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Extrasensory Deception: ESP, Psychics, Shirley Maclaine, Ghosts, UFOs
Magician-columnist indictment of what he calls paranormal nonsense.Sceptic.
Hardcover
First published September 1, 1987
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April 2, 2025
AN ADMITTED ‘DEBUNKER’ CONSIDERS A VARIETY OF ISSUES
Magician and CSICOP member Henry Gordon (1919-2009) wrote in the Introduction to this 1987 book, “The question I am most often asked is how I got started in this debunking business… Perhaps the most important reason is my congenital dislike for hypocrisy. I can think of nothing more hypocritical than the claims of the so-called psychics, the astrologers, crystal ball gazers, the tarot card readers, and all the phony practitioners of paranormal pretense. As a professional mentalist (a conjurer playing the part of a psychic), I have always been in contact with much of the profession across the continent. I observed, many years ago, that many mentalists tried to convince their audiences that they had paranormal power. Indeed, a few of the more prominent ones later adopted careers as out-and-out psychics---and made a bundle in their new profession. For these people I have nothing but contempt, and it is probably because of them that I became active in the practice of unmasking the con artists in this field.” (Pg. 7)
He explains, “[Donald O.] Hebb accepts the possibility that telepathy could exist. It isn’t likely---there’s no evidence for it as yet---but we are talking about two minds communicating. Could there be some electrical or electromagnetic activity taking place? We know that the brain engages in electrical activity that results in brain waves. We can measure them by connecting the scalp to a device called an electroencephalogram. But that’s as far as it goes. The brain-wave activity we are aware of does not have the power to transmit for any distance. Furthermore, Hebb points out, this would just be a blanket transmission… even if these waves were projected over a distance, how would they project individual images or ideas? The whole concept makes no sense in our present state of knowledge. It is conceivable, but extremely unlikely.” (Pg. 21)
He states, “What the public is probably not aware of is that Margaret Mead was very much interested in the paranormal. We might even say that she was rather supportive of things that go bump in the night. In her studies of isolated peoples Mead seemed convinced that psychic abilities were quite common among them. In an interview she did with ‘New Realities,' an occult publication, Mead claimed that many children in isolated regions had psychic gifts but were taught to conceal them. In an column written for Redbook in 1977, Mead refers to the mushrooming interest in astrology, numerology, and other occult matters…. In another column Mead answers the question, ‘Do you believe in UFOs?’ with a resounding ‘yes.’ … ‘The most likely explanation, it seems to me, is that they are simply watching what we are up to… keeping an eye on us to see that we don’t set in motion a chain reaction that may have repercussions outside our solar system.’… Nowhere in Mead’s interviews or writings is there any indication of strong evidence to prove these claims. In 1969, when she was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Mead used her clout to have the Parapsychological Association accepted as an official affiliate of the AAAS.” (Pg. 137-138)
He reports, “The Committee for the Scientific Investigation for Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) really owes its beginnings to astrology. In a 1975 issue of ‘The Humanist,’ 186 leading scientists, including 19 Nobel prize winners, issued a statement disavowing astrology… the controversy stirred up by the statement triggered the formation of CSICOP, which has now developed into a worldwide organization.’ (Pg. 216)
He concludes the book, “Academic freedom should not give professors the right to teach ANYTHING. They should be answerable to a broader context of professional standards. The responsibility borne by teachers in our school systems is tremendous---whether in the university or in grade school. We probably see more purveyors of the paranormal in extension courses than anywhere else. There could be a good reason for that. Universities find it useful to add to their coffers by running these courses. Courses on UFOs, human auras, extrasensory perception, faith healing, astrology, and other pseudosciences appear very attractive in an advertisement. The enrollment is usually quite satisfactory. These particular courses raise revenues that help underwrite other, more respectable courses that perhaps do not attract too heavy a registration. It is a sad commentary on the education system across North America, but it is a state of affairs that will most likely continue.” (Pg. 227)
This book will appeal to many who have a skeptical outlook on such matters.
