A Short History of (Nearly) Everything Paranormal

Go inside the twilight zone of human consciousness with this “superb survey of the paranormal”—hailed by experts as the best introduction to psychic phenomena (Herbie Brennan, New York Times–bestselling author).

This is the most entertaining and broad survey of the paranormal ever made—combining forgotten lore, evidence from parapsychological experiments, and the testimonies of scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists, psychologists, physicists, and philosophers. Exploring the possibility that paranormal phenomena may be objectively real, this travelogue through the twilight zone of human consciousness is both scientifically rigorous and extremely entertaining.

Readers may be surprised to learn that reputable scientists, among them several Nobel laureates, have claimed that:

• Telepathy is a reality
• Cleopatra’s lost palace and Richard III’s burial place were recovered with clairvoyance
• The US military set up an espionage program using psychics

Could it be that what we usually call “supernatural” is a natural but little understood communication via this mental internet? The winner of the most prestigious award in the field, the Parapsychological Association Book Award, A Short History of (Nearly) Everything Paranormal is an engaging, entertaining and informative analysis of a controversial subject.“As an encyclopedic introduction to the psychic side of the fascinating but puzzling domain known as the paranormal, there is no better choice than A Short History of (Nearly) Everything Paranormal.”
—Dean Radin, PhD, Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) and best-selling author of The Conscious Universe

“This is an outstanding book and it deserves all the attention it can get.”
—Stanley Krippner, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Saybrook University and co-editor of Varieties of Anomalous Experience

“A sprawling work, meticulously researched, in which the author deftly, and with engaging wit, pulls together the various strands of ‘psi’—telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, telekinesis, and healing—and presents them for our consideration . . .  If you are not convinced, well then, he hopes that you will be at least entertained. I was.”
—Teresa Carpenter, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of #1 New York Times bestseller Without a Doubt

“Superb survey of the paranormal . . . a veritable cornucopia of odd facts and fascinating information stitched into a much-needed survey of a vitally important subject. Although serious in content, it is written in a light, often humorous, style which is a delight to read. As someone who has myself made a lifelong study of the paranormal, I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
—Herbie Brennan, best-selling author

“Terje Simonsen is a remarkably balanced and insanely well-read guide into a literally impossible subject.”
—Jeffrey J. Kripal, PhD, J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, Rice University and author of Authors of the Impossible

“Simonsen casts his net both wide and deep, drawing on the history of paranormal research as well as on recent findings.”
—Christopher McIntosh, PhD, author of Beyond the North Wind

“An international classic on a topic that affects us all to our core!”
—Annkathrin Puhle, PhD, author of Shakespeare’s Ghosts Live

“The best book on the paranormal I have ever read.”
—Dr. Jerry Hirschfield, best-selling author of Your Soul Is Calling

“I enthusiastically recommend A Short History of (Nearly) Everything Paranormal as a wonderful gift for the person ‘who has everything,’ since most certainly they will not already have this book, which just might positively transform their world.”
—Cynthia Sue Larson, bestselling author and life-coach

“I found this book easy to read, interesting, even occasionally funny, but also quite insightful and informative.”
—Toby Johnson, author Finding Your Own True Myth

“His passion for historic and multi-cultural research studies shine through his work in every chapter of the book.”
—Aida Askry, PhD, author of Book of Present

“Would recommend it to anyone who would like to better understand the scientific evidence proving the existence of psychic powers.”
—Steven Richheimer, PhD, author of The Nonlocal Universe

“What Dr. Simonsen has done is provide one of the best-detailed paranormal reference books currently available.”
—Norman W. Wilson, PhD, author of Shamanism

“ . . . a comprehensive guided tour through the dense forest of the paranormal, a feat which he accomplishes with deft, open-minded ease.”
—Barry Cottrell, author of The Way Beyond the ShamanTerje Gerotti Simonsen is a Norwegian writer and historian of ideas, who teaches and writes predominantly on the esoteric traditions: hermeticism, occultism, mysticism. His works include the introductory essays to the Norwegian editions of The First Book of Enoch and Martin Buber’s I and Thou in two prestigious series, The World’s Holy Scriptures and The Cultural Library.