Editorial Review

If author Mary Roach was a college professor, she'd have a zero drop-out rate. That's because when Roach tackles a subject--like the posthumous human body in her previous bestseller, Read more

Reviews (63)

Spook Is Superb Science
If Woody Allen were to write a science book, this would be it.Mary Roach utilizes her enormous wit to make her sometimes highly technical investigations fascinating and fun.She admits to being a skeptic, but suspends disbelief as she investigates the supernatural world.She is enormously fair.She readily admits that the skeptics may be right "but they are no fun to go to the graveyard with."So she maintains that spirit of wonder as she exacts the high standard of proof that science demands.If you are looking for validation that ghosts, without a doubt, are watching you sleep, she will not provide that certainty.But she will tell you about the sometimes ingenius ways that spiritualists and paranormal specialists are going about trying to prove it.So her book is somewhat like Lewis Thomas' NOTES OF A BIOLOGY WATCHER in that you get a layman's education on how the soul has been searched for.You get Woody Allen's wit and Carl Sagan's concern for unbiased evidence as you travel through this fascinating culture of afterlife specialists who just may, in the end, be privy to dimensions the rest of us cannot see.

Boring - Avoid this Book!
I love ghost stories and stories of the 'beyond' and all that those categories entail.That said, I hate this book.Mary Roach has the authorial voice of a 12 year old.I read the first chapter thinking, 'wow, this book might as well have been edited by a middle school yearbook writer.'There are a plethora of books on the market dealing with this subject matter.Pick any of them.Leave Mary Roach on the bookshelf.

Science writer researches the afterlife
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. Mary Roach
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Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - General    2. Future life    3. General    4. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    5. Reincarnation    6. Religion and science    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Scientology    10. Supernatural    11. Science / General    12. Unexplained phenomena   

Reviews (299)

Changed my life!!!!!!!!
Fantastic book.His research changed my life.
Awesome read and very helpful self improvement text!
I found this book incredibly helpful in explaining what was going on with me and how to improve myself. I read the book and then did some of the techniques and WOW, they work and I love it.
A truly new way to be happy
Hubbard introcuces the concept of the "Reactive Mind" and sure enought you are better off without it. Dianetics shows you how, and allows you to become much less effect of your subconscious and be 'at cause' in your life. Strong recommendation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Applied Psychology    3. Dianetics    4. Personal Growth - Happiness    5. Psychology    6. Religion / Scientology    7. Scientology    8. Church of Scientology    9. Hubbard, L. Ron    10. Religion   

Reviews (2)

Will it be Strawberry or Grape Kool-aid!
If you read this book or if you own this book, your greatest problem is not with your spirituality.You make poor choices in spending your money, that is your problem.At least when Jim Jones served Kool-aid the people knew they were going to die.When L. Ron Hubbard serves Kool-aid, get out you credit cards, because you probably do not carry enough cash to cover the bills.If you are actually considering paying $55 for this book, can I interest you in buying the Brooklyn Bridge from me?I need to make some cash quick, so I am selling cheap.

Inspiring!
I received this book as a gift. It's a very beautiful book, with hundreds of inspiring, uplifting, thought-provoking quotations.Read more

Subjects:  1. (La Fayette Ron),    2. 1911-    3. Dianetics    4. Hubbard, L. Ron    5. Quotations    6. Religion    7. Scientology   

Reviews (43)

Gives you a new way to look at things
I read this book many years ago, and it definitely changed the way I looked at things in life.This book is a good introduction to Scientology.

Body Mind & Spirit
This is excellent reading for anyone who is interested in understanding better how the human mind works. The connection between Body, Mind and Spirit. Who are we? How can we be happier? Why do we behave the way in which we do? These life perplexing questions are answered here. After you read this book you may realize that you are not insane after all. You may even be able to change the way in which you think about life. Or the way in which you think about things all together, which may help you to bring about positive changes in your life.

