Foreword / Richard Wiseman -- Preface -- Weird science -- Waking nightmares -- High spirits, part 1: Ghostly encounters -- High spirits, part 2: Communicating with the dead -- Fantastic memories of alien encounters -- Many happy returns? -- Dying to know the truth -- No such thing as coincidence? -- Tricks of the mind -- Skeptical inquiries -- Dreams of the future -- Lessons for (the) living -- Epilogue: the limits of skepticism.
Summary:
"Ghostly encounters, alien abduction, reincarnation, talking to the dead, UFO sightings, inexplicable coincidences, out-of-body and near-death experiences. Are these legitimate phenomena? If not, then how should we go about understanding them? In this fascinating book, Chris French investigates paranormal claims to discover what lurks behind this "weird shit." French provides authoritative evidence-based explanations for a wide range of superficially mysterious phenomena, and then goes further to draw out lessons with wider applications to many other aspects of modern society where critical thinking is urgently needed. Using academic, comprehensive, logical, and, at times, mathematical approaches, The Science of Weird Shit convincingly debunks ESP, communicating with the dead, and alien abduction claims, among other phenomena. All the while, however, French maintains that our belief in such phenomena is neither ridiculous nor trivial; if anything, such claims can tell us a great deal about the human mind if we pay them the attention they are due. Filled with light-bulb moments and a healthy dose of levity, The Science of Weird Shit is a clever, memorable, and gratifying read you won't soon forget." -- provided by the publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.