Varieties of Anomalous Experience: Examining the Scientific Evidence

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading on the Topic
Review: Books surveying anomalous experience have tended to come from the skeptic side of the fence and have leaned toward the debunking end of the spectrum. While they have their uses, there's always the nagging suspicion that they might not be fair to all the evidence. While this book isn't as easy reading as those of the skeptics, it really shoots at being a balanced examination of the evidence, pro and con, with intelligent discussion about where the weight of what we know falls. Each chapter tackles one anomalous phenomenon and follows a consistant structure. First, the experience is clearly defined so that we know what is and is not being addressed. Then, the actual phenomenology of the phenomenon out in the field is surveyed. Since the book is geared toward those in the psychological and helping professions, the emotional, physical, and mental aftereffects of having the experience are then examined. The range of differences between experients is presented,then issues involving psychopathology, clinical assessment, background theories, and methodology of research are shown. Each chapter is written by an authority on that specific phenomenon and they provide a summation conclusion at the end where they render their professional judgment on the topic. If you're looking for a sensational or spooky handling of the subjects, this isn't your book; but if you want a very level headed analysis of what is happening in these fields of research, you need to be familiar with this work. Even better, each chapter provides pages worth of bibliography, pro and con, on each subject, that will keep you going for years.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gem.
Review: How fortunate we are to now have in one volume a comprehensive and scholarly review of the scientific evidence for anomalous experiences. The fascinating subject matter of this book includes such diverse phenomena as lucid dreaming, out of body experiences, past life experiences, and alien abduction. What makes this book different from other treatments of some of these topics is that the authors have no hidden agenda or viewpoint that they are trying to put forth. They are not trying to convince you that something does or does not exist. Instead it is an even-handed look at the available data and various competing explanations. And even though it is a scholarly review, it is well written, engaging, and easy-to-read. Varieties of Anomalous Experience: Examining the Scientific Evidence belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who has an interest in understanding and explaining these unusual phenomena. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gem.
Review: How fortunate we are to now have in one volume a comprehensive and scholarly review of the scientific evidence for anomalous experiences. The fascinating subject matter of this book includes such diverse phenomena as lucid dreaming, out of body experiences, past life experiences, and alien abduction. What makes this book different from other treatments of some of these topics is that the authors have no hidden agenda or viewpoint that they are trying to put forth. They are not trying to convince you that something does or does not exist. Instead it is an even-handed look at the available data and various competing explanations. And even though it is a scholarly review, it is well written, engaging, and easy-to-read. Varieties of Anomalous Experience: Examining the Scientific Evidence belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who has an interest in understanding and explaining these unusual phenomena. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Look No Further, Seek No Other;
Review: What a delight, I first became interested in the paranormal and this weird stuff after reading Jerry D. Coleman's "Strange Highways" and was very glad to see that another book such as "Varieties of Anomalous Experience" could be on the same tone, meaning, well written, informative and most important left up to me to decide and draw my own conclusions! Great book, a wonderful read!