Extraordinary Knowing: Science, Skepticism, and the Inexplicable Powers of the Human Mind
An investigation into psychic phenomena, remote viewing, and telepathy written by a Berkeley psychoanalyst.
Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer was an associate clinical professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, a clinician at UC Medical Center in San Francisco, and a psychoanalyst who published work on female development and intuition. Her study begins when a dowser located her daughter's stolen hand-carved harp at exact California street coordinates from his home in Arkansas. Driven by this event, Mayer spent fourteen years investigating unexplainable mental phenomena, talking with secret-keeping colleagues, and assessing research where mind appears to override physical law.
Published by Random House in 2008, this paperback draws on late twentieth-century clinical psychoanalysis, historical research on paranormal phenomena, secret cold-war era CIA remote viewing projects, and contemporary California academic institutions including UC Berkeley and UC Medical Center, San Francisco.
Praise for this book
“Extraordinary Knowing breaks the seal on the stronghold of the cool, logical intellect. Inside, we find exciting and irrefutable evidence that what we call 'reality' is far more magical and exciting than we've ever dreamed. What a fabulous book!”
“A remarkable journey of discovery, bringing together personal experiences and scientific experiments, and uncovering and dissolving taboos. Mayer has a unique ability to combine scholarship and sophistication with freshness and curiosity.”
“Experiencing anew the wonder of someone discovering for the first time that the world is not as it seems is a real treasure. [Mayer's] challenge to traditional scientists to take these realms seriously is equally refreshing.”
📝 Description: Extraordinary Knowing: Science, Skepticism, and the Inexplicable Powers of the Human Mind
📑 What's inside
- Foreword by Freeman Dyson
- Foreword by Carol Gilligan
- 1. The Harp that Came Back
- My Journey Begins 2. Going Public with Private Knowing
- Breaking the Silence 3. Disavowing the Extraordinary
- Personal Cost and Public Consequences 4. States of Mind
- Knowing That Doesn't Feel Like Knowing 5. Intuitive Intelligence
- The Art and Science of Union 6. Starting--and Stopping--the Conversation
- The Strange History of Paranormal Research 7. Tossing Out Meteorites
- Science Fear, and Anxiety 8. Nighttime Eyes
- Learning to Live with Paradox
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book is an essential read for open-minded skeptics and seekers alike who wish to explore the boundaries of human consciousness without abandoning rationality. Dr. Mayer offers a compassionate look at scientists who dared to pursue 'inexplicable' truths despite professional risks. Readers fascinated by the history of remote viewing, quantum physics applications in psychology, or the personal stories of those who have experienced psychic phenomena will find this narrative deeply engaging. It provides a rigorous yet accessible framework for understanding how the mind might interact with the world beyond conventional sensory perception, making complex esoteric concepts feel grounded and credible.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Mayer’s narrative is compelling but may frustrate hardline materialists who dismiss any notion of non-local consciousness as pseudoscience. The text relies heavily on anecdotal evidence from suppressed colleagues rather than reproducible laboratory data, which might feel insufficient for strict academic scrutiny. However, for those interested in the sociology of science and the hidden histories of CIA programs, it is a fascinating deep dive. It does not suit readers seeking definitive proof or easy answers; instead, it offers a complex exploration of doubt, evidence, and the courage to question established paradigms in both science and spirituality.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're a curious mind who appreciates rigorous inquiry but remains open to the universe's deeper mysteries, this book is for you. It appeals to those seeking to reconcile rational thought with the undeniably uncanny, offering a compelling bridge between science and the 'supernatural.'
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Science vs. Inexplicable
Mayer, initially a skeptic, grapples with phenomena that defy conventional scientific understanding. Her narrative explores the tension between rigorous empirical inquiry and events that seem to transcend it, questioning where the boundaries of 'known' science truly lie when confronted with undeniable personal experience.
Breaking the Silence
The book reveals a hidden landscape of professionals—scientists, doctors, and academics—who privately experienced anomalous events but publicly remained silent due to fear of judgment or career repercussions. Mayer champions an open dialogue, encouraging a more honest and scientific exploration of these often-dismissed occurrences.
Mind's Untapped Potential
Through historical research and contemporary findings, Mayer investigates the profound and mysterious capacities of human consciousness. She examines how the mind might interface with reality in ways not yet fully understood, drawing connections to everything from psychic phenomena to the implications of quantum mechanics.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Dowser
- Remote Viewing
- Telepathy
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on a personal experience you've had that seemed to defy rational explanation. How did it make you feel, and how did you reconcile it with your worldview?
- Where do you believe the line lies between 'science' and 'superstition'? How might this book challenge your preconceived notions about that boundary?
- Consider the societal pressures to dismiss anomalous experiences. How does this silence affect our collective understanding of human potential and the nature of reality?
📖 Read on the blog
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