What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets of the Supernatural by Joe Nickell
Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go bump in the night. Since earliest times, public fascination and popular imagination have focused on phenomena known as "supernatural." But extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. When mysteries and coincidences seem too remarkable to be true, reason demands careful investigation and analysis of the facts rather than the invocation of "unknown forces."Utilizing their experience as professional crime-solvers, authors Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer delve into the labyrinth of the unknown armed with open minds and the remarkable array of information sources and scientific methods available to the modern investigator.Examined are such classic enigmas as the haunting of Mackenzie House (Toronto's rebel statesman is said to tread noisily upon the stairs of his historic home); the question of the "Crystal Skull" (the "grand-daddy of all crystal balls"); the case of "The Two Will Wests" (two prison inmates with the same name, identical features, and similar fingerprints); plus bleeding doors, phantom pictures, restless coffins, disappearing footprints, human fireballs, and miraculous portraits - a fascinating panoply of mind-bogglers, riddles, and ambiguities.The methods, procedures, and sources used by Nickell and Fischer to solve these "mysteries" included forensic and microchemical analysis, controlled testing, archaeology, instrumental analyses, iconographic studies, genetics, deductive logic, photography, art history, pathology, engineering, genealogy, police records, and plain common sense.Neither a mere collection of stories nor a categorical debunking, this book goes beyond the spine-tingling to focus on details of available evidence, appropriate investigative strategies, and convincing explanations for these intriguing "occult" mysteries. The answers provided may disappoint the determined believer in the supernatural - but the solutions, and the fascinating methodology used by the authors, are as unique and interesting as the perplexing cases on which they are based.
- GenresScience
Hardcover
First published September 28, 1988
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Joe Nickell
66 books51 followersJoe Nickell was an American skeptic and investigator of the paranormal.
Nickell was a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote regularly for their journal, Skeptical Inquirer. He was also an associate dean of the Center for Inquiry Institute. He was the author or editor of over 30 books.
Among his career highlights, Nickell helped expose the James Maybrick "Jack the Ripper Diary" as a hoax. In 2002, Nickell was one of a number of experts asked by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. to evaluate the authenticity of the manuscript of Hannah Crafts' The Bondwoman's Narrative (1853–1860), possibly the first novel by an African-American woman. At the request of document dealer and historian Seth Keller, Nickell analyzed documentation in the dispute over the authorship of "The Night Before Christmas", ultimately supporting the Clement Clarke Moore claim.
Nickell was a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote regularly for their journal, Skeptical Inquirer. He was also an associate dean of the Center for Inquiry Institute. He was the author or editor of over 30 books.
Among his career highlights, Nickell helped expose the James Maybrick "Jack the Ripper Diary" as a hoax. In 2002, Nickell was one of a number of experts asked by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. to evaluate the authenticity of the manuscript of Hannah Crafts' The Bondwoman's Narrative (1853–1860), possibly the first novel by an African-American woman. At the request of document dealer and historian Seth Keller, Nickell analyzed documentation in the dispute over the authorship of "The Night Before Christmas", ultimately supporting the Clement Clarke Moore claim.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 28, 2025
SKEPTICAL CONCLUSIONS FOR SEVERAL LESS-KNOWN ‘MYSTERIES’
Authors Joe Nickell and John Fischer wrote in the Introduction to this 1988 book, “Certainly there is a ‘New Age’ of belief in the supernatural… Many self-styled ‘investigators’ reveal their own excessive credulity concerning such phenomena… A case in point is the so-called ghost hunter who frequently arrives at the site with a reputed ‘psychic’ in tow… But the reality of such a postulated ability cannot be accepted uncritically, and one cannot explain the unknown by the unproved. Conversely, the dangers of being too close minded [are significant]…
“Some skeptical investigators refer to themselves as ‘debunkers,’ which is unfortunate… to call oneself a debunker implies bias, suggesting---rightly or wrongly---that the results are known prior to investigation and will always be negative. This not only lessens the investigator’s credibility, but can lead to a habit of mind that too readily accepts a dubious fact simply because it supports a negative position… To the believer and skeptic alike we say: Join with us in an open-minded approach to the mysteries, accompany us on the trail of evidence, and share in the satisfaction as we begin to unlock the ‘secrets of the supernatural.’
They acknowledge, “In the case of competing hypotheses, appeals are frequently made to the principle of ‘Occam’s Razor’… which affirms that the simplest explanation that can account for the data---that is, the hypothesis that relies on the fewest assumptions---is most likely to be correct, and is therefore to be preferred. Predictably, given our backgrounds in research, John Fischer and I have attempted to adhere to just such principles in the investigations comprising this casebook.” (Pg. 13)
They state, “despite the claims of success by dowsing enthusiasts, the ‘witchers’ actually fare poorly in properly controlled tests of their abilities. For example, an experiment conducted under the auspices of the American Society for Physical Research in 1949 pitted 27 diviners against a water engineer and a geologist… the scientists were relatively successful in estimating depth of water at specific points, whereas the dowsers failed utterly. Another test was conducted in 1964 by James A. Coleman, professor of physics… Ten garden hoses were placed a few feet apart and covered with canvas; only one hose was attached to a water source. Professor Coleman offered a reward to any dowser who could locate the correct hose in 7 out of 10 attempts. Of the three who tried, two failed four times in a row and admitted defeat. The third located the correct hose
twice, then failed four times. Professor Coleman… concluded, ‘Dowsing is nothing but self-delusion.’” (Pg. 93)
They report, “For several years beginning in 1911… blood flowed from both a picture and a statue of Christ… Upon observation by an investigator, however, the picture failed to bleed, and when it did become wet with blood after being locked in the chapel, the investigator found that a piece of paper he had secretly placed in the door hinge had been dislodged. On one occasion… the substance was not genuine blood, and on another, the investigator’s wife thought she saw the abbé secretly sprinkle water on the … dried blood… to give the illusion of fresh blood.” (Pg. 119-120)
They turn to Spontaneous Human Combustion [SHC], and note, “there did seem to be some correlation between drunkenness and instances of SHC. Early theorists… had suggested that alcohol-impregnated tissues were rendered highly combustible, but scientists … had pointed out that a person would die of alcohol poisoning long before imbibing enough alcohol to have even a slight effect on the body’s flammability. We determined instead the correlation was likely due to drunken persons being more careless with fire and less able to properly respond to an accident.” (Pg 152-153)
This book will interest those seeking skeptical responses to claims of the paranormal.
