Select delivery location
See All Buying Options
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Trickster and the Paranormal Hardcover – August 1, 2001

by George P Hansen (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 143 ratings
See all formats and editions
Book by Hansen, George P
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    568 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Xlibris
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.94 x 1.6 x 8.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1401000819
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1401000813
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George P. Hansen was employed in parapsychology laboratories for eight years-three at the Rhine Research Center in Durham, North Carolina, and five at Psychophysical Research Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey. His research included remote viewing, psychokinesis on electronic random number generators, séance phenomena, and ghosts. His papers in professional journals also cover mathematical statistics, deception, skepticism, conjurors in parapsychology, and methodological criticisms. He is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Xlibris; First Edition (August 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 568 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401000819
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401000813
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.95 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.94 x 1.6 x 8.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 143 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
143 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

KBryson
5.0 out of 5 stars An invitation. Not as difficult as some claim. Hansen helps.
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
Take the time to read the author's Preface and Introduction. Hansen provides pointers on how to navigate his book to reduce getting bogged down in the enormous breadth of information touched on. He makes it clear that there is no way to treat the whole of this topic solidly within a single volume; there is simply no way to give the attention and respect due to the various cultures, perspectives, and disciplines he introduces. This is really a springboard for deeper personal investigation into an archetype. Make no mistake, it is a massive learning experience. Love it.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Lance M. Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars Greater Key to the Paranormal
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2007
Verified Purchase
Like other reviewers here, if I could, I would give this book SIX stars. I am both a Native American, familiar with our Trickster stories, and an anthropologist, familiar with Levi-Strauss, Victor Turner, and structural anthropology. The synthesis of anthropology and folklore achieved in this book by Mr. Hansen is amazing and wonderful!

The chapter topics include:
-An Overview of Tricksters from Mythology, Folklore, and Elsewhere
-Ernest Hartmann's Mental Boundaries
-Victor Turner's Concept of Anti-structure
-Mysticism, Holy Madness, and Fools for God
-Shamanism and its Sham
-Michael Winkelman on Magico-religious Practitioners
-Max Weber, Charisma, and the Disenchantment of the World
-Cultural Change and the Paranormal
-Prominent "Psychics"
-Conjurors and the Paranormal
-CSICOP and the Debunkers
-Small Groups and the Paranormal
-Alternative Religions and Psi
-Institutions and the Paranormal
-Anti-structure and the History of Psychical Research
-Unbounded Conditions
-Government Disinformation
-Hoaxes and the Paranormal
-Reflexivity and the Trickster
-Laboratory Research on Psi
-Totemism and the Primitive Mind
-Literary Criticism, Meaning, and the Trickster
-The Imagination
-Paranoia

