or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
48 used & new from £4.44
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions (Paperback)

by Robert Todd Carroll (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £13.95
Price: £9.06 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £4.89 (35%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Friday, November 13? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
30 new from £4.44 18 used from £4.49

Frequently Bought Together

The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions + Bad Science + Quirkology: The Curious Science Of Everyday Lives
Price For All Three: £17.41

Show availability and delivery details

  • This item: The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions by Robert Todd Carroll

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Quirkology: The Curious Science Of Everyday Lives by Prof. Richard Wiseman

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

by Michael Shermer
3.5 out of 5 stars (22)  £8.58
Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing Hoax (Bad Science)

Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing Hoax (Bad Science)

by Philip C. Plait
4.2 out of 5 stars (8)  £6.69
Flim-Flam: The Truth about Unicorns, Parapsychology and Other Delusions

Flim-Flam: The Truth about Unicorns, Parapsychology and Other Delusions

by James Randi
4.0 out of 5 stars (5) 
Bad Medicine: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O (Wiley bad science series)

Bad Medicine: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O (Wiley bad science series)

by Christopher Wanjek
4.0 out of 5 stars (6)  £8.35
How We Know What isn't So: Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

How We Know What isn't So: Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life

by Thomas Gilovich
4.5 out of 5 stars (6)  £8.09
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 446 pages
  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (19 Aug 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0471272426
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471272427
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 19 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 156,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #91 in  Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > Paranormal & Unexplained Phenomena > Unexplained Mysteries

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Review

“…offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers…” (Short Book Reviews, Vol.24, No.3, December 2004)

“… I found myself engrossed in the information due to its vast collection of interesting entries…” (M2 Best Books, 22 March 2004)

"...Use this book as protection against attacks by New Agers, alternative therapists and others who have chosen to abandon reason..." (The Times, 25 October 2003)

"...Carroll is always interested in why such beliefs occur and points generously t further literature..." (The Guardian, 18 October 2003)

"...Anyone wanting an informed opinion with which to smack down an argumentative pal should start here..." (Dorset Echo, 25 October 2003)

"...A treat to savour...first reaction is pleasurable incredulity and occasional hilarity... an amazing assembly, elegantly written and level–headed...likely to be used so often it is a pity it is a softback book..." (New Scientist)

"...No reasonable, logic–based library will be without a copy!" (Good Book Guide, March 2004)



Review

“…offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers…” (Short Book Reviews, Vol.24, No.3, December 2004)

“… I found myself engrossed in the information due to its vast collection of interesting entries…” (M2 Best Books, 22 March 2004)

"...Use this book as protection against attacks by New Agers, alternative therapists and others who have chosen to abandon reason..." (The Times, 25 October 2003)

"...Carroll is always interested in why such beliefs occur and points generously t further literature..." (The Guardian, 18 October 2003)

"...Anyone wanting an informed opinion with which to smack down an argumentative pal should start here..." (Dorset Echo, 25 October 2003)

"...A treat to savour...first reaction is pleasurable incredulity and occasional hilarity... an amazing assembly, elegantly written and level–headed...likely to be used so often it is a pity it is a softback book..." (New Scientist)

"...No reasonable, logic–based library will be without a copy!" (Good Book Guide, March 2004)

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions
69% buy the item featured on this page:
The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions 3.6 out of 5 stars (8)
£9.06
Bad Science
12% buy
Bad Science 4.5 out of 5 stars (204)
£3.58
Quirkology: The Curious Science Of Everyday Lives
8% buy
Quirkology: The Curious Science Of Everyday Lives 4.2 out of 5 stars (37)
£4.77
Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing Hoax (Bad Science)
6% buy
Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing Hoax (Bad Science) 4.2 out of 5 stars (8)
£6.69
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Necessary Book (My spirit guide told me so), 10 Sep 2003
By MR DAVID DE ST CROIX (Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
Put the crystals away, snuff out the ear candles, let the dolphins swim on their own for a while, and read this book. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of beliefs that are being peddled these days then you have a use for the Skeptic's Dictionary. There is a great deal of information in here that will benefit the honest enquirer, answering questions, exposing lies, illustrating pit-falls and prompting further investigation. The style of writing and the format make it very readable, the content makes it worthwhile. You may be surprised at the breadth of subjects touched upon, you may even find some of your own pet beliefs challenged, but the challenge is to think, to reason, to understand, not just to engage in an exchange of assertions.

Bob Carroll describes himself as a "hardened skeptic" and makes no attempt to give equal weight to both sides of the debate, that isn't why he wrote the book, but the text is lively and humorous, not hectoring. I hope that the Skeptic's Dictionary will find its way into school libraries, no one will be impoverished by exposing themselves to this kind of critical approach and a few may be saved the pain and disillusionment of being duped, or the worse fate of becoming permanently gullible.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A good grounding in critical thinking., 19 Feb 2004
If, like me, you have ever found your self in an argument, either with a peddler or believer, of some bizarre, non-sensical or illucid ideology, cult or quackery and needed some ammunition, then Carroll's book is for you.
While no subject is covered in fine detail, it is comprehensive, with everything, from new-age spirituality and the supernatural to paranoid conspiracy theorists covered, it provides a rich antidote to the flood of ill-thought and delusional beliefs that plague us daily.
With the popular media, uncritically promoting new-age fads (homeopathy etc.) or recycling old ones (psychic crime solvers), there is too little literature, championing critical thought and objective analysis. This book is just a part of the small canon of work that sets out to present a reasoned response to the fuzzy-thinking and self-deception that is passed off as spiritual truth.
I doubt whether it will manage to change the mind of many a true-believer, in fact that's not the author's purpose. It is more of an overview of what currently held beliefs and fallacies and their counter-arguments. Hopefully it will enable a person, unsure of what to make of the claims they are faced with, to make a more informed decision and also to strengthen the argument and thinking of the casual skeptic.
My only criticism of the book is purely on the low-grade quality of some of the images inside, a minor point as the strength of the book comes purely from the text.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Take this book for what it is., 21 Jan 2007
Despite the comments to the contrary, this is not a book about debunking. It is a glossary of paranormal terms explained from a skeptics point of view. On that count it is excellent. The terms included are surprisingly broad and there definitions are concise. This is a true coffee table book. If you want a deeper text on the subject I recommend any of the work by James Randi.

In one of the other reviewers defense Mr. Carroll is not in fact an expert in the paranormal. But since the laws of the paranormal change everyday it's kind of hard to become an expert.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I love this book. It is an entertaining list of information exposing the frauds that convince so many people. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2006 by Tom Wise

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
I enjoyed this book. The author does not pretend that he has conducted deep research into the topics discussed. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop believing in mumbo-jumbo, and live life without fear!
This is an enjoyable book and is helping me to overcome my fears of the supernatural.

All Carroll does is point out that, to date, whenever paranormal phenomena and abilities... Read more

Published on 27 April 2005 by Tamsin Jones

1.0 out of 5 stars AWFUL! THIS BOOK IS VAGUE AND MISINFORMED TO SAY THE LEAST!
Never have I come across such a poorly written book. Each entry claims to 'expose' the given subject as nonsense and yet it gives NO evidence to back it up whatsoever! Read more
Published on 14 April 2005

1.0 out of 5 stars Tripe
Carroll seems too consider himself a expert on various elements of the paranormal when he sets out too debunk it (this is not skepticism more of a debunking exercise of sorts in... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2005

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject























i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.