Parapsychology and Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP)

Again, it is much easier to find books that support claims of parapsychology than those which refute it. Therefore I've not made any attempt to list large numbers of books that favor the existence of ESP and the like.

Bem, Daryl J., & Honorton, Charles. "Does Psi exist? Replicable evidence for an anomalous process of information transfer", Psychological Bulletin, 1994, 115, pp 4-18. Followed by Hyman, Ray. "Anomaly or artifact? Comments on Bem and Honorton", Psychological Bulletin, 1994, 114, pp. 19-24. Bem, Daryl, "Response to Hyman". Psychological Bulletin, 1994, 114, pp. 25-27. Honorton was the leading exponent of the Ganzfeld effect, probably the best present evidence for the existence of ESP. Bem is a highly respected social psychologist, and Hyman is a well-regarded critic of previous ESP research. The arguments are probably too technical to be followed by those who do not have some statistical background, but the articles provide the most up-to-date summary of the available evidence and criticisms of Ganzfeld.

Blackmore, Susan. The Adventures of Parapsychologist. Prometheus, 1986. Blackmore is a psychologist who has spent most of her professional career trying to find strong, supporting evidence on behalf of Psi phenomena. This book chronicles how she responded to her failures.

Broughton, Richard S. Parapsychology: The Controversial Science (*). Ballantine, 1991. Clearly supportive of ESP claims but also willing to acknowledge some of the weakness and problems. Attempts to counter many of the standard arguments against ESP although sometimes not very   unconvincingly. This book is quite readable and is probably the best favorable introduction.

Hansel, C.E.M. ESP and Parapsychology: A Critical Reevaluation. Prometheus Books, 1980. This book is highly critical of ESP and at times is as dogmatic as the views it criticizes.

Inglis, Brian. The Hidden Power. Jonathan Cape, 1986. An informal but readable defense of paranormal phenomena. Science and Parascience: A History of the Paranormal, 1914-1939 (Hodder & Stroughton, 1984) by the same author provides a useful history of the early empirical work in this area.

Kurtz, P. A Skeptics Handbook of Parapsychology. Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1985. Thirty chapters exploring all major issues including statistical and scientific issues. There are a few chapters devoted to defenses by believers in parapsychology.

Lyons, Arthur & Truzzi, Marcello. The Blue Sense. Psychic Detectives and Crime. Mysterious Press, 1991. A review of many examples of psychics that claim to solve crimes. The authors conclude that the data are inadequate for a definitive conclusion, but others have been far more critical.

Marks, David & Kammann, Richard. The Psychology of the Psychic. Prometheus Books, 1980. While a little dated now, this remains one of the best critical exposes of claims for psychic powers.

Mauskopf, Seymour & McVaugh, Michael. The Elusive Science: Origins of Experimental Psychical Research. Johns Hopkins University press, 1980. An attempt to chronicle the history of paranormal research as one would any science. Probably the most balanced history of this area.

Nickell, Joe (Ed.) Psychic Sleuths: ESP and Sensational Cases. Prometheus Books, 1994. An interesting set of critical investigations by journalists, magicians, and paranormal investigators of the claims of various famous psychic crime-busters. The psychic detectives do not come out well in this account.

Randi, James. The Truth about Uri Geller. (*) Prometheus Books, 1982. Uri Geller fooled the public and scientists into thinking he had the ability to bend metal though his mental powers. Randi, a professional magician, quickly saw through his tricks.

Randi, James. The Mask of Nostradamus. Prometheus, 1993. A biography of the famous 16th century seer who often gets credit for having predicted many of the world=s significant events. Randi shows that his predictions were ambiguous and that considerable twisting is needed to make them fit actual events.

Rhine, J.B., & Pratt, J.G. Parapsychology: Frontier Science of the Mind. Charles C. Thomas, 1957. One of the many books by Rhine who until his death was the leading research scientist studying ESP. His books are somewhat redundant, but any would provide a readable introduction to his research program.

Schnabel. Jim. Remote Viewers: The Secret History of America's Psychic Spies. (*) Dell, 1997. A sympathetic account of our military's attempts to win the psychic wars with the Soviet Union. The author believes that at least some of the attempts at remote viewing were successful.

Stenger, Victor J. Physics and Psychics: The Search for a World Beyond the Senses. Prometheus Books, 1990. A careful look at the arguments for quantum theory and relativity theory as the basis for transmission of thoughts from person to person. The authors concludes that a real understanding of 20th century science actually invalidates such claims.