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The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena
by
Profiled in the NY Times Magazine, Dean Radin is perhaps the most respected parapsychologist in the country. An articulate, engaging communicator, he wields impeccable credentials, a healthy skepticism & a meticulous scientific method to put psi phenomona like telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition & psychokinesis to hard scientific tests. His manifesto makes a persuasive c
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Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
August 27th 1997
by HarperCollins (SanFrancisco)
(first published January 1st 1997)
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Brief Review
Physicist-turned-parapsychologist Dean Radin demonstrates in almost painful detail that based on a combination of rigorous laboratory testing and equally rigorous meta-analysis, the existence of psi phenomena (telepathy, precogniton, psychokinetics, etc.) is indisputable. The only question is: how does psi work? Radin also explains in detail why he thinks conventional scientists have so vigorously resisted (usually by refusing to examine it) the evidence. Highly recommended for the ...more
Physicist-turned-parapsychologist Dean Radin demonstrates in almost painful detail that based on a combination of rigorous laboratory testing and equally rigorous meta-analysis, the existence of psi phenomena (telepathy, precogniton, psychokinetics, etc.) is indisputable. The only question is: how does psi work? Radin also explains in detail why he thinks conventional scientists have so vigorously resisted (usually by refusing to examine it) the evidence. Highly recommended for the ...more

Most of the information in this book is wrong, wrongly interpreted or misleading. The rest is bullshit.
Addendum because of the question Remco asked:
For a thorough review see:
http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=537
And for a very extensive 13-part review see:
http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=537
I have always been draw to anything paranormal. I believed everything. Well, at least until I learned how to think and how to read scientific articles. During my studies to become a psychologist I had the o ...more
Addendum because of the question Remco asked:
For a thorough review see:
http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=537
And for a very extensive 13-part review see:
http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=537
I have always been draw to anything paranormal. I believed everything. Well, at least until I learned how to think and how to read scientific articles. During my studies to become a psychologist I had the o ...more

So far ,,, about 50 pages into this, reads like soft butter. Really well written., The Scientific studies are really well constructed, gives you an idea what Ideas/concepts go through and the conceived/preconceived notions they face to become somesort of working knowledge. When reading a great deal of philosophical studies over the years this book is very refreshing ,,, But in away it proves the rhetoric/sophists' still maintain a great power over ideas or if not them we haven't been very opened
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Who would have thought a book about pyschic phenomena -- an otherwise fascinating topic -- could be so boring and tedious? As a compelling argument for the indisputable evidence proving the existence of psi, this book succeeds. As an engaging, evenly-paced book, it fails pretty solidly. Overall, Radin probably could have achieved his stated goal using 50-100 less pages.
The middle chapters, where Radin describes all of the different experiments and their results, bog down starting around the Mind ...more
The middle chapters, where Radin describes all of the different experiments and their results, bog down starting around the Mind ...more

If statistics bore you, don't read this. But keep in mind that practically all scientific experimentation relies on statistics, and almost all current theories of the fundamental functions of the universe are probabilistic. All pharmaceutical testing also relies on statistics. Does aspirin help to reduce coronary disease and strokes? The analysis of the results of the tests, and the answer itself, are in terms of statistics.
On the bright side, Radin does a marvellous job of explaining statistics ...more
On the bright side, Radin does a marvellous job of explaining statistics ...more

Dec 26, 2011
Erik Graff
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Erik by:
Michael Miley
Shelves:
psychology
Of all the books I've read about parapsychology, this is the best to date. Radin, degreed in engineering and educational psychology, adduces powerful arguments in favor of ESP and offers suggestions as to how to interpret the data. New to me at the time of reading was the how data collected in various independent studies can be compiled to produce evidentially powerful results.
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This is an excellent work that I would read over and over again and enjoy it every time. Still, I have to remember that it is a study, some research work. I guess I was greedy and I wished for more stories and further elaborations, but for these, and thanks to the author, I am going to be checking interesting works such as Mental Radio and Fantasms of the Living, all of which are available as pdf books online for free download.