By its very nature, the paranormal is the area "betwixt-and-between", the grey places, the "neither fish nor fowl"...as the essence of antistructure, it is the place of dreams and frauds, and as soon as you name it, it retreats...it defines boundaries of the acceptable by being unacceptable, of the known by remaining unknown...and try to trap it, it slithers away through the door you forgot to close. If you want to know more about this wonderful book, visit the website for it at [...] ...or better yet BUY IT! Your world will never be the same ;-))
72 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
BC
5.0 out of 5 stars If you think you know what PSI is, read this book. You might be surprised - and enlightened
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
An excellent exploration and commentary on the many aspects of paranormal phenomena.
I recommend it to those who are still curious and unsatisified with mainstream explanations. I also predict that recognition of this work's true value won't be for a long time - such is western civilisation's current situation.
12 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Andrew Radziewicz
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
If you want to know the truth.. read this book..
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
SLT
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Work
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
A must read for anyone interested in the paranormal.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Charles T. T a r t
4.0 out of 5 stars Facing the Difficult Realites about the Paranormal
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2002
Verified Purchase
Despite more than a hundred years of the highest quality scientific research which, to any genuinely rational mind, demonstrates the existence of several kinds of paranormal phenomena (telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition and psychokinesis being the major ones), parapsychology research remains marginalized, rejected and actively persecuted. As a psychologist that tells me there are powerful, irrational forces involved. Hansen's excellent book surveys many of these and is must reading for anyone who really wants to understand this area.
Personally the data in the book depressed me in many ways, for I am one of those who attempts to make scientific sense of this area (even though I know there's much more to the world than that) and it's not cheering to be reminded of these difficulties. But we don't solve problems by pretending they are not there, so I am grateful to Hansen for this authoritative reminder.
74 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Glenn Corey
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating theory to account for psi's marginality
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2008
Verified Purchase
This is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Hansen takes a novel approach to explaining why psi, whose existence is beyond dispute for anyone who has considered the scientific evidence, continues to be marginalized in our culture and in scientific circles. Hansen applies literary theory, anthropology, ufology, and other fields to develop his thesis. The author is not trying to prove the truth of psi or the supernatural; the book aims to explain why psi is still accorded such low status in our society. It contains a great bibliography as well. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Dee bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Very thorough, scientific but still full of interesting and informative stories . Recommend
Report
Laurent Kasprowicz
5.0 out of 5 stars Sociology of the paranormal and more.
Reviewed in France on November 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Few people will understand the deep meaning behind this book. It's a sociology of the paranormal. But behind this, there is also an insight of the Human Soul.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
MrManny
5.0 out of 5 stars A thought provoking work of art
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2013
Verified Purchase
I've read a lot of books on all varieties of subject matter related to that of this book - a LOT. After a certain point, ennui can set in and the vast majority of books can sometimes appear to be much of a muchness, nothing much new is learned, and the most one can usually hope for is a sense of mild interest, or tidbits of new information.

This book is different - for me it intoduced a whole new paradigm I wasn't entirely familiar with, and I found it utterly fascinating from start to finish. I found this book to be mind expanding, thought provoking, riveting & actually one of those rare books I personally consider a work of art. It is a deep shame this book is not destined to be more popular, but that kind of is the (or a) point of Hansen's book - that such views are by neccesity of fringe interest.

Excellent - highly recommended (Also, thanks to another review here, I am now reading The Daemonic Reality by Patrick Harpur, half way through and that also is exceptionally interesting so far).

Now, having said 5 out of 5, here's a few critical comments:

1) The book cover is one of those dreadfully cheap ones. For such a wonderful book, a better cover was warranted imo.

2) As others have mentioned, spelling & grammer is occassionaly incorrect. I personally didn't mind that, as it isn't too frequent. And I'm a forgiving kind of chap :)

3) Hansen has a meandering, vague way of writing *some may not enjoy*. Personally, I loved it.

4) I don't personally believe or buy everything Hansen has to say, especially not literally. If that's how you look at life (literally & linearly), you may not enjoy this book. It is more subtle, and circular, and as Hansen may say, reflexive than that. It is about opening your mind to think in different ways - not about being TOLD what is true or real!

Anyways, all that said, this is the sort of book you will either absolutely love (if you "get" it), or probably hate (if you don't "get" it). It is worth the risk to purchase this book (actually, you can read the intoduction online somewhere, which gives a great flavour of the book - I did, then I bought it) in case you fit into the first category.

Thanks George P Hansen. :)
8 people found this helpful
 Report
Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on an intriguing subject
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Trickster is an interesting character who crops up in mythologies worldwide - from Loki of the Norse sagas, to the stories told to the children of the various tribes of Indians who live in North America and Canada - and most places in between.
Author George P Hansen writes with formidable and erudite clarity, and successfully unravels the twists and turns of the trickster’s place and identity in mythology - and in a clear and compelling manner that engages the reader.
A tricky subject (no pun intended) that challenges the reader, and manages to bring clarity to this complex subject.
Report
Radders
5.0 out of 5 stars Watch out for the trickster
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book is absolutely fascinating. I bought it to increase my knowledge on the paranormal and this book sent me down various anthropology and sociology rabbit holes. It is a bit hard going to begin with for the layman but if you stick with it, it is worth it. The subject is very well researched and the author takes you through it. There are many more books and essays on the liminal I want to read after reading this book. Makes you really think.
3 people found this helpful
 Report