Kooks: A Guide to the Outer Limits of Human Belief

by Donna Kossy

Book Overview

New and expanded edition of Kossy's bizarre sourcebook to the outer limits of human belief. Packed with amazing facts, theories and some just very weird ideas, there is something for everyone here and lots more besides! Will drilling a hole in one's head cause enlightenment? Can a person's soul be captured in a hairnet? Is there scientific proof of God? All is revealed. Illustrated. 'Donna Kossy boldly blazes new trails in the vast intellectual wilderness...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0922915679
• ISBN13: 9780922915675
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Feral House
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.6" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Beware fake reviews

The "Reader from Cape Cod MA" is George Hammond himself. Which is why he's so specific--even citing the page number--about his own little "theory." And his comment about "peer reviewed literature" is particularly funny since his "theory" is "cited" all over the Internet as a classic example of crank, kook psuedo-science. Apparently he thinks being pointed out as a nutcase is the same thing as being cited in "peer reviewed literature."

By the book! Reader from Cape Cod MA

As a physicist and research psychologist I find Donna Kossy's approach to Kookdom highly refreshing. Seldom does a veteran scholar and able writer survey really rare material. The author's memorable prose shows that she is both sympathetic to the persecuted scientist as well as poignantly devastating to the incompetent kook. Devilish intent is clearly sorted from simple ignorance, and any genuine scholarship does receive due note. Of particular interest in the latter regard is her handling of George Hammond's theory on page 247, which has subsequently appeared in the peer reviewed literature. In that case, Kossy may have been the first one to spot the emergence of a genuine scientific discovery. Kossy's nose for news and flatfooted style of scholarly detective work is unsurpassed. Thanks a million Donna Kossy for a fascinating book.

Human Belief is more diverse than you'd think

Donna Kossy is a sensitive, well-educated writer who can explain even the most unusual-seeming beliefs intelligibly - and without being judgemental or acting superior.In this book you'll discover religious movements, political movements, racism, health, art, and more. Are you aware of the Anti-Mucus diet? Did you hear about The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millenium General Assembly? Probably not - but Ms. Kossy has.If there's a flaw here, it's that some of the summaries are unfortunately brief - the book could easily be twice as large. But it's a small complaint for a great product.

Entertaining and sincere accounts of the lunatic fringe.

Something very unique. Kossy gives us very well researched and thought provoking accounts of some of the strangest, craziest, and often most brilliant minds this mad, mad world has ever produced. Kossy show us the genius of these mad men and women, yet never looses sight of the fact that they are, for the most part utterly insane (or are they?). Many of these people tread a fine line and some are perhaps just so far advanced that we simply can't fathom their reality. Highlights are Frances E. Dec, Esq. (who's paranoid delusions would make even Manson squirm) and Paul Laffoley(sp?), a serious scientist who's theories either rank at the most "out there" level of mad genius or might just bring humanity into a new Golden Age of understanding.

A highly entertaining survey of the lunatic fringes

Donna Kossy writes an engaging, humorous, and dedicated survey of a wide sampling of lunatic fringes past and present; messianic crazes, Anglo-Israelites, and other religious hysteria; conspiracy theories pathetic to beyond bizarre; random mad prophets; people who seek enlightenment by drilling holes in their skulls with power drills; and more! Funny, sad, frightening, and even thought-provoking by turns--after all, the kooks of today are quite often the heroes of tomorrow, and vice versa--modern heroes turn into tomorrow's historical lunatics