When Dean Radin set out to write a book that would raise the level of public discourse about what 150 years of parapsychology research has shown, he took on a daunting task. Perhaps no area of science has so much controversy as the study of parapsychological phenomena and no area of parapsychological science has so much controversy as the nature of the conclusions that can be drawn from the data. A post to an Internet parapsychological discussion group about the scientific conclusions from parapsychology research started a heated debate that went on for days. Dr. Radin clearly comes down on one side of the topic, saying the short answer to the scientific proof question about psi phenomena — "Is this for real?" — is "Yes." The book will serve as his long answer.

This is not an objective, unbiased review. I was delighted to find a review copy of the draft manuscript in a journalist friend's office. As a long time "psi enthusiast" with an interest in bringing the scientific method to the anomalies of human experience, I welcomed the publication of a strongly stated, well documented, positive review of the psi field and its findings. I also am a fan of Dean Radin and his persistent and creative career in parapsychology, including President of the Parapsychological Association. Dr. Radin is a prolific producer of scientific articles and as methodologically sound and data driven as one could want in such a contentious area. He seems well suited to the task of making the science of psi clear to non-parapsychologists and a curious public.

Conscious Universe starts with the assertion that scientific investigation over the last 150 years clearly supports the reality of psi phenomena in spite of little consensus in the theoretical or explanatory realms. At the same time, Dr. Radin also even-handedly refutes and dismisses non-scientific "New Age" assertions about paranormal realities and the knee-jerk, extreme, "there is no data for psi" skeptical stance.

One of the functions of the book is to differentiate clearly between the true need for and function of skepticism in science and the extreme tactics and active disregard for scientific discourse by the anti-psi skeptical position.

He contends that parapsychology research is on the threshold of being a "Stage 2" area of scientific development - no longer just a collection of anomalies, but not an accepted body of knowledge with a coherent theoretical structure. The argument about whether psi effects and phenomena exist is over for individuals familiar with the whole range of the scientific literature. The phenomena are now dismissed as too insignificant to be important by former skeptics who have given up refuting the research findings. The stage is set for process research and theory development.

The book is a challenging read for the statistically disadvantaged. Dr. Radin makes a concerted effort to educate the reader about the history, methods, psychology and politics of science in general and parapsychology in particular. This includes a careful introduction to the issues of experimental design, statistical analysis, scientific methodology, control for confounding variables, the power and pitfalls of meta-analysis and the problem of "proof" in scientific circles. A major goal of the book is making the reader a more scientifically informed consumer of parapsychological facts, fallacies, and criticisms. It may even convert some uninformed true skeptics of the moderate variety with its careful presentation of the evidence.

The statistical and scientific method sections give a clear and useful overview of the science of parapsychology, necessary in a book headed for a primarily non-scientist audience. The exposition on meta-analysis for the non-statistician is a jewel, and it needs to be, since the conclusions of the book about the scientific state of the art of parapsychological knowledge rest up on it. The reviews of the meta-analysis data from the major psi phenomena are clear, exhaustive, and well illustrated by graphics. Lay readers who toil through the explanation of the scientific, methodological, and statistical foundations of psi research will be well rewarded for the effort. The discussions of the meta-analysis studies and other background materials are persuasive and lay a firm foundation for the scientific support of the reality of the major classes of psi phenomena. Other reviewers will have to argue if the meta-analysis process is valid and supports the conclusions reached. Any "show me the data" skeptical thinker should be delighted since data are presented in abundance, with quoted studies documented by end notes for each chapter and 20 pages of bibliographic citations.

A particularly valuable theme that runs throughout the book is a strong refutation of the claims, critiques, and rhetoric of the most extreme skeptics of psi phenomena and research, past and present. Each critique and tactic is documented and tackled with replies based on data. When Dr. Radin has thoroughly reviewed the history, factors and forces around the resistance to psi, the reader may be hard pressed to see how any informed skeptic can continue to use the same old arguments. In addition, the exposition of the blind spots, distortions and unscientific tactics of the anti-psi skeptics and critics leaves a clearer understanding of some of the reasons why parapsychology has been such a difficult area of science. This coverage is not just a confrontation with the extreme skeptical attacks on parapsychology, but is also supported by an adequate overview of how belief, expectation, perceptual defense and bias operate whenever anomalous information is encountered by human beings, scientists included.

This book flows, with enough psi stories from the history of human experience and parapsychology to catch the interest of the lay reader. Dr. Radin patiently revisits critical points over the course of the manuscript to reinforce understanding of the key concepts about the scientific method, statistical inference, the role of replication, standards of "proof" and how criticisms have been refuted. The coverage of some of the leading edges of parapsychology - field consciousness random number generator (RNG) studies, possible applications of psi in the future, and the author's personal foray into the role of psi and environmental variables in the casino -- offer interesting reading. The sections on implications of psi are not exhaustive but offer intriguing looks at the changes in views of reality needed for the move into the next stages of scientific understanding of psi phenomena.

Conscious Universe is essential reading for professional parapsychologists, psi enthusiasts and skeptics. Everybody will want to comment for different reasons and agree with or dispute different points. As with all assertions about the reality of psi phenomena, the critics will likely come out in droves. Some will merely dispute the title (apparently selected by the publisher); others will tackle the conclusions from the meta-analysis data; and others will respond to the critique of the anti-psi skeptics. In any case, the field of scientific parapsychology cannot lose from this kind of well-documented exposure and the debate should be exciting. I cannot wait to see Dean on "Larry King Live" with The Great Randi.

Jerry E. Wesch, Ph.D.
Health Psychology Consultation
2354 West Wilson #2,Chicago, IL 60625
jwesch@interaccess.com

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