COMMENT:A collection of short, skeptical essays treating various subjects, though not in detail. The astrology chapter lists the basic objections to taking astrology seriously. That on ESP discusses Rhine and others, as well as early tests on "mediums." A brief chapter looks at life after death and reincarnation, and one at prophets of old and modern times, from Nostradamus to Jean Dixon. This also covers the police use of psychics, with the most coverage being given to Peter Hurkos. The UFO chapter starts with Kenneth Arnold, the "Shaver Mystery," and project Blue Book. Then the book gives the basic arguments against Velikovsky's theories. The chapter on cryptozoology covers the Loch Ness Monster (where the author favors the "sea slug" and "otter" theories) the Yeti, and various South American "discoveries." The last chapter, entitled "Everybody Discovered America," covers the various claims to the pre-Columbian discovery of the New World. The book often shows its age, and it is interesting to see skeptical ideas that turned out wrong today. Overall, the book is good reading, and doesn't require a long attention span.