There's nothing wrong with this book, just a little too dry for my liking.
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Summary: This book did not speak to me as it tried too hard to go through the scientific proof via the worst formulated most boring studies you will ever read through.
Why is the writing so bad among those that are attempting to prove a psi phenomenon??? I mean it shouldn't be that hard. The convoluted way in which these studies are written is mind-boggling.
I like though that in p. 18-23 they go through definitions, including what Science knowledge is vs. mysticism, and etc. Sets the tone for t ...more
Why is the writing so bad among those that are attempting to prove a psi phenomenon??? I mean it shouldn't be that hard. The convoluted way in which these studies are written is mind-boggling.
I like though that in p. 18-23 they go through definitions, including what Science knowledge is vs. mysticism, and etc. Sets the tone for t ...more

Confronted with a large number (even only at the time of writing, which is 1997) of meta-analyses, not to say thousands of repeated experiments, that state statistical significance of positive results in precognition, psychokinesis, clairvoyance and other psi phenomena, how should a sensible reader react?
Radin first describes the experiments, the results and the statistical analyses, then tries to address the possible reactions of believers and skeptics with arguments that straddle between histo ...more
Radin first describes the experiments, the results and the statistical analyses, then tries to address the possible reactions of believers and skeptics with arguments that straddle between histo ...more

An outstanding book that lays out the information on psychological phenomena. The author provides a great deal of information that allows the reader to know what experiments have been done with this phenomenon and what the results mean.The information is neither for or against. The author doesn't advocate his work in the field, but rather provides a cross-section of the work in this field. I really liked the book and now have a better understanding of what has been done scientifically with psych
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Good introduction, though dated. You gain a good understanding and horizon for the involved parameters of the discussion and typical arguments. However, since this is from more than twenty years ago, I wouldn't call the book and whole thing a "closed case" but rather something extremely worthy of consideration and investigation which calls for a deeper update and comparision with the current debate.
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Very interesting.
A book a PSI isn't something I would normally buy. However Dean Radin is a very intelligent , diligent scientist and an engaging writer. Science has brought him to the analysis PSI and such is the evidence that he presents that I can not doubt it's veracity. ...more
A book a PSI isn't something I would normally buy. However Dean Radin is a very intelligent , diligent scientist and an engaging writer. Science has brought him to the analysis PSI and such is the evidence that he presents that I can not doubt it's veracity. ...more

Mind openning
Provided a new view of how "mainstream scientific truths" are their relation to psi and parapsychology. A very interesting read. ...more
Provided a new view of how "mainstream scientific truths" are their relation to psi and parapsychology. A very interesting read. ...more

Radin's book (***1/2) covers similar ground as Richard Broughton's excellent introduction to the topic (Parapsychology: The Controversial Science), but is more up to date (albeit, only by 6 years) and focuses more on experimental procedures and Radin's specialty: meta-analysis. Basically, meta-analysis treats a whole bunch of experiments as one big experiment. So if one study only had 10 subjects, those 10 data points can be added to the pool, giving a better picture of the actual effects being
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I am working my way up to Dr. Radin's newest work. Since this volume was published, he has become known on TED and other Internet sites, as well as on some blogs.
There are two core issues here: First, is ESP, or more properly 'psi', real, and if so, is the science that asserts the reality valid?
Using meta analysis to look at centuries of research into various psi manifestations----ESP, clairvoyance, teleportation, remote viewing, and so on-----Dr. Radin and others have produced solid evidence th ...more
There are two core issues here: First, is ESP, or more properly 'psi', real, and if so, is the science that asserts the reality valid?
Using meta analysis to look at centuries of research into various psi manifestations----ESP, clairvoyance, teleportation, remote viewing, and so on-----Dr. Radin and others have produced solid evidence th ...more