Authors Joe Nickell and John Fischer wrote in the Introduction to this 1988 book, “Certainly there is a ‘New Age’ of belief in the supernatural… Many self-styled ‘investigators’ reveal their own excessive credulity concerning such phenomena… A case in point is the so-called ghost hunter who frequently arrives at the site with a reputed ‘psychic’ in tow… But the reality of such a postulated ability cannot be accepted uncritically, and one cannot explain the unknown by the unproved. Conversely, the dangers of being too close minded [are significant]…
“Some skeptical investigators refer to themselves as ‘debunkers,’ which is unfortunate… to call oneself a debunker implies bias, suggesting---rightly or wrongly---that the results are known prior to investigation and will always be negative. This not only lessens the investigator’s credibility, but can lead to a habit of mind that too readily accepts a dubious fact simply because it supports a negative position… To the believer and skeptic alike we say: Join with us in an open-minded approach to the mysteries, accompany us on the trail of evidence, and share in the satisfaction as we begin to unlock the ‘secrets of the supernatural.’
They acknowledge, “In the case of competing hypotheses, appeals are frequently made to the principle of ‘Occam’s Razor’… which affirms that the simplest explanation that can account for the data---that is, the hypothesis that relies on the fewest assumptions---is most likely to be correct, and is therefore to be preferred. Predictably, given our backgrounds in research, John Fischer and I have attempted to adhere to just such principles in the investigations comprising this casebook.” (Pg. 13)
They state, “despite the claims of success by dowsing enthusiasts, the ‘witchers’ actually fare poorly in properly controlled tests of their abilities. For example, an experiment conducted under the auspices of the American Society for Physical Research in 1949 pitted 27 diviners against a water engineer and a geologist… the scientists were relatively successful in estimating depth of water at specific points, whereas the dowsers failed utterly. Another test was conducted in 1964 by James A. Coleman, professor of physics… Ten garden hoses were placed a few feet apart and covered with canvas; only one hose was attached to a water source. Professor Coleman offered a reward to any dowser who could locate the correct hose in 7 out of 10 attempts. Of the three who tried, two failed four times in a row and admitted defeat. The third located the correct hose
twice, then failed four times. Professor Coleman… concluded, ‘Dowsing is nothing but self-delusion.’” (Pg. 93)
They report, “For several years beginning in 1911… blood flowed from both a picture and a statue of Christ… Upon observation by an investigator, however, the picture failed to bleed, and when it did become wet with blood after being locked in the chapel, the investigator found that a piece of paper he had secretly placed in the door hinge had been dislodged. On one occasion… the substance was not genuine blood, and on another, the investigator’s wife thought she saw the abbé secretly sprinkle water on the … dried blood… to give the illusion of fresh blood.” (Pg. 119-120)
They turn to Spontaneous Human Combustion [SHC], and note, “there did seem to be some correlation between drunkenness and instances of SHC. Early theorists… had suggested that alcohol-impregnated tissues were rendered highly combustible, but scientists … had pointed out that a person would die of alcohol poisoning long before imbibing enough alcohol to have even a slight effect on the body’s flammability. We determined instead the correlation was likely due to drunken persons being more careless with fire and less able to properly respond to an accident.” (Pg 152-153)
This book will interest those seeking skeptical responses to claims of the paranormal.
December 5, 2023
The first book I read this year was a Joe Nickell book so it made sense to remove another one from my list at the end of the year. Out of the long list of Nickell books tht I've read this one so far is my favorite. A lot of the cases were new to me which is refreshing since Nickell's new books have the exact same cases in different ones but at least it allows you to skip a few chapters. This book also mentions the Shroud of Turnin which he must really be obsessed with because almost every book has his articles on it and he even wrote a whole book on it. We know it's fake so maybe take that space for cases that are hidden in the archives that we've never read before. Of course, I've probably repeated this rant before and probably will with all the other Nickell books that are on my to read pile. I keep reading them because it is interesting to read old theories and ideas based on the available information compared to to newer ideas and theories on the same topics. This is only from the late 80's so not too old and a lot of information probably hasn't changed much over the years. So yes I enjoyed this book and hope that most of his other books will be like this one.
April 2, 2018
Great read! Nickell’s thorough research grabbed me from the start and never let go until the end. My favorites were the story of the two Will Wests, the bleeding door chapter, and the spontaneous human combustion chapter.
The book tackles common ghost stories from both science and history perspectives so it’s not only a smart read, it’s heavily documented.
The book tackles common ghost stories from both science and history perspectives so it’s not only a smart read, it’s heavily documented.
August 20, 2014
Debunking many different supernatural and paranormal phenomena. REALLY great read.
January 12, 2009
It's a great concept and subject matter, but the book was just plain boring.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews