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Evidence of the Extraordinary: Discoveries from the Series The Proof is Out There
An Atria Book. Atria Books has a great book for every reader.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this new book based on the files of a show on the HISTORY Channel, that looks at the world of the unexplained, from the darkest reaches of space to the bottom of the seas, with analysis, evidence, debunking, and in some cases even a bit of well that doesn't make sense.
When I was young I used to constantly take books out of my library that were written by the author Daniel Cohen. Before Time-Life had Mysteries of the Unexplained, Daniel Cohen was writing, for young readers about all the cool things in the world. Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, witches, UFO's, ghosts and other things. I read these books constantly, and soon haunted tag and book sales looking for other books like these. I am still not sure why I enjoyed these tales of the paranormal and the unexplained. I wasn't afraid of them. I wanted to see them all, ghosts aliens, demons, witches, and find out. Maybe like Fox Mulder I wanted something to believe in. Living in these United States so much of what I took for granted as collapsed, good governance, my trust in people to do things right, even my unalienable rights have been stripped away. More people than ever, even people in scientific circles and government are starting to say, you know there is something here. Even the television shows have gone from look at the weirdos looking at the stars to having people say, you know I don't know what this is. And there is plenty of that in this fascinating and well-researched book, based on a show for the HISTORY Channel, The Proof Is Out There®. Evidence of the Extraordinary: Discoveries from the Series The Proof is Out There is written by the show's executive producer Miguel Sancho, and tells of some of the most popular, most debated, tales of the unexplainable from cryptids to aliens, with experts trying to determine what the truth could be, no matter how out of this world.
The book begins with Sancho explaining his career in journalism and how he takes a very skeptic view to many things. As most journalists should. People can believe lies just as easily as the do the truth, and a story could be framed by their own beliefs. Sancho gives a look behind the scenes of the show the book is based on, The Proof Is Out There®, and how the experts they use to look at segments were chosen, and what expertise they bring to the show. From there the book is broken into chapters dealing with UFO's, Big Foot, Loch Ness, and other famous stories of the unexplained. What is unique is that there is alot of present day inclusions, Senate meetings on Aliens ships, and a lot of stories I was aware of, but had not known they had been debunked, or that more evidence had come out. Not just a primer or an episode guide to a show, but a real look at some unexplained phenomena, with a lot of explanations of what people could have seen, or might have missed.
I had thought this would be more about the show, a show to be frank I have never seen. While there are mentions, this book really is about a lot of what people have seen, experienced and wondered about. The book ranges from early cases, doing real journalism to get a deeper sense of the story, real debunking in many ways. And even in a few spots going, well we really don't know. We need more to know what happened,. The writing is very good, though some of the jokes are a little clunky. I get it though as the subject matter can get a little the truth is out there into conspiracy thinking. What was also interesting was the peak into how the show was set up, getting people who have seen say sea creatures to talk on camera. Finding experts, and the lives of experts who say they think there might be a Bigfoot, and what might happen to their careers. Little things that show that being a believer in something that people find cute, or funny or weird sometimes has a cost.
A lot of fun, and very interesting. Enough so that I feel I have missed quite a lot not watching the show, something I might have to amend. Well written, well argued, and when it can be well explained. A good introduction to a new way of looking at the world, and one that people will learn quite a bit from. I look forward to more investigations from this team and this writer
When I was young I used to constantly take books out of my library that were written by the author Daniel Cohen. Before Time-Life had Mysteries of the Unexplained, Daniel Cohen was writing, for young readers about all the cool things in the world. Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, witches, UFO's, ghosts and other things. I read these books constantly, and soon haunted tag and book sales looking for other books like these. I am still not sure why I enjoyed these tales of the paranormal and the unexplained. I wasn't afraid of them. I wanted to see them all, ghosts aliens, demons, witches, and find out. Maybe like Fox Mulder I wanted something to believe in. Living in these United States so much of what I took for granted as collapsed, good governance, my trust in people to do things right, even my unalienable rights have been stripped away. More people than ever, even people in scientific circles and government are starting to say, you know there is something here. Even the television shows have gone from look at the weirdos looking at the stars to having people say, you know I don't know what this is. And there is plenty of that in this fascinating and well-researched book, based on a show for the HISTORY Channel, The Proof Is Out There®. Evidence of the Extraordinary: Discoveries from the Series The Proof is Out There is written by the show's executive producer Miguel Sancho, and tells of some of the most popular, most debated, tales of the unexplainable from cryptids to aliens, with experts trying to determine what the truth could be, no matter how out of this world.
The book begins with Sancho explaining his career in journalism and how he takes a very skeptic view to many things. As most journalists should. People can believe lies just as easily as the do the truth, and a story could be framed by their own beliefs. Sancho gives a look behind the scenes of the show the book is based on, The Proof Is Out There®, and how the experts they use to look at segments were chosen, and what expertise they bring to the show. From there the book is broken into chapters dealing with UFO's, Big Foot, Loch Ness, and other famous stories of the unexplained. What is unique is that there is alot of present day inclusions, Senate meetings on Aliens ships, and a lot of stories I was aware of, but had not known they had been debunked, or that more evidence had come out. Not just a primer or an episode guide to a show, but a real look at some unexplained phenomena, with a lot of explanations of what people could have seen, or might have missed.
