Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes

As with all of Randi's books, the Encyclopedia is well-written and contains plenty of great information that is backed up with hard science and a lifetime of rational thinking. A must for any critical thinker.

I've always been a fan of James Randi and he sure didn't let me down on this one! Randi looks at everything under the sun from UFO's to Crop circles and speaks about it in a way you'll enjoy, whether you agree or disagree this book is an enjoyable read. Cryptozoology (study of hidden animals) and Paranormal events often times find "evidence" via simple testimony, testimony that does not even require the telling of the sources real name, now thats a bit hard to swallow. Randi tells it like it is, much like Jerry D. Coleman's "Strange Highways" open honest, straight forward and logical! "Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes" is a book you'll not only enjoy but keep going refering to!

James Randi's encyclopedia is a fun, fun read. It's virtually a history of superstitious beliefs, as well as an overview of conjuring ("the art of seeming to perform genuine magic") and the basics of applying logic to illogical claims. The entries range from "Nessie" to "crop circles" to "thoughtography," and they are often peppered with hilarious asides. The entry on "om," for example, cites the Hindu notion that "whoever knows this syllable obtains whatever he wishes." "Well, now YOU know it, too," writes Randi. "Good luck." To be sure, the volume gets a bit tedious at times, but this has much more to do with the silly and unsubstantial nature of the subject matter than with Randi. In fact, it's almost a miracle that anyone can so entertainingly present material so inherently dry and silly. I say "almost" because, of course, miracles don't really exist. Oh, and Randi provides the best explanation of "parsimony" I have ever read. This perpetually maligned concept, better known as "Occam's razor," is here defined with clarity and completeness. Those who take this concept to mind and heart will have a kind of real-life talisman against irrational nonsense. The concept describes precisely what credulous believers in the occult do NOT do.Rest assured that James Randi's curmudgeon persona is purely an act. A couple years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting this charming and gracious man in person, and I'm happy to say that a good amount of that charm finds its way into the entries. Very highly recommended!

James Randi is one of the most respected writers giving a skeptical view of claims of the paranormal. In this book, he covers a huge range of topics and hence cannot do any in detail. But there's enough on each topic so you have a single reference where you can do a quick check and then go to more detailed books (like some of Randi's others) for the topics about which you want more. This knowledge needs to get out - or people will go on believing the pseudoscience because there is a lack of alternative explanations. I hope Randi keeps writing and making a noise around the world on this crucial topic.

I don't normally give five stars for a book, but James Randi has outdone himself again. This book is very funny as well as a great reference on quackeries. I recommend it to anyone who needs a reference book of quackeries, both religious and secular. It has been a great help to my work as well as a great reading.I have seen that some paranormalists have given bad grades for this book : however this book is a REFERENCE first of all and not for argumentation. If you really need help in understanding why your favorite brand of idiocy is in there, please take a Logic 101 class.