Big Book of the Unexplained

Rating:
Summary: Not Meant to Win Over People in Denial
Review: This book is usually advertised as a companion to the Big Book of Conspiracies. Although both are written by Doug Moench, this is not really true. There IS some crossover (for example the BBOC deals with some supposed coverups of UFOs, and UFOs are featured prominently in this book), but only superficially.
As noted by one harsh reviewer below, this book does not go very far into presenting evidence. However, I know that many of the stories covered in this book are actually just as well-documented as most historical facts having read about them elsewhere (in fact, when I lived in Waterloo, Ontario, I lived down the block from the owner of the famous crystal skull depicted in one of these stories). And if you require more proof, there is an extensive bibliography. What Doug Moench does is use his limited space (the comic book format is not very good for presenting vast reams of evidence) to give a nice overall picture of paranormal mysteries. He even manages to point out various patterns, connecting together incidents usually only covered in isolation. And this is an important contribution, after all by now people who actually pay attention to evidence should have reached the point where they are more interested in understanding the phenonmena described instead of just trying to justify their beliefs. Of course, some of the stories herein are based merely on testimony given by witnesses, but eyewitness testimony is considered the strongest form of evidence by the courts and is still enough to get people sentenced to jail for life in this country (meanwhile fingerprints are only circumstantial). What matters is the credibility of the witnesses, how many unconnected individuals corroborate each other, and whether or not there is an ulterior motive for such testimony. Besides it would be ridiculous to reject all data on the basis of a few charlatans (after all we still believe in science depsite apparent hoaxes like cold fusion). And for every redneck there is still the occassional Jimmy Carter and Neil Armstrong who have also reported witnessing UFOs. If all people could be so readily dismissed for what they say or write on other subjects, no field of knowledge (history, science, etc.) could exist! But I prefer to be amongst the camp of people who, e.g., do not have to personally build and explode atom bombs or travel back in time 56 years to Japan to believe that the bombing of Hiroshima occured (the photographs, consistent testimony, etc., is enough for me). This book does (and it admits so) go out on the limb occassionally, but it does also point out some incontrovertible facts that skeptics just choose to ignore. But even if you lean more towards skepticism, this is a highly entertaining and well-illustrated book that is far more credible than the Warren Commission or most newspaper coverage of the Middle-East.

Rating:
Summary: The Procession of the Damned Marches On!
Review: This entry from the Paradox Press Big Book series will really make you think. It examines all unexplained phenomena and assorted weirdness. Ever wondered about UFOs, Bigfoot, and the like? Read this book, and it just might make a believer out of you!