Years ago I read just about everything I could find of a scientific or more reliable approach to the paranormal and psychic phenomena, including older well-respected works such as William James' well known book on religion and psychic experience, and all the new research being done in the 60's and 70's by the Russians, by Charles Tart, etc. But then for a good thirty years now I haven't really read much in the subject, my reading being focused on all the literature for my under-graduate and grad
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You will need to read this book with an open mind. Radin explains things in detail, and often to the point of overkill. It is a heavy read, if not a little boring in places, and many will not see the journey out. Shame really because this subject fascinates just about everyone. I felt the book was too long-winded and the author took long to get to the point, and when he did it seemed to lose something because I got tired on the journey. A fantastic subject, some really worthwhile moments in the
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I recommend that anyone interested in the concept of consciousness as it relates to physics and the physical world consider this book. Those chapters, however, that focus on experimental findings should be skipped or glossed over. They are tedious and do nothing other than try to justify the paranormal in a physical world. Better that you read the remaining chapters, which discuss the different meanings of consciousness and how they might relate to science as we know it. Those chapters I give a
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A fine overview of the scientific evidence for Psi phenomena -- of which there is plenty, despite what skeptics might think. This book is an essential read for any student of the paranormal or anomalous phenomena.
Even Richard Wiseman, a noted skeptic, has admitted that the evidence for some Psi experiments is very good, by the standards of any other science. Despite this, he still refuses to acknowledge it, though. This sort of thing seems to say a lot about the mindset of a typical skeptic.
Even Richard Wiseman, a noted skeptic, has admitted that the evidence for some Psi experiments is very good, by the standards of any other science. Despite this, he still refuses to acknowledge it, though. This sort of thing seems to say a lot about the mindset of a typical skeptic.

Why do we hide from the obvious? Is convention so much more compelling than reality? Rain bravely points out what science clearly reveals and yet chooses to conceal. A must for anyone interested in psi, or the possibility that we live in a thinking universe. See more at: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
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This is another abandoned book on my part. While I usually like reading books that discuss psychic phenomena, this one was boring and even the "case studies" failed to hold my attention. In spite of a promising introductory chapter, it was too clinical and read more like a scientific paper than a book designed to explain the truth to lay readers. I was disappointed and only made it about 1/4 of the way through the book.
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This book gets into areas I always knew existed: the effects of mind/matter (“gremlin” effects); when many think alike the state of the world changes, field consciousness effects or mass-mind effects. It seems that in the past I was able to connect with people telepathically. (I think lovers do this in non-local communication.) Group meditations can have an effect. This explains the Grateful Dead phenomenon and the Princess Diana phenomenon.

After compiling the data from over a century of experiments Dr. Radin concludes that psychic phenomena are real. Now it’s just a question of those patents on psychically activated gadgets… says this former researcher for the US Military’s “remote viewing” program, Princeton’s PEAR, and Bell laboratories.

This book, originally written in 1997 by Dr. Radin, details many studies of the "paranormal." Lynn McTaggart relies very heavily on this work in her book, The Field. The book provides numerous detailed cases using scientifically valid double blind studies and draws some very surprising conclusions.
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Finally a book which proves SCIENTIFICALLY the existence of ESP, paranormal activities, the influence of thoughts on matter...etc....
Very interesting book. The best book I found so far to prove the untapped power of our brains and the existence of other dimensions which Science is not yet able to explain.
Very interesting book. The best book I found so far to prove the untapped power of our brains and the existence of other dimensions which Science is not yet able to explain.

Dean Radin is an academic parapsychologist whose interest lies in the workings of psychic phenomena in a quantum reality. Dubbed by some “the Einstein of consciousness research,” he never quite says that everything springs from consciousness. But his books are filled with evidence of the primary role of consciousness, and they are well done and fascinating reading.

I read this for a paper I was writing on psychic phenomena. Radin has done a great job of presenting the evidence for psi and I don't know how anyone could doubt the existence of psychic phenomena after reading this book. There is hard science here, and Radin presents it in a very readable way.
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Dean Radin, PhD, is Senior Scientist at the INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES (IONS) and Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Psychology at SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude and with honors in physics, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electr
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