The best fringe science books that’ll blow your mind

Why am I passionate about this?

I consider myself a seeker. Several experiences, such as experiencing the buzzing that Robert Monroe mentions, seeing objects with my eyes closed, and meeting a spirit guide, led me to realize that the universe is more mysterious than what science can explain. Perhaps we will develop the technology to measure these phenomena someday. Or maybe we already have? The US Army's “Stargate Project,” deemed as unhelpful, is one example, but what about the projects they haven't declassified? It’s fun to think about. Combined with a huge interest in astronomy, I enjoy learning from a variety of sources, never holding anything tightly, because what we know is always changing.


I wrote...

The Truth Beyond the Sky

By Andrew M. Crusoe,

Book cover of The Truth Beyond the Sky

What is my book about?

On the anniversary of his mother’s disappearance, Zahn recovers an extraordinary meteorite. Conflicted, he hides the object, until he’s awoken one night by a tapping at his window. There’s more to what Zahn found than he could have ever imagined, and he’s swept up into a galactic adventure with a cryptic captain and a living starship.

Along the way, he encounters a species bent on consuming entire stars. They’re heading toward his planet, and only the Tulari, a stone that can heal the wounds they cut into space, offers any hope. When Zahn lands on a moon stolen by these creatures, he makes a breakthrough, finally learning his mother’s fate, and is faced with a decision that could save his world or doom it forever.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Far Journeys

Andrew M. Crusoe Why did I love this book?

Far Journeys is a profound and unusual book. The story in which Robert Monroe, who was a radio executive, finds himself having spontaneous out-of-body experiences sometimes reads like science fiction. Yet it is his honest account. Dedicated to an exploration of human consciousness, he later founded a nonprofit called The Monroe Institute, which pioneered research into changing brainwaves using only binaural sounds. Monroe kept pushing the envelope with his explorations, learning to explore places beyond our world that most have only dreamed of; and it’s given me such great inspiration for my stories. It also blew my mind and helped me make sense when I had my own glimpses of the energetic realm that he describes here. This is technically his second book, but I feel it’s even better to start here.

By Robert A. Monroe,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Far Journeys as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The sequel to Monroe's Journey Out Of The Body is an amazing parapsychological odyssey that reflects a decade of research into the psychic realm beyond the known dimensions of physical reality.


Book cover of Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives

Andrew M. Crusoe Why did I love this book?

When I read Journey of Souls for the first time, I was blown away at how compatible Michael’s findings were with the conclusions Robert Monroe reached during his hundreds of out-of-body experiences. Using a special hypnosis technique, Michael Newton was able to reach any memory of his subject, and over a long period of time, he was able to piece together a remarkably consistent picture of what can happen to us after we die and why we return. This is also remarkably consistent with most eastern spiritual perspectives. This book contains a series of transcripts with 29 patients, and it totally changed how I think about existence after death.

By Michael Newton,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Journey of Souls as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

While in deep hypnosis, 29 patients of the author describe their hidden memories of the hereafter, including what has happened to them between their former reincarnations on earth. They reveal how it feels to die, who meets us after death, and what the spirit world is like.


Book cover of The Ra Material: An Ancient Astronaut Speaks

Andrew M. Crusoe Why did I love this book?

This is probably the most esoteric and strange of my picks, but it also lines up with the conclusions that the other two books offer. In short, this is a channeled work that offers a coherent picture of how life evolved in the galaxy. Now I won’t say that I believe everything in this book literally, but I have found it to be a powerful and expansive perspective when thinking about my own personal evolution and how it relates to the growth of our entire galaxy. From answering the questions about intelligent life beyond our planet, to how a galaxy grows, to what it means for the future of Earth, this book is a trip.

