sign in sign up
<<
Home , Choking Doberman, Jan Harold Brunvand

Nov Dec**_SI new design masters 9/27/12 10:57 AM Page 57

REVIEWS]

A Book of Stories that Each chapter starts with a brief de- scription of the faulty thinking fol- Happened to a Friend ... lowed by what science has to say. An example from Chapter 12 on apophe- nia: “The Misconception: Some coin- cidences are so miraculous, they must Encyclopedia of Urban : Updated and Expanded have meaning. The Truth: Coin - Edition. By . ABC-CLIO, Santa Bar- cidences are a routine part of life, even bara, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-59884-720-8. 782 pp., $173. the seemingly miraculous ones. Any meaning applied to them comes from your mind.” McRaney summarizes the entire chapter in just a few sentences. If you wanted the ultra-condensed ver- sion of the book you could just read the two opening sentences to every chap- ter, but if you did you would miss out ith his new Encyclopedia of Brunvand is author of many books on McRaney’s relaxed and conversa- Urban Legends: Updated and on urban legends that are (or should be) tional style. Not one to avoid the occa- WExpanded Edition, Jan Brun - familiar to skeptics, including The Baby sional curse word, McRaney takes the vand—the professor emeritus of Eng - Train, The , and The contents of psychology journals and lish at the widely . Brunvand’s other turns them into what could be an en- considered to be the world’s foremost books provide much more detail, his- tertaining conversation over drinks. expert on urban legends—updates and tory, and variations of the legends, but Despite the casual tone, the book is greatly expands his previous magnum for a comprehensive single source, this complete with references to those psy- opus of . encyclopedia (which runs nearly 800 chology journals and other source ma- pages over two volumes) is the best of terial. Don’t look for an index though. its kind. The entries are generally short, McRaney, a journalist and self-de - ranging from a paragraph to a few scribed psychology nerd, does a thor- pages, and give a concise narrative of the and some analysis. Each ough and entertaining job of taking This book is more than what can be complex subjects and en- entry provides references, and many of capsulating them into a few easy-to-read just a collection of urban them are cross-referenced with other pages. He covers everything from the legends—it also includes entries, Brunvand’s books, other books more commonly known straw man fal- interesting entries on on urban legends, folklore journals, and even the occasional .com page. lacy and confirmation bias, to the lesser important folkloric known embodied cognition and self This book is more than just a collec- handicapping. The book is full of so concepts and topics such tion of urban legends—it also includes many different examples of mental as Memorates (“a first-per- interesting entries on important folkloric shortcomings that it is likely there are son account of a personal concepts and topics such as Memorates (“a first-person account of a personal ex- some that you have not heard of before. experience with the super- If, after finishing the book, you find you perience with the supernatural”), Bogus want more, you can visit the website at natural”), Bogus Warnings, Warnings, the Satanic Panic, and my fa- www.youarenotsosmart.com. Like a the Satanic Panic, vorite, the Body Parts Legends. Folklore, sushi train of cognitive edibles, You Are and my favorite, because it is amorphous and constantly changing, is notoriously difficult to Not So Smart delivers nearly fifty differ- the Body Parts Legends. ent reasons why you are not as awesome quantify and categorize (for example, the as you think you are. But don’t despair; story of the Vanishing Hitchhiker is everyone else is just as bad. n clearly an —but is a for- warded email warning about a mall Daniel Grassam writes from his home in Auck- rapist? Or what about a true news story land, New Zealand. Email: daniel about a woman who microwaved her @simonpure.co.nz. dog?). To help with this, Brunvand offers

Skeptical Inquirer | November/December 2012 57 Nov Dec**_SI new design masters 9/27/12 10:57 AM Page 58

a useful Type Index of Urban Legends, derline cases do merit mention in some vestigation is incomplete at best. categorizing various legends according to of my entries” (xxvii). Accessible enough for the casual theme. Folklore often informs skeptical in - reader yet scholarly enough for academic The Encyclopedia of Urban Legends also vestigation, and it has been invaluable in researchers, The Encyclopedia of Urban helps clarify what exactly is meant by my research into such varied topics as Legends is an invaluable and fascinating “urban legend”; the public often uses the ghosts, djinn (genies), lake monsters, kid- book that merits a place on the shelf of term overly broadly. As Brunvand notes ney-theft rumors, chupacabra myth ology, any skeptic and student of folklore. The in his introduction, “I am not including and Halloween poisoned candy scares. book is currently priced as an academic book but will hopefully be issued in a plotless rumors, gossip, bits of misinfor- Just about every paranormal or “unex- cheaper edition next year. mation, etc. Although these materials plained” subject (whether objectively real share some of the same features as urban or not) has a robust and rich mythology Benjamin Radford is deputy editor of the SKEPTICAL legends they are not technically in the surrounding it; without at least a passing INQUIRER and a member of the American Folklore same genre, even though a few such bor- knowledge of its folkloric aspects, an in- Society.

Four Realms of Inquiry RICHARD BOND

mains of intellectual inquiry are differ- Handling Truth. By William Gardner. Logica Books, entiated by their respective methods for Fairhope, Alabama, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-9761875-1-6. 191pp. Softcover, $12.95. establishing truth. In the domain of rhetoric, Rhetorica, statements are ad - vanced or discredited by the process of persuasion and debate. In the religious realm, Mystica, truths are articles of faith or beliefs arising from and tested by mystical processes such as spiritual revelation. In the realm of reason, Log- ica, truths are inferences or proofs that have been validated with the methods n the political season the first victim understandings of truth, it is difficult for of logic. In the realm of re search, Em- of public discourse is often the truth. the average person to grasp the im - pirica, truths are empirical findings IIndeed, Glenn Beck goes so far as to portance of the differences or how they confirmed and documented by research. argue that all politicians are liars. That is apply to an individual’s life. The tests of truth differ among the four one of the things that makes William domains, and as a consequence the Gardner’s book Handling Truth so rele- The tests of truth differ truths of one domain often contradict vant to the contemporary discussion. In the truths of another. For example, spir- stark contrast to Beck, Gardner’s book among the four domains, itual revelation and scientific research demonstrates a first-class intellect, care- and as a consequence take us along totally different paths to ful research, unbiased judgments, and the truths of one domain truth, and we arrive not just at different compelling insights in the author’s often contradict the truths truths but at different types of truth. analysis of the applicability of truth to Understanding our differences in these social and political institutional arrange - of another. terms helps make sense of the conflicts ments. Traditionally, in philosophy truth has Gardner makes that understanding so evident in our contemporary society. been discussed in terms of four basic possible in a way traditional philosophy Handling Truth should be of interest categories: Coherence Theory of Truth, does not in his distinctions between to anyone involved in psychology or politics, as well as those who have an Correspondence Theory of Truth, Per - truth in the realms of rhetoric, religion, n formative Theory of Truth, and Prag- reason, and research. He has a unique interest in philosophy. matic Theory of Truth. While the dis- ability to take a complex philosophical Richard Bond is a retired professor of philoso- tinctions between these various theories topic and make it clear and readily un- phy from Ramapo College of New Jersey. are significant in defining philosophical derstandable. These four distinct do- Email: [email protected]

58 Volume 36 Issue 6 | Skeptical Inquirer