drag.
Blog-book indeed.
Blog-book indeed.
September 10, 2013
A must have for a skeptical goto guide on woo.
December 10, 2016
This is quite a dull book. And it might have been useful back in 1980s, but now you can find all that and more with any web search, not just google. Which makes the current volume just an ego trip.
April 23, 2017
Very much the bible for the skeptic. This started as a webpage and Robert Carroll started the whole as a public service. Unless you really believe that dreamcatchers catch dreams and you can heal disease with crystals this book is an essential addition to everyone's bookshelf. It is more of an encyclopaedia than dictionary and is great to dip in and out of as well as reading from cover to cover.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews