Sylvia Browne Books

[Geisha]

My boyfriend loves this forum and posts here a lot (every time he's home because he's a truck driver). We get into fights because I read Sylvia Browne books. I don't read them because I believe her, I read them because I want to see what kind of crap she is spewing. In your opinion is it wrong that I read those books. It's not like I buy them, I check them out from the library.

[Wowbagger]

Robert Lancaster also reads Slyvia Browne's books, for the same reason, and he is one of the most respectable people I happen to know.

There is nothing wrong with knowing your "enemy".

[Fnord]

"It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle." -- Sun Tzu, 6th-Century Philosopher, in "The Art Of War."

"Know yourself well before you know another." -- Fnord of Dyscordia.

[Beady]

I've read Mein Kampf and Chairman Mao. What of it?

[tkingdoll]

It's fine to read those books. In fact, it's much better to read them than to obstinately ignore them as if they don't exist.

I don't comment on Sylvia Browne because I've never read her books or seen her on TV. Therefore I am neither qualified nor educated enough to pass comment.

You, however, are. Good for you. Stick to your guns and read whatever you find interesting and useful.

[PastBrowneFan]

Why the fight? Is he afraid you'll start following her "beliefs"?

I see nothing wrong with anyone reading her material, especially if someone knows beforehand that the information is plagarized or just made up, and views it in such light.

[Geisha]

Why the fight? Is he afraid you'll start following her "beliefs"?

I see nothing wrong with anyone reading her material, especially if someone knows beforehand that the information is plagarized or just made up, and views it in such light.

He doesn't like me reading it because he doesn't believe her and in the past before I met him I actually did believe what she said was true. After I met him and he told me stuff about her and showed me this forum and the stopsylviabrowne.com site I actually started to believe that she was full of crap.

[schlitt]

He doesn't like me reading it because he doesn't believe her and in the past before I met him I actually did believe what she said was true. After I met him and he told me stuff about her and showed me this forum and the stopsylviabrowne.com site I actually started to believe that she was full of crap.

Geisha, I think it is fine that you are reading her books.

There are just a couple of things to keep in mind; These books are written to appeal to human nature, they can seem very convincing because they are telling us things that we want to be true.
So as long as you are looking at the books from a realistic perspective, keeping in mind that it is proven Sylvia is a racist, spiteful, hateful fraud, who only wrote these books for the purpose of getting rich, then you shouldn't have a problem.

You may just have to explain your position to your Boyfriend a little clearer.
If you make it known that you realise she is a fraud, then demonstrate this by showing him why you think she is a fraud - giving him two or three examples, he may be more inclined not to worry about it.

[ChristineR]

The only problem I see is that you are at encouraging your library to spend money on Sylvia Browne. She'll get a little money, but it will be spread out over all the other people who also check the books out. If you bought them at a used book store Browne would get no money but you'd still be encouraging the store owner to carry the books and possibly encouraging Sylvia to write some more.

However lots of us do the same thing, and educating yourself about fraud is important, especially as you once believed in it. Quite a few people believe Sylvia is a fraud but still like her cosmology and philosophy of life. It sounds like you are learning how to recognize fraud and analyzing what caused you to believe in it.

[Miss Whiplash]

What they said, Geisha. As Schlitt posted clarify your position to your BF.

I still read her books for entertainment value, myself.

[CFLarsen]

Know thy enemy.

[Garrette]

Know thy thine enemy.Just because I luvs ya. :)

[JoeTheJuggler]

He doesn't like me reading it because he doesn't believe her and in the past before I met him I actually did believe what she said was true. After I met him and he told me stuff about her and showed me this forum and the stopsylviabrowne.com site I actually started to believe that she was full of crap.

So you once read SB's books as a believer, and now you read her books to see "what kind of crap is spewing"? (I'll save you some time: it's the same crap.) My guess is your boyfriend is a little skeptical of your change of heart. Maybe you can reassure him that you're not really a believer.

If he ONLY sees you reading woo stuff, he might be less than convinced. My dad read National Enquirer and that sort of stuff all the time for entertainment--he wasn't a believer. For him, it was sort of like reading fiction--a willing suspension of disbelief for the duration.

Do you also read skeptical lit?

Granted, they're harder to find at the library, but if you read and request those sorts of books, the library is more likely to stock them.

[Tanstaafl]

I've read Mein Kampf and Chairman Mao. What of it?


You mean I'm not the only one?

[TX50]

I'd say, toss them out and find something more edifying to read. You can
only read so many books in your life. Why waste that precious time on
bumfodder like this?

[LibraryLady]

No, you're not the only one.

And good for you for checking them out of the library! That way you help the library's statistics and don't give money to the charlatan.

And by the way, welcome to the forums! We're glad to have you.

How do you feel about budgies?

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Wow, you all are braver than I am.

When I became interested in Sylvia Browne, I did skim through and read chunks of about a dozen or so of her books and the ones Montel has written. I stopped pretty quickly when I realized that it wasn't just bs, it was uninteresting and useless for anything, even debunking, bs.

Matter of fact, that's how I first heard of her. My woo woo pal gave me one of her books to try to "enlighten" me and I picked it up with a lot of interest and start to read it as an excercise and challenge to myself in debunking. It's useless even for that; the only "How does do they do it?" explanation for all the claims in her books is "She makes it all up!"

[LibraryLady]

I might not have made myself clear. I haven't read any SB books, I've read Mein Kampf.

[ExMinister]

He probably also just doesn't understand why you'd want to waste any more time on them. I also used to read SB's books because I believed what she said. Now I just read them to help Robert Lancaster when I can. I've had my fill of crap spewing and have to admit that now that I know it's all a bunch of made-up hooey, it's not much fun to read them. In fact, I think I can almost feel my IQ dropping as I read.

If you haven't tried reading Carl Sagan or some of the other books recommended by the skeptics who post here, you should do so. And then try picking up some of Sylvia's drivel. You'll be amazed at the difference. I was, anyway.

[Geisha]

He probably also just doesn't understand why you'd want to waste any more time on them. I also used to read SB's books because I believed what she said. Now I just read them to help Robert Lancaster when I can. I've had my fill of crap spewing and have to admit that now that I know it's all a bunch of made-up hooey, it's not much fun to read them. In fact, I think I can almost feel my IQ dropping as I read.

If you haven't tried reading Carl Sagan or some of the other books recommended by the skeptics who post here, you should do so. And then try picking up some of Sylvia's drivel. You'll be amazed at the difference. I was, anyway.

Do you have any certain books that you would recommend?

[RSL's better half]

Geisha - I am so happy to hear we have another convert! I'm also proud that my husband's website played a role in that!

Please feel free to point out to my husband any inconsistancies you may find between books - there are a lot of them.

Welcome to the JREF forums. There's a really good bunch of people here.

[Geisha]

Geisha - I am so happy to hear we have another convert! I'm also proud that my husband's website played a role in that!

Please feel free to point out to my husband any inconsistancies you may find between books - there are a lot of them.

Welcome to the JREF forums. There's a really good bunch of people here.

Thanks for the welcome. The reason I got into Sylvia Browne is because of my mom. She introduced me to her. At that point in my life I tended to listen to what my mom would say and then I would just end up following what she believed. To this day my mom still believes in her. She even went and seen her one time she came to Michigan. To bad I can't get my mom to believe to about her and that stupid Kevin guy with the books to.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

You mean I'm not the only one?

But not Das Kapital? :D

[Geisha]

I might not have made myself clear. I haven't read any SB books, I've read Mein Kampf.

I wanted to read Mein Kampf, but the boyfriend said it was kinda boring. Plus, if my mom saw me reading that she would flip. My family came to America just before the war broke out over there. I have no idea why though. She wouldn't even like to read Helter Skelter. She flipped when she saw that one. Right now it's hiding in my dresser drawer so she doesn't see that I have it again.

[ExMinister]

I really liked The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan. It was a great book for an ex-NS minister and made a big impression on me. After that, I was inspired to read more and found a thread here where there is a list being created of JREF-recommended books. It's under the section on Science, Mathematics, etc. I've also read Michael Shermer's book Why People Believe Weird Things, another Carl Sagan book called Billions and Billions, Spook by Mary Roach (interesting if you used to believe in woo stuff, and easy to read), and now The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. I usually have a few books going at the same time. But definitely try the link to the list of recommended books. I haven't been able to find any of James Randi's books at the bookstores here in town, but I'm considering ordering one of his off Amazon. I think it's great to have recommendations from people who know these subjects well!

It takes me two hours to skim through one of SB's fluff books now. It took me a whole week of intense reading to make it through Carl Sagan's. And it was well worth the effort!

[Wowbagger]

I wanted to read Mein Kampf, but the boyfriend said it was kinda boring. Plus, if my mom saw me reading that she would flip. Here's what you do: Tape a yellow sticker to the front cover of the book that says: "For HISTORICAL INTEREST only! The reader is fully aware of the fact that Hitler is was a murderous, raving nut (to put it mildly), and would NEVER take anything he has written seriously. I am merely reading this putrid book, to gain historical insights into madness, so I can better help the world recognize and prevent the next 'Hilter' from rising up. And, frankly, it might be a good idea for you to do something to help in that matter, as well, even if you don't wish to waste your time on this long, boring, drivel. I'm sure you can think of something."

or something to that effect. I know I will.

[Flo]

I wanted to read Mein Kampf, but the boyfriend said it was kinda boring. Plus, if my mom saw me reading that she would flip. My family came to America just before the war broke out over there. I have no idea why though. She wouldn't even like to read Helter Skelter. She flipped when she saw that one. Right now it's hiding in my dresser drawer so she doesn't see that I have it again.


Hi Geisha. Forgive me for being blunt, but do you intend to have your mom and your boyfriend monitor what you read for the rest of your life ?

Read whatever you want, it will do you good as long as you exercise critical thinking.

[rjh01]

I say it is OK to read one or two of her books. After that just read bits while you are still at the library. Any more is a waste of time.

Better to read books that you can learn stuff from. It does not matter what subject.

I do not understand about this quote
How do you feel about budgies? Would you like some of my recipes on how to cook budgies?
rjh01 checks public notices for his name.

[Beady]

As long as you're at the library, see if they've got Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" available on DVD. If not, it would be a crime to watch it on VHS; see if you can rent the DVD. I think most of us have shelled out the $100 - $130 to buy it, and have been very happy we did.

Anyway, "Cosmos" would be an excellent introduction to Sagan, and most other things having to do with the way the world and the universe really work.

[LibraryLady]

Would you like some of my recipes on how to cook budgies?
rjh01 checks public notices for his name.

Okay, who said that?

*LibraryLady looks around wildly*

Okay, let's stop now, because we might derail this thread, and I'd get reported and Darat would fire me and I'd lose the extra income and I'd be out on the street and Nick the Budgie would starve....

[Smiledriver]

I read Hitler, Bin Laden, S.L.A. Marshall, Micheal Moore, Noam Chomsky, Che Guevera, Richard Dawkins, James Randi and a bunch of other people I don't always agree with.

However, all of these people are tremendously influential and are important to read. If all you ever do is read books you already agree with your...well a hobbit or something. A free market place of ideas requires lots of ideas. Read Browne carefully if only to be sure she doesn't have something to say.

[Wowbagger]

I must say I do agree with rjh01, to a certain degree. You should also read books you can learn from. Perhaps Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World" and/or Shermer's "Why People Believe Weird Things", or any really good science books... in addition to reading the drivel of crazies.

[Geisha]

I must say I do agree with rjh01, to a certain degree. You should also read books you can learn from. Perhaps Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World" and/or Shermer's "Why People Believe Weird Things", or any really good science books... in addition to reading the drivel of crazies.

I believe that I'm going to give all of these books you all have suggested a try. I have a whole stack of some from the library that I have to get through first. Those will be on my reading this. If you have any other suggestions I'll be glad to hear them.

[LibraryLady]

I believe that I'm going to give all of these books you all have suggested a try. I have a whole stack of some from the library that I have to get through first. Those will be on my reading this. If you have any other suggestions I'll be glad to hear them.

I like this girl.

:lol2:

[Geisha]

I like this girl.

:lol2:

I wonder if my library feels that way! LOL I go in there so much the librarian grabs any books I may have ordered and has them waiting up front for me to check out. I love to read.

Flo: I try not to let them judge what I read. The Helter Skelter thing was back when I was about 17, and my boyfriend actually encourages me to read things. It's just that he really dislikes Sylvia Browne and doesn't want me to waste my time reading her books when I could be reading other educational things.

[SeekingTruth]

We were all hoping that SB was finished with her book tours (lectures) because a new schedule for next year hadn't been posted on her website yet which is highly unusual. It's always up by September for the first half of the year and then later they add dates for the second half of the year. I received a Hay House pamphlet in the mail last week (I'm still on their mailing list) and unfortunately, there it was. So far she has these dates listed: (The I Can Do It conferences are more expensive than the lectures).

02-26-08 Atlanta
02-28-08 Jacksonville
03-01-08 Virginia Beach
03-03-08 Baltimore
03-25-08 Columbus
03-27-08 Toronto (I can do it conference)
04-21-08 Sacremento
04-23-08 Phoenix
04-25-08 Salt Lake City
04-27-08 Denver
05-04-08 St. Louis
05-06-08 Indianapolis
05-08-08 Dallas
06-26-08 Las Vegas (I can do it conference)
10-02-08 Tampa (I can do it conference)

Since she's still cranking out books (with another due out in a few days), she needs a place to hawk them I guess :(

RSL - it appears that your "work" is far from done.

ST

[T'ai Chi]

Never thought someone could get upset with you for reading, of all things.

