<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: By the book! Reader from Cape Cod MA
Review: As a physicist and research psychologist I find Donna Kossy's approach to Kookdom highly refreshing. Seldom does a veteran scholar and able writer survey really rare material. The author's memorable prose shows that she is both sympathetic to the persecuted scientist as well as poignantly devastating to the incompetent kook. Devilish intent is clearly sorted from simple ignorance, and any genuine scholarship does receive due note. Of particular interest in the latter regard is her handling of George Hammond's theory on page 247, which has subsequently appeared in the peer reviewed literature. In that case, Kossy may have been the first one to spot the emergence of a genuine scientific discovery. Kossy's nose for news and flatfooted style of scholarly detective work is unsurpassed. Thanks a million Donna Kossy for a fascinating book.
Rating: 
Summary: DAN SCOTT ASHWANDER is the KING of KOOKS:
Review: Donna J. Kossy has picked a fabulous topic to write on, however, her writing style comes across as flat and methodical. Fortunately the subject matter stands on its own. For me nothing illustrates the power that science exerts in our society like seeing how it is misinterpreted and scewed to fit religous belief. People like Paul Laffoley also illustrate the fine line walked between madness and genius.
Rating:
Summary: Human Belief is more diverse than you'd think
Review: Donna Kossy is a sensitive, well-educated writer who can explain even the most unusual-seeming beliefs intelligibly - and without being judgemental or acting superior.In this book you'll discover religious movements, political movements, racism, health, art, and more. Are you aware of the Anti-Mucus diet? Did you hear about The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millenium General Assembly? Probably not - but Ms. Kossy has. If there's a flaw here, it's that some of the summaries are unfortunately brief - the book could easily be twice as large. But it's a small complaint for a great product.
Rating:
Summary: A fair and honest look at kookdom
Review: If Ivan Stang's "High Weirdness By Mail" offered a glimpse into the world of kooks, crackpots, and the fringe, then Donna Koosy's "Kooks" is a five-star luxury cruise through the uncharted fringes of human belief. Miss Kossy takes the best and most outrageous parts of her "Kooks" zine and puts them together to give us an in-depth look at people so far out there, you'll have trouble believing that this stuff really exists at all...except that it's right here, in front of your own eyes. There are racist publications galore, UFO kooks, misunderstood pseudo-scientists, and other visionaries -- all of whom are given a fair, understanding, and honest look by Miss Kossy. Many of the most famous kooks are given in-depth presentations, including the Raelians, Wilhelm Reich, the trepanation folks, and lots lots more. Kossy believes in letting their words and their deeds speak for themselves, and this gives her more respect in both the eyes of the kooks, and in the eyes of the readers; besides, nothing she could ever write could possibly top the ranting of "Christian Technocracy." She's just too *sane.* Your brain will never be the same after this.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and sincere accounts of the lunatic fringe.
Review: Something very unique. Kossy gives us very well researched and thought provoking accounts of some of the strangest, craziest, and often most brilliant minds this mad, mad world has ever produced. Kossy show us the genius of these mad men and women, yet never looses sight of the fact that they are, for the most part utterly insane (or are they?). Many of these people tread a fine line and some are perhaps just so far advanced that we simply can't fathom their reality. Highlights are Frances E. Dec, Esq. (who's paranoid delusions would make even Manson squirm) and Paul Laffoley(sp?), a serious scientist who's theories either rank at the most "out there" level of mad genius or might just bring humanity into a new Golden Age of understanding.
Rating:
Summary: Beware fake reviews
Review: The "Reader from Cape Cod MA" is George Hammond himself. Which is why he's so specific--even citing the page number--about his own little "theory." And his comment about "peer reviewed literature" is particularly funny since his "theory" is "cited" all over the Internet as a classic example of crank, kook psuedo-science. Apparently he thinks being pointed out as a nutcase is the same thing as being cited in "peer reviewed literature."
<< 1 >>
| 
