The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience: 2 volumes

by Michael Shermer (Editor)

Edited by Michael Shermer, editor and publisher of The Skeptic magazine, this truly unique work provides a comprehensive introduction to the most prominent pseudoscientific claims made in the name of "science." Covering the popular, the academic, and the bizarre, the encyclopedia includes everything from alien abductions to the Bermuda Triangle, crop circles, Feng Shui, and near-death experiences. Fifty-nine brief descriptive summaries and 23 investigations from The Skeptic magazine give skeptical analyses of subjects as far-ranging as acupuncture, chiropractic, and Atlantis. The encyclopedia also gives for-and-against debates on topics such as evolutionary psychology and case studies on topics like police psychics and the medical intuitive Carolyn Myss. Finally, the volumes include five classic works in the history of science and pseudoscience, including the speech William Jennings Bryan never delivered in the Scopes trial, and the first scientific and skeptical investigation of a paranormal/spiritual phenomenon by Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier.

Genres: Nonfiction, Skepticism, Science, Pseudoscience, Atheism, Reference, Education

903 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Michael Brant Shermer (born September 8, 1954 in Glendale, California) is an American science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic, which is largely devoted to investigating and debunking pseudoscientific and supernatural claims. The Skeptics Society currently has over 55,000 members.

Shermer is also the producer and co-host of the 13-hour Fox Family television series Exploring the Unknown. Since April 2004, he has been a monthly columnist for Scientific American magazine with his Skeptic column. Once a fundamentalist Christian, Shermer now describes himself as an agnostic nontheist and an advocate for humanist philosophy.


more info:
http://us.macmillan.com/author/michae...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_...

Reviews

[Manuel A. Crespo-Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the philosopher finds useful Russell's History of Western Philosophy the skeptic will find useful this book. It has a broad account of pseudoscientific practices and is a great reference to such phenomena.

[Patrick Ellard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two sections of the this reference book are excellent as it goes into detail on various pseudoscientific beliefs and offers case studies into some of these. The final section, which is a collection of essays, is less interesting but perhaps works in you only read about particular topics you're interested in.

[Ietrio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of articles. Probably one can find them online, but it could be practical to have the in book form.