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The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal by Gordon Stein, editor published by Prometheus Books

The Encyclopedia Of The Paranormal is the first comprehensive work on the subject written from a scientific perspective. Its intent is to examine paranormal phenomena via quantifiable evidence, as such phenomena must be studied if valid conclusions are to be reached. Carl Sagan, in his foreword to the volume say, "I wish [this book] were on the shelves of every newspaper editorial desk and every television newsroom, to encourage more skeptical backbone in reporting...[I]n school libraries so that children would have some counterbalance to the many paranormal and mystical claims in our society." The Encyclopedia Of The Paranormal contains over 90 articles by more than 50 experts (scientists, theologians, philosophers, magicians, historians, and other noted scholars), each of whom has previously written on or conducted original research regarding the subject on which they focus. Topics include the strictly paranormal (psychokinesis, channeling, levitation, astrology, phrenology, palmistry); the historical (mediums, psychic research, alchemy, Houdini); the philosophical (miracles, survival of death, reincarnation); and work on investigatory photography, statistics, the media and the Bermuda Triangle. The articles are written in a nontechnical manner -- their audience, the average intelligent reader. Each article cites valuable relevant literature and suggests further reading. The authors, some pro-paranormal, some anti- and some neutral, objectively present the major arguments for and against each phenomenon. Their work, in each case, is fully documented and represents the latest and most informed examination of the topic at hand. Conclusions are reached based on the merits of the evidence. When no clear conclusion is possible, the question is left unanswered. Many of the phenomena remain "unproven," some "disproven or unlikely,", and some "quite likely." Contributors include (among others) James Alcock, Robert Baker, Stephen Barrett, Susan Blackmore, Geoffrey Dean, Persi Diaconis, Paul Edward, Robert Ellwood, Antony Flew, Martin Gardner, Terence Hines, Stanley Krippner, Paul Kurtz, Robert Morris, Joe Nickell, Marcello Truzzi, and Jessica Utts. Gordon Stein is the author of Sorcerer of Kings, and editor of The Encyclopedia Of Hoaxes; The Encyclopedia Of Unbelief; An Anthology Of Atheism and Rationalism; and A Second Anthology Of Atheism and Rationalism. ". . .will provide new perspectives in reference collections that contain only middle-of-the-road treatments. Recommended for academic, public, and high-school libraries." --Booklist Reference Books Bulletin "Few editors strive so demonstrably for fairness as does Stein . . . this book will surely occupy a secure place as one of the lasting treatments on its broad subject. It's a reference book to which the intelligently curious will have occasion to return again and again." --The American Rationalist "First comprehensive encyclopedia written from a scientific perspective" --Bookwatch "There have been encyclopedias on paranormal, pseudoscience, the supernatural, and the occult before, but this volume supersedes all that came before." --Skeptic "If any member of your family on any given day watches 'Sightings' ("Look, Doris, it's our little dog, Bobo, back from the grave!") or the ghostly apparition segments of 'Unsolved Mysteries' for longer than it normally takes the human eye to recognize feces and inform the brain, then your family must buy this book now . . . Read front-to-back, it's the ultimate self-help book." --Country Connections

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