Great personal advice & technology
In reading the reviews, some critics are using this book review as a rant for their own bigotry and have not actually read this book, which I have several times.One should purchase this book for the short articles on the formation of interpersonal and business relationships formula.What is the real goal of Scientology, rather than the nonsense from the news media?Check this out. Amazon has a feature where you can read a few pages before buying. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Personal Growth - General    3. Religion    4. Scientology    5. Spirituality - General   

Reviews (110)

Book might be biased, but so are the reviews
Everyone i see criticizing this book is telling people to go out and find out for themselves.While normally this would be logical, in this case to get any true first hand objective experience with The Church of Scientology, you'd have to pay them and go through their auditing programs.Getting books that are pro-scientology is the same as reading ones that have a negative bias.Unless you're going to front money to get auditing, which is exactly what they want, your only reliable source is what a former member has to say on the subject. This book presents that in an acceptable manner.So to people advising me to go find out for myself, I say no thanks.I'll keep my money in my own pocket and out of the hands of Scientology.

Poorly written.
The author should go back to doing whatever it was he was doing before attempting to write. Poorly researched and poorly written.

Just Like Any Other Cult....
This is a very detailed book mostly about the formation of scientology and how it evolved over the last few decades around the leadership and movements of L. Ron Hubbard (a former science fiction writer - and it shows!) up to the time of his death. It is very hard to comprehend how any person can follow the teachings of this man who is a documented liar and criminal and most probably crazy. Stories about high level members who were instructed to commit shocking crimes as well as many instances of abuse, brainwashing, irrational no-hold-barred attacks of anyone deemed a threat to scientology, destruction of innocent people's lives and families as well as (arguably) slavery are hard to swallow. I was expecting to be enlighted about another religion's way of thinking...instead I am shocked at what I read and am left to wonder how any person can follow the teachings of this incredibly corrupt and cult-like organization. Very interesting. Very detailed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (La Fayette Ron),    2. Controversial literature    3. Dianetics    4. Hubbard, L. Ron    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Scientology    8. History    9. Modern fiction    10. Religion / Scientology    11. (La Fayette Ron),    12. Church of Scientology    13. Controversial Knowledge   

Reviews (28)

I am clean of toxins
I had a 21 year history of allergies that was growing yearly - I was taking asthma medications daily, and I started to gain weight because any exercise initiated an asthma attack - so I started to become dormant.Literally I was backing out of life.Then I turned to allergy medications.They may have been over the counter, and represented as harmless, but I was tired, forgetful, and lacked enthusiasm about work, and life.So I started searching for alternative medicines.I tried different therapies, but nothing got rid of the asthma.Then I found this book, and read it.It totally made sense.But now I grappled with 'How am I going to do the actual program?'
Excellent Data-A must for everyone on this earth
If you live in todays polluted enviorment, and the influence of dangerous drugs, and toxins in the air, and our food. You need this information.
Great Program!
It was interesting reading the misguided critics in saying one stays in the sauna five hours a day on the program.This is false.One does not stay in the sauna five hours STRAIGHT! There are breaks one takes, in & out, in & out, etc. One does get a medical check-up before starting, so the concerns of running being "bad" are unfounded.This program was popular and effective for several NYC firefighters of 9/11, and their successes were phenomenal.Do read the book and think for yourself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Therapies    2. Consumer Health    3. Detoxification (Substance abus    4. Detoxification (Substance abuse treatment)    5. Diet / Health / Fitness    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Nutrition    9. Reference    10. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Drug Dependence    11. Substance abuse    12. Treatment    13. Vitamins    14. Mind, Body, Spirit    15. Scientology   

Reviews (31)

Best self-help book ever!
"Self Analysis" is a book that taught me about the natural laws of living a successful life.Just reading the first section of the book has made me happier, more confident and able to view life as a game to have fun with.Then by doing the exercises in the second section, I became able to solve problems faster and the "game of life" has become a joy to play.This is no book of "psycho-babble". Instead, "Self Analysis" tells you, with engineering precision, about the natural laws of life itself and then proceeds with exercises that permit you to recover your full potential to live life the way you want to.Like the author says: "May you never be the same again!"

really creepy but amazing
I was a psychology major in college so I was very skeptical about this book and Dianetics in general. I tried the exercises in this book and they were NOT fun for me at all. The exercises made me feel really creepy and uncomfortable. Sometimes they actually made me feel drowsy and upset. Sometimes the exercises made me feel guilty and scared with a weird kind of dread and anxiety. Despite this I noticed that my memory did improve greatly. On top of that I started feeling happier and more aware of things, more confident too. Something about these excercises helps you to free your mind of bad things that are lurking there and always tugging at your subconscious. I have recommended this book to several friends since then. I have not finished the exercises like the author recommended. Somehow it is still painful to go through them every day but I plan to some day soon. The little time I spent with this book has already helped me a great deal.