By Don Elkins, James Allen McCarty, Carla Rueckert

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Ra Material as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Who are the ancient astronauts? Why did they first come to Earth? Why are they returning now? What part did they play in building the great monuments of antiquity? What part did they play in the formation of present and earlier civilizations? With what other beings do we share our universe? And where does the Earth fit into the cosmic scheme of things? Almost twenty years of experimental work with telepathy led to the "breakthrough" contact recorded in this book. The Ra Material is an account not only of the events leading up to this contact, but of over 200…


Book cover of The Source Field Investigations: The Hidden Science and Lost Civilizations Behind the 2012 Prophecies

Andrew M. Crusoe Why did I love this book?

One of the more thought-provoking books on fringe science that I’ve ever read. I won’t say I necessarily believe everything that David talks about here, but he makes a compelling case that DNA information could be transmitted as a wave, that life is abundant in the galaxy, and technology once existed that we lost eons ago. It’s a wild ride, and you may be able to spot an idea it inspired in my book.

By David Wilcock,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Source Field Investigations as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Prepare yourself for a revealing tour through the most incredible scientific mysteries of the world with your guide David Wilcock, the New York Times bestselling author of Awakening in the Dream.

More than two million people have seen David Wilcock's incredible tour of the 2012 prophecies in his Internet documentary, The 2012 Enigma. Now, he expands his vision with a cutting-edge investigation into alternative sciences with deep insights into what is coming in our immediate future. A stunning synthesis of hidden science and lost prophecies, The Source Field Investigations exposes DNA transformation, wormholes, ancient conspiracies, the Maya calendar, and a…


Book cover of The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Andrew M. Crusoe Why did I love this book?

I have to include this book because, just as it was for the original Star Wars film, it was a direct inspiration for my first novel. To be a good writer, you have to be aware of the existing patterns and how it relates to the collective unconscious. And Joseph Campbell dedicated his life to understanding the impact of storytelling and mythology and how it relates to the growth of civilization. If you’ve never read this book, it may just blow your mind. It is a bit long though, so you may want to find an audiobook version.

By Joseph Campbell,

Why should I read it?

9 authors picked The Hero with a Thousand Faces as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Joseph Campbell's classic cross-cultural study of the hero's journey has inspired millions and opened up new areas of research and exploration. Originally published in 1949, the book hit the New York Times best-seller list in 1988 when it became the subject of The Power of Myth, a PBS television special. The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages…


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The Wonder of Jazz: Music that changed the world

By Sammy Stein,

Book cover of The Wonder of Jazz: Music that changed the world

Sammy Stein Author Of Fabulous Female Musicians

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I've been passionate about music for almost my entire life. Jazz music in particular speaks to me but not just jazz. I love music, full stop. I really discovered jazz when I attended a jazz club workshop in London and there, I had to join in or leave. I chose to join in and since then I have never looked back. I was introduced to more jazz musicians and now write about music for three major columns as well as Readers’ Digest. My Women In Jazz book won several awards. I have been International Editor for the Jazz Journalist Association and had my work commissioned by the Library of Congress. 

Sammy's book list on female musicians

What is my book about?

With input from over 100 musicians, the book discusses what exactly jazz is, and how you know you are listening to it. Do we truly know when and how jazz first originated? Who was the first jazz musician? How does jazz link to other genres? What about women in jazz? And writers and journalists? Do reviews make any difference? 

This book is a deep dive into jazz's history, impact, and future. It discusses jazz's social, cultural, and political influence and reveals areas where jazz has had an impact we may not even realize.Its influences on hip hop, the connection to…

The Wonder of Jazz: Music that changed the world

By Sammy Stein,

What is this book about?

This book is very different from other, more general jazz books. It is packed with information, advice, well researched and includes experiences from jazz musicians who gleefully add their rich voices to Sammy's in-depth research. All genres, from hard bop to be-bop, vocal jazz, must instrumental, free jazz, and everything between is covered in one way or another and given Sammy's forensic eye. There is social commentary and discussions of careers in jazz music. The musical background of those in the book is rich and diverse.
Critics comment:
"This new book by Sammy Stein is a highly individual take on…


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