A Magician Among the Spirits


Read by PhyllisV

(4.8 stars; 10 reviews)

Houdini, an escape artist and illusionist, became interested later in his life in debunking spiritualists, disbelieving anyone who claimed to have supernatural powers. This was during an era where paranormal phenomena, especially seances, were extremely popular. Although skeptical of their claims, he longed to find a credible source to communicate with family members he had lost. This book chronicles his travels and the many people he spoke with and his observations of their 'powers' and along the way also reveals many of the tricks they employed to deceive their paying customers. - Summary by Phyllis Vincelli (11 hr 3 min)

Chapters

Introduction and Preface 23:49 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 1 - The Founders of Modern Spiritualism 34:49 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 2 Part I - The Davenport Brothers 20:05 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 2 Part II - The Davenport Brothers 22:56 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 3 - Daniel Dunglas Home 25:50 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 4 - Palladino 36:34 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 5 - Ann O'Delia Diss Debar 28:18 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 6 Part I - Dr. Slade and his Spirit Slates 31:32 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 6 Part II - Dr. Slade and his Spirit Slates 19:45 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 7 - Slate Writing and Other Methods 36:03 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 8 Part I - Spirit Photography 28:17 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 8 Part II - Spirit Photography 18:07 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 9 Part I - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 19:14 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 9 Part II - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 20:51 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 9 Part III - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 19:53 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 10 - Why Ectoplasm? 30:23 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 11 - By-Products of Spiritualism 27:05 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 12 Part I - Investigations - Wise and Otherwise 29:26 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 12 Part II - Investigations - Wise and Otherwise 32:44 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 13 - How Mediums Obtain Information 26:12 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 14 - What You Must Believe to be a Spiritualist 35:22 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 15 Part I - Magicians as Detectors of Fraud 27:02 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 15 Part II - Magicians as Detectors of Fraud 26:30 Read by PhyllisV
Chapter 16 - Conclusion 12:16 Read by PhyllisV
Appendix 30:07 Read by PhyllisV

Reviews

Fascinating


(5 stars)

Like a latter-day Derren Brown or James Randi, Houdini was what we would call a sceptic - as well as a master magician - although as he says in the Introduction, he would gladly have "proof" of genuine communication with spirits, despite a life spent searching for it, all he ever found were tricks and legerdemain. He even went as far as setting up secret signals, handshakes and codes with multiple people, so that if they "returned" via a medium, Houdini would know them by the secret signal - but all to no avail. This wonderfully read book is an absolute delight. It is brilliant to see how methodical he is in his approach, and the vignettes he drops about his life, inter alia, are fabulous - like the time he commanded the rain to stop, and then on being told it was due to stop raining anyway, made it begin raining again - all recounted with his dry wit. For anyone with even a passing interest in magic and magic history, this book is essential reading

Great Discussions of BS


(4 stars)

Well written and well read, this biography illuminates how cons stole from the public. It is sad that those in deep grief were used in such awful ways. A Good read.