Textbook
This is one of a series of eye opening books in a series.Only for the strong of spirit for sure.You will need to decide for yourself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Applied Psychology    3. New Age (Self Help)    4. Personal Growth - Self-Esteem    5. Psychology    6. Scientology    7. Spirituality - General    8. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (16)

Good, strong counter-argument to Dawkins
Richard Dawkins, a leading biologist and Professor of Science Communication, is one of atheism's leading preachers in the modern world and has converted many to his faith.
McGrath's Agnosticism???
Reading some reviews and the blurbs for this book one could be forgiven for thinking that McGrath has dealt a crushing blow to Dawkins. Far from it. What we actually have is a Christian Theologian basically answering Dawkins with 'Not in MY religion.' It is a defense of his own personal Christian beliefs and there is virtually no mention of other religions nor recognition of differences within Christianity itself.
Learn from your critics!
This is the first book by McGrath I have read, and liked it very much.It's punchy and pithy without being pugnatiousThat is quite an achievement for a book responding to someone as angry as Richard Dawkins seems to be.McGrath never takes a cheap shot.And the points he makes are, I think, solid.
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Subjects:  1. 1941-    2. Apologetics    3. Dawkins, Richard,    4. General    5. Philosophy    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Scientology    8. Evolution    9. Philosophy of religion    10. RELIGION AND SCIENCE    11. Religion / Religion & Science   

Reviews (49)

I really liked this
I really liked this book. It gave a nice overview of the scientology religion and answered a lot of questions I had. I have some very practical uses for what I read and am glad I did.
THE BOOK ANSWERS THE TITLE'S QUESTION
This is a good, thorough overview of the philosophy of Scientology and the activities of Scientologists. There are a lot of conflicting opinions floating around out there, and it is great to have the facts easily available in one concise book.

Good book, but read Dianetics instead...
Its a good book. According to my research, Scientology is a religion and is worth a shot if you want a miracle, because Scientology does gives hope, and the tools you need to have a good life. A lot of these people who have some things to say otherwise are really big jerks!!!!!!!
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Religion    3. Religious    4. Scientology    5. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques   

Reviews (4)

Simple But Effective
I first read parts of this book years ago and I only retained a few basic pieces of information. One such being how to overcome exhaustion has been very helpful to me. I recently read the book again and have been using it at work. It has been great!

Problems of Work

A must read for those who work!
L. Ron Hubbard wrote this book as a basic tool for the worker and manager, and the problems he or she faces on a day to day basis.
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Subjects:  1. Job satisfaction    2. Psychological aspects    3. Scientology    4. Work   

Reviews (8)

Essential knowledge you cant be without
This is fundimanetal, and important data, anyone can use to improve thmeselfs and deal with people around them.
Innovation and Observations
This is a hands-on utility manual for anyone interested in people. It is a totally workable and useful booklet which, when applied to real people, in real life, with people we meet and come in contact with everyday, we are given a tool not only for understanding people's emotional behavior, but it allows us to interact powerfully with people and communicate with them in ways that make a difference. A must-read, and a must-apply easy-to-grasp manual of human relationships.

Practical
If you want the truth, here it is. Swallow hard, open your eyes, and look: this is how things work. These basics are very easy to read, and open up worlds of practical application for you to discover on your own. Make sure you do not go past any misunderstood words. Very simply, the data in this booklet came to light after hundreds of thousands of years or religion, philosophy, and science. It is not an add-on, but a resolution of questions and problems - do not treat it lightly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Personal Growth - Success    2. Religion - Socialissues    3. Scientology    4. Self-Help   

Reviews (3)

Fun and Easy Self Improvement
This book is fun and easy. Not only did I improve myown memory vastly using the techniques, but it really has helped my children. First, I showed them how to use the book and did the techniques with them, but now they do the memory "games" with each other - with constant laughter as they're recalling all the different things as the book tells you to do it.What could be better? They're improving their abilities while having fun. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, any age.

Cult Propaganda
A book on mental health by a second rate Sci-Fi author? Put on your tin hat and read how galactic ruler Xenu is the cause of all your problems in life *ROTFL*. People really buy into this garbage?
Here's how you can improve yourself all by yourself
What I really liked about this book was that it wasn't a lot of jibberish designed to make your head swim. Just very short chapters followed by practical actions you can do in your own home. Want to improve your emotional tone? Want to improve your memory? Want to feel and be more alive? This is the book to read and use. It changed my life for the better, for good ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dianetics    2. New Age   

Reviews (37)

I recommend this as a first introduction
For anyone interested in finding out what Scientology is all about, I recommend this book first. It isn't "about" Scientology - rather, it is a little piece of the kinds of things we learn in Scientology.
Scientology:a new slant on life
Out of all of L. Ron Hubbard's works, this is the most straight forward and interesting.This book makes it easy to understand Scientology and apply it to your life.

EXCELLENT & EASY TO UNDERSTAND!
A simple understanding of what makes life "tick".
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Religion    3. Scientology    4. Spirituality - General   

Reviews (4)

Three and a half stars, dissapointing
Polkinghorne is just not at his best in this volume. It starts out good, but just goes downhill. If he could just stay on the topic of the relationship between science and theology he would be great. No one but Stanley Jaki is as good when it comes to that subject, and that was what I wanted in this book. Unfortunately, Polkinghorne soon leaves this behind to talk about theology (mostly) apart from science, and some of his theological views are just wacko. For example, when discussing God and time, he concluded that God is bound by time (in His temporal pole at least), but of course time is relative, so we have to decide what "time-zone" God is on. Polkinghorne concludes that he is probably on the same time-zone as the cosmic background radiation, since that is the most common time zone! And I assure you he is not joking when he comes to this conclusion, he is quite serious. Also, on the way to this conclusion, he passes through a discussion on the bipolarity of God, sounds dangerously like a process theist. In fact, after reading this book, I am fairly convinced that Polkinghorne is either a process theist or something very close to it, certainly not a traditional Christian theist, and I am certain that he goes far beyond the bounds of even open theism. This was a very dissapointing discovery, but the book is still good in parts. If only he would stay on subject, for he discusses the main subject better than any other but one!

Theology and science
The task of theology and the task of science have many things in common, and many differences.In some sense, both seek the truth (albeit most often different in context and meaning), and while both make an appeal to reason as a methodology, they vary in their application of this.
A bold New Theological Synthesis
This may well be one of Polkinghorne's best.He assumes a knowledge ofrecent discoveries in phyiscs and doesn't really explain them.He does that elsewhere in books like Quarks, Chaos and Christianity, but he does refer to those facts in a determined attempt to develop a theology that is consonant with the physical facts known to scientists. He describes a new theology that sees God as both temporal and atemporal, a God who has created a developing universe in which He is active but which is also independent from Him.His view may not be satisfying to some but it is the grandest attempt I have read by a theologian to answer the questions that physics ask about the nature of the universe.He calls himself a "bottoms=up thinker"-- one who develops theory based on evidence.He does not claim to "prove" the existence of God only to show that it is the most satsifying explanation for the facts shown. His goal here really is not to persuade the unpersuaded to believe in God, rather is is addressed to those who, like him, are believers who nevertheless have many questions that have been undresolved for centuries-- Does God exist only outside of time?Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people.And so on.A great, but as usual, difficult, read for people of faith seeking greater understanding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Philosophy    3. Philosophy & Social Aspects    4. Religion    5. Religion & Science    6. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    7. Religion - Socialissues    8. Scientology    9. Science / General   

Reviews (12)

Highly Recommended
Until the "Power Vs Force" series from Dr. David R Hawkins this was my favorite book of all time.Prior to this book I envisioned science and religion as diametrically opposed with "irreconcilable differences".This book actually moved me off the atheist viewpoint by logically illustrating that spirituality can exist and the most obvious and demonstrable place to "prove" this to oneself is by observing one's fellow man.
Science of Survival
This is a great way to predict how someone will behave.It's a must when looking to hire someone or start a relationship of any kind.There is an easy to understand chart of human behavior that makes this so easy to apply to real life situations!

The most important book on predicting human behavior
This book will enable you to predict human behavior!It is incredible break down of all aspects of human behavior.It comes with an incredibly useful chart that acts as the guideline for the book.Anyone who works with people should read this book!It will give you a keen insight into your fellow man, as well as give you tools to work with them!Hubbard wrote a masterpiece with this one!You owe it to yourself to get a copy and read it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Dianetics    3. Inspiration & Personal Growth    4. New Age    5. Success   

Subjects:  1. Dianetics    2. Dictionaries    3. Reference    4. Scientology   

Reviews (17)

You May Already be a Winner
If you are a Home School Mum and are reading this rubbish, I hope you are not procreating.If you are, please stop as you are doing a great disservice to humanity.The spokesperson for your religion is religion is Tom Cruise.He is 5'2, married twice, divorced twice, is dyslexic, should have been put on ritalin, and lists jumping on couches among his hobbies.Obvioulsy, this is not the brightest man in the world.He is not even a good actor.He never went to college.Anything he learned about psychology came from Dr. Phil.
Very informative!
This comprehensive resource answers all the commonly asked questions about Scientology, including the history, a biography of the founder, church locations, various courses and counseling services available, Sunday Service, services provided by chaplains, volunteer ministers, support given by Scientology to the community, and more.
Read the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology
"What is Scientology?" is an interesting book to read, if you like your books presented in "infomercial" format.That's all this book is: a commercial for Scientology that doesn't even bother toprovide any details whatsoever about the organization, the true religiousbeliefs of L. Ron Hubbard (especially when members reach the"secret" level of OT III and learn about Xenu the ruler of theGalactic Confederation), and nothing whatsoever is mentioned of the titanicbattle taking place on the Usenet newsgroup. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Religion    3. Scientology    4. Spirituality - General   

Reviews (2)

A Sleeper of a book
If you are into L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology Peter Moon gives you all you need to know in this book. 4/5 of this book is about L. Ron Hubbard & Scientology 1/5 of the book (the last few chapters) are about Noble Drew Ali & the Moorish Science movement. Peter Moon also makes people cognizant of the hereditary relationship between so called native North American "INDIANS" and Africans from West and Northwest Africa namely the "Moors". Traditional M.S.T. Temple members might find the information radical. But I find it compelling and it warrants further research.

Daring, bold and explosive! Surpasses all expectations!
Peter Moon, author of Sky Books' newest book, The Montauk Book Of The Dead, has surpassed all expectations in this autobiographical account of his amazing life's journey and synchronistic events leading up to what was destined to become The Montauk Project: Experiments In Time - Moon's first book which set the world on fire in 1992!
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Subjects:  1. Alternate Spirituality    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    6. Spiritualism - General    7. Scientology   

Reviews (5)

Outstanding Visuals andInspiring Quotes
Upon seeing the title and cover of this book, I picked it up from the bookstore. It is lovely eye-candy! It has a colorful picture of a human brain on the front cover. Always curious as to what is in the mind of God, it was a have-to-have it book.
Beautiful photos, great quotes
Beautiful photographs of brain cells, brain imaging, molecules of neurotransmitters and much more, with exquisitely chosen quotes of scientists who sit on both sides of the divided opinions about whether the brain is the source of mind, or whether spirit embodies itself in the brain (mostly emphasizing the latter).
Beautiful and poetic ... and that's just the pictures
Pairing startlingly beautiful photographs of the most minute aspects of life -- neurons, cancer cells, adrenaline, anthrax bacillus, embryonic stem cells, sperm and egg, DNA and more -- with great thoughts of scientists, clergy, philosophers, writers, political leaders and artists is utterly ingenious in this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Theology - Cosmology    2. Creation    3. Philosophy & Social Aspects    4. Religion    5. Religion & Science    6. Religion - Theology    7. Religion And Science    8. Scientology    9. Human biology & related topics    10. Spirituality   

Reviews (8)

A Must Have In Any Book Collection
Fantastic! If you want to find out more about yourself and others then read this book and others by L.R. Hubbard. I assure you If your looking for answers you have come to the right place.

A very well written introductory book on Dianetics
Hubbard wrote this book prior to the publication of his complete text entitled 'Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health'.It was an introduction to this brand new subject, and it gives a great overview of the basics of Dianetics.Here one can get a good understanding of how the mind works, and how it causes man so much unhappiness, and how this can be resolved quite easily.You can see Hubbard's early discoveries and how these led him to his brilliant research that brought into being an entirely new science.'Dianetics: The Evolution of a Science' is a layman's text on how the mind is structured so that one can do something about it!This book is a very good preamble to 'Dianetics the Modern Science of Mental Health', and I highly recommend it.This is Hubbard's concise introduction to the subject.You will enjoy this book if you haven't read it.

How it all started
This book covers the background of Dianeics - how it all began. It gives the basics of Dianetic therapy, the basics of how the mind works, a concise explanation of what occurs when people are injured, and how this negatively affects us. And what to DO about it!