Product Description

In an eye-opening collection of essays, aptly titled "ExtraSensory Deception", Gordon, a professional magician and journalist, takes on psychics, astrologers, myth-makers and other assorted purveyors of the paranormal, and shines the light of common sense into the murky darkness that is the world of paranormal claims. Culled from Gordon's weekly columns for the "Toronto Sunday Star", this book collects his commentaries on "The Paranormal", "Prophecy", "Spirits", "Superstition", "Pseudoscience", "Higher Life", and "Truth". Not one to pull punches, he gives a hard-hitting, often humorous, first-person account of his adventures among some of the "big names" in the paranormal movement, including New Age heroine Shirley MacLaine, faith-healer Peter Popoff, UFO guru Stanton (the Flying Saucer Physicist) Friedman, and psychic superstar Uri Geller.Gordon exposes the methods used by "psychics" and other practitioners of "extrasensory" powers for what they are - the sleight-of-hand and mentalist tricks that he and other magicians have used on stage for decades. The focus of the book is not, however, to merely debunk the excessive and unverifiable claims made by the paranormalists. As Gordon states, 'It seems clear. Once a person comes under the influence of these supernatural beliefs, his or her mind ceases to function at a normal level of reasoning'. By laying bare the dangers of uncritical acceptance of such claims, this book makes an impassioned plea for an increased use of rational intelligence and critical thinking skills for solving our problems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2981737 in Books
• Published on: 1987-09-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 227 pages

Customer Reviews

this book is boring
I think this book is nonsence.how can anyone say that other peoples beliefs don't count for anything.Everyone should be allowed to believe in what they want to believe.personally , i am a great believer in shirley maclaines beliefs and i'm sure alot of people feel the same way. I don't really think anyone is in the position to give any negative comments on the beliefs featured in this book.

I don't like it.
I think that anyone who tries to discredit people or beliefs should be discredited. First of all, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, at the same time, should also get criticized if that person doesn't know what he is talking about. Gordon seems to come from a religious background and it shows in his book.

The quickness of the hand deceives the eye
A stage magician takes an open-minded look at some of the wilder beliefs of the 20th century and finds that not all of them stand up.