Mask Of Nostradamus Prophecies: Amazon.ca: James Randi: Books

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Book Description

The author of The Faith Healers examines the life of the renowned sixteenth century astrologer and physician, including his historic origins, his prophecies, the truth about his prophetical successes, and more. Reprint.

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.9 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars honest, objective and thoroughly researched, Nov 18 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mask Of Nostradamus Prophecies (Paperback)

I read this book first about 2 years ago. Frankly Randi didnt seem to spend enough time discussing the subject of the book,Nostaradamus. He discusses astrology in great detail which is interesting at first but eventually becomes tiresome. The book would have a better read if more focus was on debunking nostradamus. The time spent explaining why people have interpreted his quatrains incorrectly is very interesting though. And the stories about Nostradamus and the predictions he provided for individuals of his day were particularly fascinating and really seemed to smash the image most people currently hold of him. Overall its a good book, clearly Mr. Randi did loads of research here. He provides an impressive amount of historical evidence to backup his claims, that's why so many people who review his books at amazon attack him personally, rather than his writings.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, Wise and Witty, Aug 1 2003

By

Mr. Hasta Pasta "Wagon Wheels" (Oz, Lithuania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mask Of Nostradamus Prophecies (Paperback)

James Randi treats the reputation of Nostradamus as a prophet and healer with the bemused contempt that it deserves, and this, combined with his thorough knowledge of the tricks of the trade of "New Age" charlatanism, makes this book worth an entire library of pro-Nostradamus tomes. The highlight of the book concerns Randi's examination of ten of the most notorious of Nostradamus' quatrains -- including those which are supposed to refer to Napoleon and Hitler -- and his systematic dismemberment of the outlandish claims that have been foisted upon them by the cynical and the credulous (BTW, the two famous "Hister" references in Nostradamus are, as Randi shows, archaicisms concerning the Danube river, and not foreshadowings of the future dictator).

Towards the end of the book [p.223], Randi offers his own "prophecy," which seems to encapsulate the general spirit of the book:

"The legend of Nostradamus, faulty as it is, will survive us all. Not because of its worth, but because of its seductive attraction, the idea that the Prophet of Salon could see into the future will persist. An ever-abundant number of interpreters will pop up to renew the shabby exterior of his image, and that gloss will serve to entice more unwary fans into acceptance of the false predictions that have enthralled millions in the centuries since his death. Shameless rationalizations will be made, ugly facts will be ignored and common sense will continue to be submerged in enthusiasm."

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4.0 out of 5 stars The sad part....., Feb 8 2003

By

Mike R Jordan (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mask Of Nostradamus Prophecies (Paperback)

It is so refreshing to read a book on Nostradamus that actually employs the use of facts and thorough research. I applaud James Randi on his work in presenting an accurate picture of the life and times of the famous prophet. And the authors admiration for Nostradamus shows in the work. This is not an attack on the prophet - indeed, Randi praises his work as a doctor curing the plague - but rather an attack on the later interpreters of his work that, so obviously, embellished their translations to further their own views.

But throughout the book is the sad truth that none of the facts or accurate translations will mean anything to "true believers." All of Randi's research and study is tossed out on a whim by anyone who believes in the prophet, because they don't require facts or logic for their beliefs. I wish that this book would be read by Nostradamians and serve as an eye-opener to the truth.....But I just don't see it happening.

And why is is that believers never offer accurate predictions based on his work until AFTER the event has already occurred?

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting!
This book is a great lesson about the responsibilties of writers, believers and readers to conduct proper and thorough research. Read more

Published on July 2 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars A book long overdue
Have you ever noticed those documentary style shows on The History Channel or watched an NBC special on the supernatural or something of the sort and noticed the lack of any... Read more

Published on Dec 4 2001 by timothy1146