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Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There
 
 
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Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There [Kindle Edition]

Richard Wiseman (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
Print List Price: £8.99
Kindle Price: £5.38 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
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Review

'Experiments that investigate the paranormal are bizarre and entertaining, and Wiseman is a witty guide in what is often a mind-boggling read. Ultimately you'll discover why your brain is far more extraordinary than any of the supernatural claims in this book.' --New Scientist

'You might think this book is a party-pooper, removing the wonder from the our lives... (but) the message of Wiseman's book is positive. Forget about searching for wonder in the supernatural, because it does not exist. Instead, focus on the wondrous events surrounding all of us every day.'
--Simon Singh, Mail on Sunday

'A different league to your usual sceptic.' --Fortean Times

Product Description

For the past twenty years, psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman has immersed himself in the weird world of supernatural science; testing telepaths, spending nights in haunted castles, and attempting to talk with the dead. In Paranormality he cuts through the hype and goes in search of the truth behind extraordinary stories of poltergeists, possession and second sight. And along the way, he shows us some really rather remarkable things about how our brains work, how it is possible to have an out-of-body experience or lucid dream of our own, and just why we feel the need to believe. . . Praise for 59 Seconds: 'At last, a self-help guide that is based on proper research. Perfect for busy, curious, smart people' Simon Singh 'A triumph of scientifically proven advice over misleading myths of self-help. Challenging, uplifting and long overdue' Derren Brown
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 39 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, well-researched and very readable 18 April 2011
By Dr. M. Mckergow
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an immensely readable and enjoyable book. Richard Wiseman has wisely eschewed the idea of writing a book debunking the paranormal (of which there are plenty already) and instead opted to focus on letting us know HOW it's done, and even how to do it ourselves for the entertainment of family and friends. Wiseman tells his story by focusing on people in history - specific people who have either developed some kind of reputation for being able to achieve paranormal phenomena, or of debunking and exposing them. In this way he gives a book of real substance, which really gets to the nitty-gritty. It's also very entertaining, and included many elements with which I was not familiar (despite have quite a collection of books on this topic and of Wiseman's previous work). An excellent read and very educational.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Unbalanced .... but a good read all the same 9 May 2011
By Qix
Format:Kindle Edition
I agree with the other reviewers who feel that Dr Wiseman is very much at the outright (scientific) sceptic end of the spectrum and there is no doubt in his mind that there is no such thing as the paranormal. And, in fairness, he makes his case well and for the most part backs it up with strong arguments based on solid research.

I also found this book to be a lighter, more humorous and overall a more enjoyable read than "The Luck Factor".

A key premise of the author's argument against the existence of the paranormal is that our minds are simply filling our deep rooted desire to have the comfort that belief in life after death may bring, and the hope that our humdrum lives may from time to time be touched by some form of magic. If you have restless nights caused by alarming and unidentified sounds from your attic / walls / basement, this book is likely to help you sleep easier. Personally, I prefer the thought that there are still some things that exist beyond our comprehension.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars One man's quest to explain the unexplainable 6 Oct 2012
By D. Smith TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Professor Richard Wiseman wastes no time in stating that paranormal phenomena does not exist, and in Paranormality he details various curious and strange topics, providing rational and scientific explanations for apparently uncanny experiences.

Fortune-tellers, ghosts, out-of-body experiences and premonition are some of the areas covered, which Wiseman does with insight and some humorous one-liners. He discusses the way our brains work and how this sometimes can generate strange occurrences that can be interpreted as evidence of paranormal activity.

Along the way you'll meet Hans the mind-reading horse and Gef the talking mongoose, as well as many humans with powers that turn out to be more earthly than paranormal. And with many links to multimedia content and various tests and examples for the reader, this gives the book a very interactive feel.

Whether you're a believer or a disbeliever, Paranormality provides the reader with plenty of topics for discussion and food for thought.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fine, but unlikely to convince the gullible (there's irony) 2 April 2011
By Brijm
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book, but having read some Wiseman before, it all seems a bit familiar. (Although the style seems a little more humourous than usual, which might put off some people seeking a more sensitive approach to the subject)

Predictably those convinced by parapsychology have attacked the book, (the sole reason for most of the one star reviews) however all the mountains of peer-reviewed research 'proving' parapsychology phenomena have a a habit of disappearing when one goes into the details... so I am on Wiseman's side in this debate - but that is my problem. Wiseman promises us not a re-hash of the old 'is it true or isn't it' debate but psychological evidence as to why and how people are so easily taken in. The book does this in places, but in fact a lot of space is taken up by the old debate on the existence on parapsychological phenomena. If you have done any reading on this topic before, large swathes of the book will already be familiar to you.

