I received an ARC from Netgalley

Embark on a mind-altering journey with Dr. Jeff Tarrant as he explores the intersection of science and spirituality, unveiling the secrets of extraordinary potential and guiding readers on a transformative path to unlocking their inner psychic abilities. Through a blend of personal experiences, meticulous research, and practical insights, this book challenges readers to move beyond scepticism and embrace a world of psychic enlightenment.

Note: I received a free unpublished proof of this book, for a limited time, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This book takes an interesting approach to psychic phenomena, with a mixture of anecdotes and data from research studies regarding various experiences that people consider “psychic”. Topics covered include telepathy, mediumship, telekinesis, meditation, energy healing, and hallucinogens.
While I do not uncritically believe in any and all things psychic, I do believe that these experiences are worth investigating. At the very least, if it is all in people’s heads or people are consciously making it up, that is a very interesting social phenomenon deserving of more sociological focus.
I think that the data presented here from scientific studies is not immune to criticism, but it does show that something happens in people’s minds when they at least *think* they are doing something psychic. Obviously this does not prove that psychic stuff is real, or that what these people claim is happening is actually happening. These studies would need to be replicated by a number of researchers and the results investigated deeply in order for us to be able to come to more definitive conclusions. Even then, science doesn’t “prove” things; studies merely suggest things, even when we are fairly certain. I also can’t speak to whether these studies are “good” studies or not, because I am neither a psychologist nor a neuroscientist; I know a bit about those topics but have not been engaged in those fields on the researcher’s end.
The anecdotes in this book are very interesting and the author retells these alongside his own research on these phenomena pretty well. The book is very readable and approachable, even to people like myself who do not know much about the topic. While I am still skeptical of psychic stuff since these claims that are not backed up with a lot of evidence, I think a lot of the anecdotal evidence is interesting and I would be interested in reading more about it. Many of the people the author writes about seem very sincere and are generally not making a great deal of money off of their claims. The people whose stories are shared in this book are not big-name TV mediums or social media stars whose careers are dependent on these claims of being psychic. Of course, that doesn’t mean they are correct, but I think that at least some of them genuinely believe in their own power and are not deliberately deceiving the author or the audience.
The author also shares psychic exercises for the reader to try at home. There are some references to one or two things that he sells on his website, but the book does not seem to merely be a vehicle for promoting and selling his own stuff, since the vast majority of the book is unrelated to those things. I also think that a large percentage of this book’s audience upon publication will be people who are already interested in things the author has written and sold on his website, so this is kind of par for the course with this sort of market. He also references things that are sold elsewhere, though I am not sure if he is getting any money from mentioning these in his book. Nevertheless, it is not, to my understanding, like Jake Paul’s influencer course where you pay money just to be told to pay more money—most of the book’s exercises are incredibly simple things that anyone can do at home. With the exception of a couple of specific experiences that require specific equipment, you can do most of this stuff with your own mind, some quiet space, cheap household items like foil, paper, and erasers; and maybe a couple of ping-pong balls.
My one quibble is that the author attempts to incorporate information on practices from other cultures that he doesn’t seem to know much about, such as ayahuasca, the chakra system and third eyes in Hinduism, yoga, qi gong, and reiki. He also uses “shamanism” as a blanket term for a variety of spiritual practices worldwide, when that term originally refers to the very specific practices of the Yakut people of Siberia. He isn’t the first to do so, but a lot of the practices that have been put under that “umbrella” are actually quite different from each other. While he doesn’t pose as an expert on any of these topics, I think he should have added a bit more of the widely-available information on the cultural and religious backgrounds of these practices and how they fit within them, as many practitioners from the cultures from which those practices originate have said that you need to understand the full “framework” of their culture in order to “get” the practices—they do not exist in a vacuum and can’t just be interchanged with any other system.
Other than that, I’d recommend this book to people who are interested in psychic phenomena, whether or not they believe they are real. There is a lot of interesting stuff to think about here and I think that people who are into the occult/witchcraft might find this interesting as well, even if it is not related to their main craft or practice.

