Unbelievable
By Stacy Horn
Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory. HarperCollins, 2009.
Summary of Unbelievable book by Stacy Horn
An objective look at the telepathic studies conducted by controversial researcher J.B. Rhine—the founder of parapsychology—during his time at Duke University, and his attempts to prove or disprove ESP ability.
Chapters in Unbelievable book summary
What do you get from this book? Real-life accounts of telepathy and ghosts and the search to prove their existence
The Duke Parapsychology Lab, run by J.B. Rhine, drew controversy as a hub for science, research, and the supernatural
Psychic Mina Crandon was investigated by scientists who sought confirmation of her abilities but were left disappointed
Rhine’s early experiments used playing cards to demonstrate that some people had a natural affinity for telepathy
Funding Rhine’s Lab was tricky due to the controversial nature of his work, but a generous benefactor made it possible
Radio broadcasts sparked newfound interest in Rhine’s work, though claims of fraud hurt his reputation
War motivated people to seek out answers and changed the dynamics of the parapsychology lab
Stories of possession sparked Louisa’s interest, especially the real-life tale behind The Exorcist
Visual and auditory hallucinations made up a chunk of Louisa’s research, though she believed it was all related to ESP
The Seaford poltergeist garnered huge media attention, especially with both Rhine and the police investigating
Cases of missing and murdered children prompted Rhine to try and help, but his good intentions backfired
The influence of psychedelic drugs on ESP ability was tested and found wanting
Science continues to question the existence of the supernatural, while the public’s faith has steadily grown
Though Rhine and Louisa’s work continues to inspire controversy, it has never been disproven
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Unbelievable — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Unbelievable book
- Ghost hunters
- parapsychologists
- fans of the supernatural
- armchair scientists
- paranormal historians
- anyone interested in ghosts, haunted houses, or psychic phenomena
About the author of Unbelievable
Stacy Horn
Stacy Horn is an American author and the founder of EchoNYC, a virtual café for likeminded people living in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and a graduate degree from New York University. Horn is also a regular contributor to NPR’s news program, All Things Considered.
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