The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions: Robert Todd Carroll: 8580000904109: Amazon.com: Books (original) (raw)
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014
I recommend this book for anyone interested in some of the ideas that have more recently gained currency, including but not limited to those associated with "new age" thinking.
The book's subtitle ("A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions & Dangerous Delusions") is misleading. The subjects of many of the entries are not at all controversial; for example, "positive-outcome bias" and "placebo effect." These may be included because some may *view* the concepts as strange, or because some may misuse the concepts to defraud others. In any case, their inclusion, the subtitle notwithstanding, is helpful to those of us who are not sure about the legitimacy of a particular practice.
One strength of the book is the thoroughness of the entries.The article on the aforementioned placebo effect covers more than 3 large two-column pages. Yet there are close to 400 articles in all, of varying sizes. Occasional illustrations add to the interest.
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2013
The problem with a book like this, which could be (and in a sense already is) a website, is that the content that it tackles is really "dynamic" content, changing as new actors and belief systems come on the scene. Even so, this is a generally good book by the largely admirable author, and better I would say then James Randi's "Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural," which governs some of the same territory.
3 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2015
This is a very wonderful book! It is filled with all sorts of facts and theories on a wide range of topics. Even Santa and Bigfoot have entries that are worth checking out. Alongside the Druids and Psychoanalysis. From the strange to the mundane, there is something for even the most skeptical of skeptics here. Offers up some very compelling arguments, depending upon the topic discussed. In fact, it might make you reconsider how much of a skeptic you are or have become.
4 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2013
As its title suggests, this is a book for the skeptic. I feel the author has indulged in skepticism a bit too much, though. In addition, arguments are rather rushed out, lacking in more convincing, non-biased analysis. However, I believe the true skeptic will enjoy it!
2 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2013
The range of beliefs considered in this book is very large. I was impressed with the varieties of beliefs, superstitions, doctrines, teachings, etc that human beings accept. The book is generally well-written with the apparent biases one would expect in this genre. I enjoy reading it in small doses and always learn something new when I do.
3 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013
This book is awesome, fair enough that a lot of it you could just find online or amongst blogs and wiki, but the whole book sits a nice little bundle of all the wacky garbage you can find in the pseudo loving world. I used it to help shoot down some NLP cult members.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2006
This is a good book for a rainy day, because it is a lot to absorb. But I really like this book. I actually bought it because of all the negative reviews - I wanted to see what all the hooplah was about. It has many interesting theories - and you do not HAVE to believe all of them - but they all deserve consideration.
7 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2015
This really is a great resource. Best since a. crowley, and funk&wagnell's. Somewhat time dated, but perhaps the author will offer a reissue with addenda. This work would benefit from a page index. Readable, informative, benefits from the author's personable nature. Reminiscent of sir James Frazier. Good get! Enjoy...
Top reviews from other countries
1.0 out of 5 stars Superficiel
Reviewed in France on January 13, 2011
Je ne sais pas pourquoi j'ai acheté ce livre ! C'est effectivement un dictionnaire de mythes, rumeurs, légendes urbaines etc, mais tout cela est traité de façon très superficielle et peu intéressante. On se doute bien que l'auteur va se moquer des ces croyances irrationnelles, mais on aimerait qu'il soit plus documenté. J'ai revendu le livre avant de l'avoir terminé. Je me suis manifestement trompé dans cet achat, et j'en assume la responsabilité.
5.0 out of 5 stars A good grounding in critical thinking.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 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.
One person found this helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A great anti-stupidity guide!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2013
I very much enjoy reading this book, which is on the whole, a good guide to some of the most absurd and unbelievably insane notions and practices ever conceived. There are some entries, albeit very few, that let it down, either because they shouldn't be there (psychoanalysis is not a paranormal phenomenon), or because Mr Carroll's counter-arguement is weak, to inaccurate, to non-existent. The entry for Deja-Vu, is one such example; the author presents us with a catalogue of possibilities for the cause of Deja-Vu, each as weak as the next, before finally implying that people with strong experiences in this area, are potential psychiatric cases!
Despite its relatively small failings, this volume is informative, witty and fairly well researched - my personal favourite is The Forer Effect, which gave me a good laugh for its amazing ability to demonstrate just how our levels of gullibility and excessive self-preoccupation, help to line the pockets of quacks and charlatans.
5.0 out of 5 stars An endlessly amusing and educational lucky dip!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2011
This book is an absolute delight!
It is in the form of a dictionary or is it more appropriately an encyclopaedia?
You can start reading at page 1 but I think most people will dip in and out of what catches their eye,
or they may just look things up as they occur.
There are so many things in here that are weird, wonderful, unbelievable or proven to be false.
That's what a lot of the book is about - undermining what a lot of us have been told over the years
and it just ain't so! Whether it's fairy stories, gossip, old wives' tales or moonshine, this book looks into it and
tells us if it's true - or not.
There's a lot of people out there who are prepared to make money out of the gullible, and there's
a lot of gullible people out there prepared to part with that money too!
A wonderful addition to any bookshelf.
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on Scepticism!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2013
The Skeptic's Dictionary is classic of the genre! It remains the best book on skepticism. The most comprehensive, detailed and informative encyclopedia type collection of strange beliefs, skeptic terms, various scams and spiritual frauds. I've found, as was expecting, full information on all the phenomena and beliefs modern man is facing today. Stereotypes explained, evil charms broken, naive spells swept away! Recommended for everyone!