[SeekingTruth]

Read a post on GSB from someone who just donated $2800 to SB.... $1800 for the Hypnosis class and $1000 for the salon the day after the class ended. Upon her return, this is what she had to say:

Hello My Sweet Gnostic Friends,

My Experience at the Salon, as some of you may know, was far beyond anything I could possibly imagine. Just to be able to have a front row seat right there in front of Sylvia was overwhelming to say the least. I felt so fortunate, so Blessed, to also have Sylvia answer my questions, which were many.

One of the first questions I asked was....Sylvia can you please vaildate all my stories on GSB....and she said yes. (Now THERE'S a powerful validation!)

2nd, I asked Sylvia to validate the GSB members who I previously listed as Mission Life Entities and she did validate it. (Oh my, another powerful validation).
3rd, I asked Sylvia if the experience that I had of asking a UFO to show it self to me and for it to do so (it did), if the that was a one-time event or if I could continue to ask for it. And she said yes [that I could continue]! (SB is really on a roll here!)
Then we started to speak about Miracles which I have been so Blessed to have experienced. Sylvia was so friendly--almost as if we were friends. We carried this conversation for what seemed a couple a minutes as if it were a one-on-one conversation.....That was Awesome!.. (Quite a pedestal she has her on).
Then I asked her if my mantle indeed had dropped and she said yes and that I am a Mystical Traveler and that's why through God I can pray for Miracles to happen....And they do! (Here we are - ANOTHER powerful validation).

Finally.....Francine came to joins us as Somebody in the Audience asked Francine a Question about Mystical Travelers and Francine responded by pointing to me....she said to the audience [still pointing at me] and she can make miracles happen and UfOs appear looking straight at me...I think my mouth dropped again for the 3rd time that night I was so in "AWE"! (This one is just too sad to even comment on).
Finally I asked Francine a question. Now this question was not premeditated....I ask Francine.....If I ask for Mother God to show herself to me and to groups of people if She [Mother God] would do so...And Francine said yes.

I asked her then if Santa Fe, New Mexico is the place where I would do Gods Work and she said YES ! (And I'll bet she already has her house packed and is looking for a home in Santa Fe).
I was then Floored and felt so grateful!

This is a Blessing to me to able to share this info...to you....

Tried to think of a word that would appropriately reflect how I felt while reading this on GSB.... and nothing fits - it's just so sad that so many are so gullible.

ST

[ExMinister]

How sad. I've seen that hundreds of times too. On the old trance tapes, most of the questions people asked were exactly like that: Who is my spirit guide? (there were no angels around people back then) When will I meet Mr. Right? ("Two years," of course) What is my purpose? Even I could do that. As people on the forum have pointed out before, most people don't even require her to put out the effort to DO cold reading.

That's what keeps Sylvia in business, questions that require no real effort on Sylvia's part. And books where she can make herself sound like the best pyschic in the world. But ask her for specifics, things she couldn't just guess....and then she isn't even a very good cold reader.

[Sasha]

Can't wait to see this woman in the Enquirer, pointing to an oil stain on her garage floor and exclaiming it as a picture of the "Mother God.": rolleyes:

[SeekingTruth]

To add to the insanity.... the same person who spent all that money on the class and salon apparently had an extra $350 to part with and had a past life regression where she discovered....she was the sister of one of the teachers in a past life.... and wait, it gets better.... Sylvia validated it to be true!!! Can you imagine!

ST

[ExMinister]

Hmm. So...the same woman who had the money to spend $1800 on the hypnosis class, and $1000 for the salon, and yet another $350 for a regression...was told, amazingly, that she was related to one of the teachers. Validated, amazingly by Sylvia! Let's see. Spending money freely = lots of extra attention from Sylvia in salon = Related to one of Sylvia's teachers, i.e. potentially one of the inner circle someday. I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with them hoping she'll continue to freely spend MORE money to become a minister or get more involved.

Seeking Truth, it just gets sadder.

[SeekingTruth]

Hmm. So...the same woman who had the money to spend $1800 on the hypnosis class, and $1000 for the salon, and yet another $350 for a regression...was told, amazingly, that she was related to one of the teachers. Validated, amazingly by Sylvia! Let's see. Spending money freely = lots of extra attention from Sylvia in salon = Related to one of Sylvia's teachers, i.e. potentially one of the inner circle someday. I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with them hoping she'll continue to freely spend MORE money to become a minister or get more involved.

Seeking Truth, it just gets sadder.


Oh, did I forget to mention that Sylvia told her she would be one of her ministers? Surprise surprise

[Alice Shortcake]

Geisha, I recommend The Psychology of the Psychic by D Marks and R Kammann (Prometheus Press). It's a real eye-opener. And Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World.