Having received one of England's first doctorates in parapsychology, for more than ten years Susan Blackmore conducted research in ESP, occultism, poltergeists, Tarot cards and out-of-body experiences. She was convinced that proof of the paranormal was "just around the corner". But her failure to find any convincing evidence forced her to recognise the problems of parapsychology; the unrepeatability of psi phenomena, the widespread incidence of fraud and the lack of progress in the field after more than one hundred years of research.
The Adventures of a Parapsychologist shows how easy it is for psychical researchers to ask all the wrong questions and how difficult it is to accept the obvious conclusion of continued negative results. It describes research in parapsychology from the inside: how the results of the author's work finally led her to reject her initial beliefs and to become increasingly skeptical of paranormal claims.
But this book is more than just a record of scientific quest. It is a charming and always lively story of the author's associations and friendships with J.B. Rhine, Eric Dingwall, Charles Tart and other well-known figures in parapsychology and the struggles of her daily life - her adventures as a parapsychologist.
Susan Blackmore is Visiting Fellow at the Brain and Perception Laboratory of the University of Bristol Medical School in England and has taught parapsychology courses at the University of Surrey since 1976.