🕯️ Occult Philosophy

Parapsychology: The Science of Unusual Experience

✍️ David Groome, Ron Roberts
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$54.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This compelling new edition delves into the most perplexing phenomena of human consciousness, inviting both skeptics and enthusiasts to explore the boundary where traditional psychology meets the unknown. Expertly updated, it presents a balanced investigation into subjects like precognition, dreams, reincarnation, and near-death experiences. The text frames these unusual occurrences within the critical contexts of cognition, scientific methodology, and spiritual belief, offering a comprehensive and thoughtful examination of the paranormal's enduring mysteries.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy
🏛 Psychology Press 📅 2024 📖 264 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781032421377
Fun Fact
Groome and Roberts have crafted an essential update, offering a refreshingly balanced and intellectually rigorous exploration of parapsychology. It excels at framing complex topics within scientific, cognitive, and religious contexts, avoiding sensationalism. While it won't satisfy those seeking definitive proof or outright debunking, it brilliantly provides a roadmap for critical inquiry. This volume firmly establishes itself as a cornerstone text for anyone serious about understanding the scientific study of the unexplained.

📝 Description: Parapsychology: The Science of Unusual Experience

This new edition of Parapsychology continues to challenge and provoke readers with some of psychology's most puzzling phenomena. Whether believers or sceptics, the book provides readers with the opportunity to further their understanding of the paranormal, bridging the gap between traditional psychology and fringe areas. With contributions from leading paranormal researchers, this edition has been thoroughly updated and includes new chapters on dreams, precognition and prediction of future events and anthropology. The book has been reorganised to help readers frame each phenomenon within the context of cognition, science and religion, and chapters are structured around science and experience, cognition and belief, religious belief and science, and further topics in parapsychology. The book covers a range of topics that can be considered parapsychological; including reincarnation, entity encounters, astrology, mediumship and near-death experiences. Providing a balanced introduction to parapsychology that explores the strengths and limitations of scientific investigation, this is essential reading for students and professionals in the field, along with anyone interested in learning more about the science of the paranormal.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Groome and Roberts deliver a sophisticated text that demands attention from those willing to engage with complex scientific methodologies alongside spiritual concepts. While it excels in providing a balanced, updated investigation into topics like reincarnation and precognition, it may frustrate readers seeking simple confirmation of paranormal truths without critical scrutiny. It is not suited for casual enthusiasts looking for entertaining ghost stories or absolute proof; rather, it requires patience for academic nuance. Skeptics might find the openness to spiritual belief unsettling, while true believers may chafe at the scientific framing. Ultimately, it is a dense, thoughtful examination best appreciated by those comfortable with ambiguity and rigorous intellectual debate regarding the fringes of human experience.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is an essential guide for the intellectually curious seeker who refuses to choose between faith and fact. It serves readers who have long felt alienated by either dogmatic skepticism or ungrounded mysticism, offering a sanctuary where both are respected. Those interested in the intersection of consciousness studies and the paranormal will find profound value in its balanced exploration of precognition, dreams, and near-death experiences. It empowers the reader to engage with these mysteries not through blind belief, but through critical inquiry. By framing unusual phenomena within cognitive science, it validates the experience while demanding rigorous examination. This is for anyone seeking a thoughtful, comprehensive, and scientifically grounded path into the enduring mysteries of the human mind and spirit.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
Whether you're a seasoned researcher, a curious skeptic, or someone deeply interested in the unexplained, this book offers a balanced and insightful exploration. It's an indispensable guide for anyone seeking a deeper, evidence-based understanding of the mind's most puzzling frontiers.

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Groome and Roberts deliver a sophisticated text that demands attention from those willing to engage with complex scientific methodologies alongside spiritual concepts. While it excels in providing a balanced, updated investigation into topics like reincarnation and precognition, it may frustrate readers seeking simple confirmation of paranormal truths without critical scrutiny. It is not suited for casual enthusiasts looking for entertaining ghost stories or absolute proof; rather, it requires patience for academic nuance. Skeptics might find the openness to spiritual belief unsettling, while true believers may chafe at the scientific framing. Ultimately, it is a dense, thoughtful examination best appreciated by those comfortable with ambiguity and rigorous intellectual debate regarding the fringes of human experience.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, the book aims for a balanced perspective, exploring phenomena from both skeptical and believing viewpoints. It focuses on scientific investigation and critical analysis rather than promoting specific beliefs.
This updated edition features new chapters dedicated to dreams, precognition, and the prediction of future events, alongside an expanded anthropological perspective on these phenomena.

📖 Who should read this

Whether you're a seasoned researcher, a curious skeptic, or someone deeply interested in the unexplained, this book offers a balanced and insightful exploration. It's an indispensable guide for anyone seeking a deeper, evidence-based understanding of the mind's most puzzling frontiers.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Bridging Academic Divides

This volume meticulously connects mainstream psychological understanding with the often-marginalized study of the paranormal. It seeks to create a dialogue between established scientific frameworks and the elusive nature of "fringe" phenomena, fostering a more inclusive and nuanced academic discussion rather than outright dismissal or blind acceptance.

Scientific Scrutiny of the Unusual

The book rigorously applies scientific principles to investigate experiences typically deemed extraordinary or supernatural. It explores the methodologies and challenges inherent in empirically studying phenomena like telepathy or mediumship, evaluating both the strengths and inherent limitations of such investigations to provide an objective perspective.

Belief, Cognition, and Culture

It examines how human cognition, cultural narratives, and religious doctrines shape our understanding and interpretation of unusual events. The text dissects the interplay between personal experience, societal belief systems, and scientific explanation, offering insights into why certain phenomena resonate across diverse human societies and spiritual traditions.

📜 Historical context

Parapsychology has long occupied a contentious space between established science and the mystical. This work positions itself within that tradition, offering a modern, re-evaluated approach to topics historically relegated to the realm of anecdote or superstition. It represents a contemporary effort to integrate rigorous inquiry with phenomena often dismissed by mainstream academia, seeking to legitimize their study.

📚 Glossary

Parapsychology
Precognition
Mediumship

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How do you personally reconcile your own experiences with the scientific demand for empirical proof regarding unusual phenomena?
  2. In what ways might cultural background and personal belief systems influence how individuals interpret and report parapsychological experiences?
  3. Considering the ethical implications, what responsibilities do researchers have when investigating claims of paranormal abilities or encounters?

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