Rating: 
Summary: Revisiting Abductions
Review: This book is a significant departure from Mack's prior work in the field but commensurate with our discussions over the past few years. It goes a long way in course correcting early trust placed in abductees relating their experiences as physical truth. In Cosmos Mack has attempted to address some of the most complex problems facing humans who have a scientific worldview that limits the "reality" of events to physical senses. He balances the issues of the "reality-or lack thereof" of abductions while still acknowledging the importance they have to both experiencers and other interested in the field. This is an important book that may not be well received by the abduction community or those steeped in conspiracy theory. Both are looking for someone else to blame. As Mack points out, these events may be imaginal (not imaginary)and our society is not well equipped to deal with such complexity. It is that vein that the cross-cultural topics add much value to the book. Anyone interested in the field of alien abductions should read this book-and carefully.
Rating: 
Summary: Shamanism vs. The Flying Saucers
Review: This follows a disturbing phenomenon in anomalous research of whatever ilk, whenever empiricial answers do not hold adequate allure- break out the indigenous shaman routine to cast "illumination" on the discussion. The new agers probably "understand" the explainations provided from 3rd world wise men & women of crop circles, abuctions, and other intrusions into the lives of certain fantasy prone individuals. But I am left wondering: "what the hell are they talking about?" Dr. Mack's first book still had enough healthy scepticism to make for solid reading. This book makes me want to cheer the academic committee's attempt to reel Dr. Mack back into the fold. With this work, John E. has wandered too far into make-believe-land to have much credibility. Jacques Vallee made a more reasonable sojourn into the folklore/UFO connection some years ago with his "Passport to Magonia". This "Passport to the Cosmos" has been stamped invalid.
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