Extraordinary Beliefs

Reviews / Votes

'Outstanding clarity, penetrating argument and a series of fascinating examples make this an accessible and profoundly insightful read, whether for academics and their students or the legendary general reader. As well as its obvious relevance to historians and psychologists, it has much to offer to social scientists.' Barry Barnes, University of Exeter 'Lamont offers a thought-provoking and sophisticated examination of the way that debates about claims to paranormal abilities rely on their historical context as much as scientific evidence. He makes a compelling case for the value of historical scholarship in psychological research, and raises important questions about the status of psychology as a science.' Robin Wooffitt, University of York 'A must for anyone interested in psychology, the history of spiritualism and the mediumship in performances - fascinating and brilliantly researched.' Kindred Spirit 'A balanced, systematic framework for understanding why some people have believed in unusual things and others have not ... a challenging and thought-provoking read.' Magic Magazine 'Lamont has enriched our knowledge of both our history and our processes of belief formation. This is a very important contribution to the field that has the additional advantage of being a delight to read.' Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 'The book will interest historians of marginal science, who will benefit from Lamont's deep knowledge of the arts of misdirection and precision around method. It will also appeal to those scholars concerned with the reflexive nature of the human sciences who want to push the history of psychology toward a historical psychology of ourselves.' Isis 'The attention to historical research in the book is noteworthy, and the writing, especially when discussing historical cases, is engaging ... What [Lamont] has accomplished is as good as any conjuring stage performance. Mixing solid historical analysis with the psychology of belief, he has produced an effect both engaging and informative.' Fides et Historia