When Wiseman does use psychological explanations, more details might be useful - psychological explanations have a habit of sounding rather tenuous or so obvious they could be used to explain anything (an unfair perception, but not necessarily helped by Wiseman occasionally recycling data from previous works). This issue is not restricted to Wiseman or hot debates such as this, but it means a lay audience may need more convincing that a psychology experiment is really the best explanation for certain phenomena.

IN summary, if this is your first foray into this area, this is an excellent introduction in a light readable style, if you need more convincing, further reading is recommended
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining 25 Mar 2011
By nerosmaster
Format:Paperback
A very entertaining, readable and witty book. I definitely enjoyed it I have to say; it lifts the veil on all manner of fascinating phenomena. However, I have to say, there was much of it that wasn't a surprise for me. I'm no expert but there were certain theories in certain sections of the book that left me a little underwhelmed and which sounded vaguely familiar from other reads. Slightly mocking in parts but a genuinely good read. I had been having a bit of a lull recently with reading and couldn't settle down to a good book but this had me rapt from beginning to end.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars White Bears 3 April 2011
By Janie
Format:Paperback
'Why We See What Isn't There' covers subjects from Fortune Telling to Talking With The Dead.Professor Richard Wiseman's writing is easy to read, and thankfully for those of us out there who do not have a Psychology degree, it makes this book even more enjoyable. The way that the book is broken down, allows the reader to take in the information, and then in some parts of the book you can take part in your own experiments. The fact that this is an 'interactive' book sets it apart from other educational material. It allows you to really understand the research that has been undertaken, and each experiment is backed up, so if we are wanting to read more at the end of the book, the reader has been given enough information to happily go off and carry on with their own readings.

If you are interested in the paranormal, and all things spooky and want to really know the science behind it, then this book is for you. And even if you're not, there are some cool tricks shown at the back of the book that you can practise and show off your spooky powers to your friends.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars And that's how they do it!
Yet again Richard Wiseman has produced a book which debunks a few myths and entertains along the way. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Plucked Highbrow
4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and very entertaining as well
Another book after Quirkology that I enjoyed reading very much. Richard Wiseman explains in a very simple language very sophisticated matters and helps you understand... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Malienus
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Totally not at all what I expected but a whole lot more. I too can now bend spoons! no joke :) Fantastic read! Read more
Published 2 months ago by loopy lou
4.0 out of 5 stars A light and insightful read on the science behind the supernatural!
We experience the impossible, or so we believe. Oddly enough things don't seem all that impossible anymore when someone explains the mechanics behind them which is exactly what... Read more
Published 4 months ago by BLehner
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave this book laying around....it will be 'borrowed' and never...
A thought provoking book, written in Wiseman's usual highly accessible style. Once you've read this you will never again be fooled by tv tricks or people who claim impossible... Read more
Published 4 months ago by M Bollism
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Amazing book that I couldn't put down. I read it straight away and didn't stop until I had finished. Wonderful book by the wonderful author.
Published 4 months ago by Laurence T
1.0 out of 5 stars Paranormality by Prof. Richard Wiseman
This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I would never have purchased such a book but my 30 year old son choose to purchase it for me as a Christmas present- he seems to be... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Patrick Early
5.0 out of 5 stars Why we see the impossible
As an healthy skeptic this is an insightful jaunt into the world of woo. Why we see, think and believe the impossible layed out in Wisemans gentle prose.
Published 5 months ago by Doggy
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear thinking about over-believing
Generally recommended to anyone needing an antidote to those fuzzy feelings about just accepting the words of the magicians out there - salesmen, Derren Brown, Ricahrd Dawkins etc
Published 6 months ago by DON ELWICK
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Fun
I enjoy Richard Wiseman books. They are interesting and give great insights into the way we think and act presented in a fun way.
Published 6 months ago by R. Slater
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Our beliefs do not sit passively in our brains waiting to be confirmed or contradicted by incoming information. Instead, they play a key role in shaping how we see the world. &quote;
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