As any serious researcher into the parapsychology realm will attest, there is a lot of amazing wisdom hidden among the fluff and nonsense of the “new age” movement.
     Those of us with a scientific reasoning mind can find ourselves assailed by a seemingly endless stream of supposed facts, only to find they have absolutely no scientific basis whatsoever.
     It is a relief to find this new anthology, The Parapsychology Revolution, grounded in scientific acumen and constructive inquiry that enables a serious look at this whole issue.
     Robert M. Schoch, Ph.D, a scholar widely known for his geological theories that question the conventional dating of the Great Sphinx, joins forces with fellow researcher Logan Yonavjak, to introduce and anthologise core writings of psychical research.
     Robert M. Schoch is the author of Voyages of the Pyramid Builders, and co-author of Voices of the Rocks and Pyramid Quest. Logan Yonavja is a member of the Rhine Research Centre in Durham, North Carolina where she continues to study the paranormal.
     Since the birth of the self-inquiry movement back in the 1960s, the realm of psychical and paranormal research has grown enormously. There are now so many people interested in researching this area than ever before.
     Authors Robert M. Schoch and Logan Yonavjak do that in this anthology, although many might say they merely opened a door to further research and constructive inquiry.
     Schoch and Yonavjak reveal that studies in the modern laboratory, using rigorous methodology, have conclusively detected evidence that suggests the psychic abilities of the human mind.
     The Parapsychology Revolution is a well-researched and meticulous analysis of parapsychology. Serious in tone and content, this book provides a thorough documentary overview of the inception and current state of this fascinating and important field of research.
     The book has an extensive introduction clarifying the subject matter and presenting the parameters for discussion. In the chapters that follow the editors’ commentary, individual essays and comments outline the milestones, feuds and leading players that mark the history of paranormal and psychical investigation.
     There is an in-depth discussion about telepathy, mediumship and quasi-spontaneous psychic phenomena, including an essay on the trance incident of Mrs Piper written by William James in 1890, as well as notes on reincarnation.
     Perhaps most importantly, the authors do not shy away from the controversial elements of this field, particularly the episodes of fraud that still persist. The authors examine the works of scholars such as Ian Stevenson, William James and J.B. Rhine, who did so much to legitimise the study of the paranormal. Even more significantly, the authors address the primary question of valid evidence for a world beyond the ordinary.
     The reader must bear in mind that this large, well-written and researched book is an anthology, and is therefore not necessarily read cover to cover, but rather delved into as a support for personal research.
     The authors blend 19th century curiosity with 21st century inquiry into such subjects as distant healing. We see essays from authors such as William James juxtaposed by current thinkers like Larry Dossey, who offers evidence of distant healing in an essay written in 2007.
     In their concluding remarks, the authors, who prefer to call themselves “compilers,” pose several questions, including whether the future of parapsychology is linked to the future of the planet, given our current global obsession with ecology and the alleged “global warming” phenomenon.
     A legitimate question, after all this research, is where do the authors themselves stand?
     “We have attempted to approach the subject of psychic phenomena from the perspective of genuine constructive skepticism. That is, we did not come to this subject as ‘true believers’ in psychic phenomena, nor as ardent debunkers… Of all the reputed psychical and parapsychological phenomena that have been reported and catalogued, telepathy is the category that we personally find there is the most compelling experimental and spontaneous evidence in support of.”
     The authors are clearly dedicated investigators who approach this subject matter in a scientific and logical manner. Their research is impeccable and the supporting evidence, including essays and scientific inquiry, extraordinary.
     I am very happy to recommend it to any serious researcher or student of the occult. This anthology allows easy reference to various subject areas, and its index and copious endnotes are enough to keep any investigator busy for hours. It is a serious study, but because of the authors’ clear compilation, it becomes easy reading. This book is a “must have” for the inquiring mind.