{"product_id":"the-new-apocrypha-a-guide-to-strange-science-and-occult-beliefs","title":"The new Apocrypha: A guide to strange science and occult beliefs","description":"\u003cp\u003eIllustrated with charts and drawings that are listed in the front of the book but are not sourced.  An easily read  entertaining challenge to the whole world of pseudo-science. Unfortunately  the breadth of the topics is probably beyond anyone  and particularly the author  to treat in sufficient detail that convincing cases may be made in most instances. The monumental difficulty throughout history with the occult has been the magnitude of rational effort needed to overcome some simple act of faith  however misguided. Regrettably  many times this book offers cleverjuxtaposition of experiences and rhetoric to beat down claims rather than mounting what facts are known and establishing bounds for hopeful expectations. The body of literature on the topic might have discouraged a less courageous writer and Sladek has worked mightily in producing such a survey of what man has found to believe in  which defies much of practiced science. Seven major sections of the text consider individual topics including UFOs  lost continents  monsters  food cults  numerology  ESP and astrology. The eighth section touches on the bases of these beliefs by considering the place of rumor  prophecy and perceptual psychology as related to the occult. References and bibliography comprise 24 pages. The authors style generally provides the reader with his greatest rewards  for while being adamant in his disbelief of all this nonsense  he never loses his playful view of people trying to survive coincidence of the most astounding nature.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44952168169525,"sku":"ByrdShop_0812817125","price":110.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780812817126.jpg?v=1770153113","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-new-apocrypha-a-guide-to-strange-science-and-occult-beliefs","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}