Magician and CSICOP member Henry Gordon (1919-2009) wrote in the Introduction to this 1987 book, “The question I am most often asked is how I got started in this debunking business… Perhaps the most important reason is my congenital dislike for hypocrisy. I can think of nothing more hypocritical than the claims of the so-called psychics, the astrologers, crystal ball gazers, the tarot card readers, and all the phony practitioners of paranormal pretense. As a professional mentalist (a conjurer playing the part of a psychic), I have always been in contact with much of the profession across the continent. I observed, many years ago, that many mentalists tried to convince their audiences that they had paranormal power. Indeed, a few of the more prominent ones later adopted careers as out-and-out psychics---and made a bundle in their new profession. For these people I have nothing but contempt, and it is probably because of them that I became active in the practice of unmasking the con artists in this field.” (Pg. 7)
He explains, “[Donald O.] Hebb accepts the possibility that telepathy could exist. It isn’t likely---there’s no evidence for it as yet---but we are talking about two minds communicating. Could there be some electrical or electromagnetic activity taking place? We know that the brain engages in electrical activity that results in brain waves. We can measure them by connecting the scalp to a device called an electroencephalogram. But that’s as far as it goes. The brain-wave activity we are aware of does not have the power to transmit for any distance. Furthermore, Hebb points out, this would just be a blanket transmission… even if these waves were projected over a distance, how would they project individual images or ideas? The whole concept makes no sense in our present state of knowledge. It is conceivable, but extremely unlikely.” (Pg. 21)
He states, “What the public is probably not aware of is that Margaret Mead was very much interested in the paranormal. We might even say that she was rather supportive of things that go bump in the night. In her studies of isolated peoples Mead seemed convinced that psychic abilities were quite common among them. In an interview she did with ‘New Realities,' an occult publication, Mead claimed that many children in isolated regions had psychic gifts but were taught to conceal them. In an column written for Redbook in 1977, Mead refers to the mushrooming interest in astrology, numerology, and other occult matters…. In another column Mead answers the question, ‘Do you believe in UFOs?’ with a resounding ‘yes.’ … ‘The most likely explanation, it seems to me, is that they are simply watching what we are up to… keeping an eye on us to see that we don’t set in motion a chain reaction that may have repercussions outside our solar system.’… Nowhere in Mead’s interviews or writings is there any indication of strong evidence to prove these claims. In 1969, when she was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Mead used her clout to have the Parapsychological Association accepted as an official affiliate of the AAAS.” (Pg. 137-138)
He reports, “The Committee for the Scientific Investigation for Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) really owes its beginnings to astrology. In a 1975 issue of ‘The Humanist,’ 186 leading scientists, including 19 Nobel prize winners, issued a statement disavowing astrology… the controversy stirred up by the statement triggered the formation of CSICOP, which has now developed into a worldwide organization.’ (Pg. 216)
He concludes the book, “Academic freedom should not give professors the right to teach ANYTHING. They should be answerable to a broader context of professional standards. The responsibility borne by teachers in our school systems is tremendous---whether in the university or in grade school. We probably see more purveyors of the paranormal in extension courses than anywhere else. There could be a good reason for that. Universities find it useful to add to their coffers by running these courses. Courses on UFOs, human auras, extrasensory perception, faith healing, astrology, and other pseudosciences appear very attractive in an advertisement. The enrollment is usually quite satisfactory. These particular courses raise revenues that help underwrite other, more respectable courses that perhaps do not attract too heavy a registration. It is a sad commentary on the education system across North America, but it is a state of affairs that will most likely continue.” (Pg. 227)
This book will appeal to many who have a skeptical outlook on such matters.
January 2, 2015
Still no time for more than a quick note (oh, how I ache to get the current book finished so I can relax for a day or two!).
Gordon, a professional conjurer of some note, collects together a stack of his columns/articles debunking pseudoscience and woo. The result is a highly entertaining hodgepodge, in places very funny. The text is sloppy on the details, though -- lots of silly errors (like Marjorie as the famous medium's name, in place of Margery). Because of those tiresome errors and the lack of an index, I reduced my rating from four stars to three; if it's simply a great bit of reading you want, and hang the accuracy, then this is an ideal entertainment to while away an evening or two.
Gordon, a professional conjurer of some note, collects together a stack of his columns/articles debunking pseudoscience and woo. The result is a highly entertaining hodgepodge, in places very funny. The text is sloppy on the details, though -- lots of silly errors (like Marjorie as the famous medium's name, in place of Margery). Because of those tiresome errors and the lack of an index, I reduced my rating from four stars to three; if it's simply a great bit of reading you want, and hang the accuracy, then this is an ideal entertainment to while away an evening or two.
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