I had thought this would be more about the show, a show to be frank I have never seen. While there are mentions, this book really is about a lot of what people have seen, experienced and wondered about. The book ranges from early cases, doing real journalism to get a deeper sense of the story, real debunking in many ways. And even in a few spots going, well we really don't know. We need more to know what happened,. The writing is very good, though some of the jokes are a little clunky. I get it though as the subject matter can get a little the truth is out there into conspiracy thinking. What was also interesting was the peak into how the show was set up, getting people who have seen say sea creatures to talk on camera. Finding experts, and the lives of experts who say they think there might be a Bigfoot, and what might happen to their careers. Little things that show that being a believer in something that people find cute, or funny or weird sometimes has a cost.
A lot of fun, and very interesting. Enough so that I feel I have missed quite a lot not watching the show, something I might have to amend. Well written, well argued, and when it can be well explained. A good introduction to a new way of looking at the world, and one that people will learn quite a bit from. I look forward to more investigations from this team and this writer
April 25, 2026
2.5⭐️
Loved: The bits of background around the experts that contribute to the show. This book does contain a lot of references to the History channel show The Proof is Out There, but as someone who hasn’t previously watched the show, it was still readable and interesting. The writing and storylines after the beginning introductions and explanations of experts and the overarching religious theory flowed well and gave a decent if brief overview of many well known unexplained cases in the paranormal world.
Didn’t enjoy: The author mentions two instances in which AI was used to investigate cases, once to combine differing Bigfoot footage in order to “make it clearer” for experts to examine and once consulting an AI firm to see how similar doppleganger faces are. The author later asserts his opinion that AI may one day assist those of average intelligence to think on a higher level the same way glasses help visually impaired people see. I do not support AI and was disappointed to see pro AI rhetoric here.
There were also several moments where the author deviated from his well written style to include slang such as “IMHO” and “Bigfootage” which was unpleasant to read. Additionally, he put quotation marks around the word subluxation when that is an accurate and relevant medical term for the situation he was describing. With these put together, I found myself pulled out of an otherwise well put together flow of story telling in an unpleasant manner.
Overall, while I enjoyed the actual discussions of unexplained phenomena, the writing style changes and pro AI stance made it difficult to get through. I don’t think I’ll be reading more from this author, but might look up the show itself.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.
Loved: The bits of background around the experts that contribute to the show. This book does contain a lot of references to the History channel show The Proof is Out There, but as someone who hasn’t previously watched the show, it was still readable and interesting. The writing and storylines after the beginning introductions and explanations of experts and the overarching religious theory flowed well and gave a decent if brief overview of many well known unexplained cases in the paranormal world.
Didn’t enjoy: The author mentions two instances in which AI was used to investigate cases, once to combine differing Bigfoot footage in order to “make it clearer” for experts to examine and once consulting an AI firm to see how similar doppleganger faces are. The author later asserts his opinion that AI may one day assist those of average intelligence to think on a higher level the same way glasses help visually impaired people see. I do not support AI and was disappointed to see pro AI rhetoric here.
There were also several moments where the author deviated from his well written style to include slang such as “IMHO” and “Bigfootage” which was unpleasant to read. Additionally, he put quotation marks around the word subluxation when that is an accurate and relevant medical term for the situation he was describing. With these put together, I found myself pulled out of an otherwise well put together flow of story telling in an unpleasant manner.
Overall, while I enjoyed the actual discussions of unexplained phenomena, the writing style changes and pro AI stance made it difficult to get through. I don’t think I’ll be reading more from this author, but might look up the show itself.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(1.5 rounded up) On the surface, this book is a collection of so many things I love reading about. In execution, it was one of the most boring books on the paranormal I have read. Unfortunately the writing just felt dry, and unengaging. It read like a book of someone explaining how someone is explaining something.
I was really disappointed as I was so excited to read this one. I've seen a few of the things the writer has produced and they were pretty interesting, but it didn't come out in the writing at all.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. No review was required and all opinions are my own.
I was really disappointed as I was so excited to read this one. I've seen a few of the things the writer has produced and they were pretty interesting, but it didn't come out in the writing at all.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. No review was required and all opinions are my own.
May 9, 2026
🟦NEUTRAL 3-Star Interesting Collection MIXTURE Of Subjects! Writing Style TAD Off! Unusual Stories Never Prior Heard Of Had Value. Depends On The Reader, OVERALL OK 👌
May 21, 2026
Loved that this book included audio anomalies! It's a good look into (mostly) non-cyptozoologocal mysteries, which is a welcome, refreshing change to someone who loves that stuff.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Evidence of the extraordinary by Miguel Sancho from the series the proof is out there was a book I couldn’t wait to read I love anything from the mysterious alternative worlds and when it’s nonfiction it gives me goosebumps. My biggest pet peeve when reading a book like this however is for the author to constantly reiterate how he himself doesn’t think it’s True doesn’t believe it doesn’t buy the evidence and that was the theme throughout this book. There was some really good stories from the early days to the current day and most of them I must admit we’re new to me. I didn’t enjoy the behind the scenes stuff we got for the podcast like people who wouldn’t come on because I thought he was a government agent to what I thought about those who did come on and all I know it was a pretty good book as I said my only negative was that he kept saying over and over again how he doesn’t believe the proof or does not enough proof. I would still recommend this book because the stories were good I didn’t want to do effort at any time which is a good sign and so yeah if you’re in to UFOs aliens firsthand accounts then you definitely need to give this book a read. cause my dislikes might not be yours and it doesn’t take away from the book that much. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews