This collection of Skeptical Inquirer magazine columns by investigator and folklorist Benjamin Radford guides readers on a science-based (yet open-minded) examination of 70 fascinating and mysterious topics. Drawing on two decades of first-hand research, Big-If True separates fact from fiction using forensics, science, psychology, folklore, and more. Big-If True examines these and dozens more mysteries including Bigfoot, reincarnation, chupacabras, Icelandic elves, conspiracy theories, UFOs, miracles, the terrifying Goat-Man, crop circles, subliminal advertising, sea serpents, wandering trees, medical mysteries, and hypnotist thieves-plus a 1990 Elvis sighting. For mystery lovers and armchair investigators alike, this book offers a look behind the scenes at investigating oddities and curiosities, both ancient and modern.
Chapter One LEGENDS 5
A Skeptic's Guide to Ethical and Effective Curse Removal . Egging the
Equator . Detour: Elves Ahead . Mysteries of the Coral Castle . Is Elvis
Presley in Home Alone? . Searching to Noah Vale . The Bell Witch Mystery
. The Myth of the Walking Tree . Bailing in the Mummies . Might Fright
Cause White? . (and more)
Chapter Two MONSTERS 51
Cryptozoology and Global Warming . The Mystery of the Texas
Chupacabra . Texas Goat-Men and the Chupacabra . A Wakey Water
'Monster' . Globsters Ahoy! . Investigating Mothman's Red Eyeshine
Chapter Three GHOSTS 83
Do Einstein's Laws Endorse Ghosts? . 'M' is for Mysterious Marks .
Have I Ever Seen a Ghost? . Soul Scales . The Cockington Church Ghost
Photo . Can Electromagnetic Fields Create Ghosts? . Infrared Cameras
and Ghost Hunting . A Closer Look at Orbs . The Sweet Spirit Sounds
of Rosemary Brown . (and more)
Chapter Four MYSTERIOUS POWERS AND PLACES 121
A Time to Die? . Crop Circle Origins . The GIGO Problem: Crop Circle
Research Edition . Channeling Ancient African Wisdom-Or Not . Mystery
of the Paulding Light . Dowsing: Dubious and Discredited . Fatima
Miracle Claims All Wet . Uri Geller Revisited . Did Psychic Visions
Locate Missing California Boy? . Beware Mesmer Thieves! . Secrets of
Spectacularly Skewered Skin
Chapter Five UFOs 165
The Phantom Menace of UFO Revelation . The Mysterious Phoenix
Lights . The Mysterious, Invisible 'Rods'
Chapter Six HEALTH AND MEDICINE 175
Bodytalk: Boon or Bogus? . Exercising the Brain Gym . Kinoki Foot Pads
. Diving HeadOn Into Pseudoscience . Subliminal Advertising, Trumpian
and Otherwise . Freaky Feldenkrais . Measuring Near-Death Experience
. A 100C Grain of Truth to Homeopathy? . Battle Over the BMI . The
Mysterious Morgellons Malady . Childbirth-Natural or 'Unnatural'? .
Vegetable Oil or Snake Oil?: The Pseudoscience of "Oil Pulling" . The
Pseudoscience of Personalysis . Left Brain or Right Brain? . (and more)
Chapter Seven CONSPIRACIES 229
Sandy Hook School Shooting: The Adam Lanza Death Certificate Conspiracy
. Curious Contrails: Death From the Sky? . The Truth About the 9/11
Truthers . Is America a Sheeple Factory?
Chapter Eight SKEPTICISM 243
Legitimizing Woo . Just Asking Questions . Caught Between the Possible
and the Paranormal . Dealing With Believers in Skeptical Investigation .
Anomaly Hunting . Mystery Solved-According to Whom? . Paranormal
Qualifications
