Matt the Poet
17th January 2008, 03:07 PM
For the plaisaunce of the forum - the London Review of Books has put Hilary Mantel's review of the new 'Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplained' up as free content here:
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n02/mant01_.html
Some really interesting and sensitive insights into why people believe what they believe.
A good quote to convince you:
Most anomalous phenomena are marginal, and are dull if only the strict truth is told, so even people anxious to be factual will embrioder them in an effort to secure attention for the strange thing they witnessed, or half-witnessed. Maybe people once felt some reticence if they saw a spectre, a UFO or the great god Pan in a grove, but we are beyond embarrassment now
Anyway, enjoy. If you like. There's an amazing factoid about the Wright Brothers as well - one which definitely goes into the 'real scepticism cuts both ways' camp...
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n02/mant01_.html
Some really interesting and sensitive insights into why people believe what they believe.
A good quote to convince you:
Most anomalous phenomena are marginal, and are dull if only the strict truth is told, so even people anxious to be factual will embrioder them in an effort to secure attention for the strange thing they witnessed, or half-witnessed. Maybe people once felt some reticence if they saw a spectre, a UFO or the great god Pan in a grove, but we are beyond embarrassment now
Anyway, enjoy. If you like. There's an amazing factoid about the Wright Brothers as well - one which definitely goes into the 'real scepticism cuts both ways' camp...