Becoming Psychic by Jeff Tarrant is part personal journey part informational guide into the lessons the psychically gifted of various paths have to teach us.

I particularly enjoyed that the author admits a certain level of skepticism from the beginning of his research and thus invites the reader to better understand his lens and bias.

Readers of nonfiction with a genuine curiosity about the paranormal experiences of others will find themselves entertained and at ease while reader Becoming Psychic.

In a world awash with skepticism, Jeffrey Tarrant's Becoming Psychic: Lessons from the Minds of Mediums, Healers, and Psychics embarks on a remarkable journey, unearthing the mystical conundrums that challenge our scientific beliefs. As a neuropsychologist, Tarrant's transition from skeptic to seeker took me on an intellectual odyssey -- navigating uncharted waters of psychic phenomena, spirit communication, and energy healing.

His compelling chronicle unfolds, and we are gifted the opportunity to accompany Tarrant as he investigates the mysterious realm of the supernatural. From the outset, his work defies traditional boundaries -- inviting us to ponder the limits of human cognition. Tarrant beckons us to shift our gaze from the mundane and the expected to embrace the extraordinary that often defies the constraints of science.

Tarrant blends personal experiences, meticulous research, and an extensive survey of gifted individuals -- mediums, psychics, and healers. Tarrant challenges conventional paradigms by peeling back the layers of skepticism and embracing firsthand encounters with telekinesis, clairvoyance, telepathy, mediumship, and energy healing. His trajectory from strict empiricism to open-minded inquiry is transformational and reveals that others can experience that when one confronts the seemingly impossible.

Throughout the book, we get to know the individuals Tarrant encounters. Through his in-depth exploration, we unearth the qualities that make these individuals tick. Tarrant's personal experiences serve as compelling evidence that the supernormal is not an illusory mirage -- rather it is a vibrant facet of human potential, waiting to be unraveled. He takes us by the hand and leads us through the labyrinthine landscapes of these gifted people's minds, nurturing our understanding of their unique abilities and perspectives.

Becoming Psychic is dedicated to practical insights. Each chapter concludes with a "try it yourself" section, encouraging us to implement the concepts and techniques explored throughout the book into our own psychic development endeavors. Tarrant offers a wealth of knowledge, selected from his extensive research and intimate interactions, providing us with the tools necessary to harness our latent psychic abilities.

Tarrant incorporates brain-hacking technology into the psychic development arena. By introducing concepts such as neurofeedback, audiovisual entrainment, and pulsed electromagnetic fields, he offers a peek into the future of psychic exploration. These innovative techniques provide us with the tools to amplify our own psychic talents while quieting internal noise, enhancing empathy, and nurturing creativity.

Tarrant's creation spans a diverse spectrum, offering us a holistic perspective. He effectively blends the stories of psychics and mediums with a keen eye on the science and evidence that underpin these extraordinary phenomena. This book provides practical guidance, making psychic development accessible to a wider audience.

Tarrant's Becoming Psychic: Lessons from the Minds of Mediums, Healers, and Psychics challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and perceive the world through a different lens. His work prompts us to contemplate the limitless potential that exists within each of us. In a world overshadowed by skepticism, this book invites us to an adventure of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

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This is a very good book. I've tried to read a few books on this subject and they were too vague for me. Not this one. The author takes a sensible and scientific approach and it may very well work. Recommended.

This book is an intriguing look at how people discover and develop intuitive abilities like with visions and energy. It offers interviews with psychics, mediums, and healers to find out how they awakened their gifts through spiritual practices and an open mindset. It would be a good resource for anyone interested in expanding their own consciousness and trusting their inner awareness.

This definitely was an interesting book to read. A very different one. I loved the unbiased and scientific approach to it. You read it, you make your own decisions, you think for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Nothing gets spoon-fed, no opinion or narrative is pushed – you read and see for yourself what you think of it.