Product Description

The Los Angeles Times touted the original 1994 edition of Kooks as “a rich compendium of looniness.” This newly expanded version includes a profile on hollow-earth activist Ruth Leedy, a letter to Richard Nixon from St. Elizabeth's mental hospital, scientific proof of God, and other material culled from the author's archives. This edition is newly expanded, with 36 pages of never-before-printed material.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #629855 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-10
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 287 pages

Customer Reviews

Beware fake reviews
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."

By the book! Reader from Cape Cod MA
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.

Human Belief is more diverse than you'd think
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.