The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal by Chris French, audiobook narrated by Michael Langan, is an introduction to the world of paranormal beliefs and bizarre experiences. Ghostly encounters, alien abduction, reincarnation, talking to the dead, UFO sightings, inexplicable coincidences, out-of-body and near-death experiences. Are these legitimate phenomena? If not, then how should we go about understanding them? Chris French investigates paranormal claims to discover what lurks behind this "weird shit" and provides authoritative evidence-based explanations for a wide range of superficially mysterious phenomena, and then goes further to draw out lessons with wider applications to many other aspects of modern society where critical thinking is urgently needed. Using academic, comprehensive, logical, and, at times, mathematical approaches, The Science of Weird Shit convincingly debunks ESP, communicating with the dead, and alien abduction claims, among other phenomena. All the while, however, French maintains that our belief in such phenomena is neither ridiculous nor trivial; if anything, such claims can tell us a great deal about the human mind if we pay them the attention they are due.

The Science of Weird Shit is a great listen, and I am sure a wonderful read. The narration is very well done and well worth this listen for audiobook fans. I thought this book was well balanced, there is some levity here but never at the expense of those with claims of experiencing something they felt was unexplained. French explains the scientific, phycological, and physiological explanations for some claims, explores the mathematical aspects of chance and how they contribute as well. The lens of science and exploration instead of just the idea of proving people wrong or foolish is a delightful change from some other books on the topic. I love that French describes in detail how the experiments he shares are designed and carried out- and the reactions to the results. I also love the fact that the book also makes the point that while so much has been explained, and proven about specific things, that there is so much left in the world to figure out that one day we just might find some aspect of the world that is currently viewed as paranormal or weird just might have something to it that we can measure and study to better understand the world around us, and ourselves.

The topic was interesting, but the book was a little long-winded. A few things could have been left out to cut down on time.

This book just wasn't what I was hoping for. I am sure it will resonate with some readers, but alas I am not one of them.

The text is a bit academic for a general readership, but sticking with it is really worthwhile. The author interjects a lot of humor, which helps. The reader has such an expressive voice too, it made it easier to listen to despite the density of some of the research-related aspects. I like the author's message and really appreciate his work in this field.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I love weird stuff, especially if it has a paranormal spin. I am also a believer in science and data driven analysis, so while I'm open to the possibility of the weird and unexplained, I am also a skeptic. This book aims to explain coincidence, ghost and alien encounters, sleep paralysis, reincarnation, out of body and near death experiences and more with a scientific and factual approach.

The book is filled with lists, which doesn't translate well to audio. I'm not sure if the final version will have an accompanying PDF, but that would be helpful visual for some readers as the narrator often reads the criteria used for debunking or classifying a certain type of event. I found that hard to follow at times while listening. I found myself often wishing I also had a copy of the print book to reference as I went along as there are alot of facts and lists I wanted to revisit. I feel like this is a book I would have enjoyed more in print.

Overall, I found the concepts interesting but the delivery and presentation to be a bit dry. I was expecting a bit more comedy from something with such a catchy title, and perhaps it was but the comedy didn't resonate with me.

Review of “The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal”

By: Chris French, Richard Wiseman (Foreword)

Available April 16/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Advanced Audio Book from Netgalley and HighBridge Audio, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

“The Science of Weird Shit” by Chris French provides a thorough and well-researched examination of various paranormal phenomena, offering evidence-based explanations and debunking commonly held beliefs. While French’s approach is logical and commendable, the book may lack the engaging and entertaining elements that some readers seek in explorations of the supernatural.

As someone with an interest in both the paranormal and skepticism, I appreciated French’s rigorous analysis. However, I found the book to be more informative than captivating, missing the sense of excitement and discovery I had hoped for. While it may appeal to those seeking a serious and evidence-based perspective on the paranormal, readers looking for a more engaging and entertaining exploration may find themselves wanting.

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This one was really just okay for me and a bit too long. I liked the chapter on coincidences the best and enjoyed the shoutout to the scam that is facilitated communication, and it did seem well-researched, but… it just wasn’t as interesting to me as I expected it to be, and I had expected more swearing to match the title and there was literally none.

I enjoyed this look at the paranormal and at anomalous psychology. I had never heard this term before, but it really makes sense when you think about it. This was a good overview of how many of the things in this broad category have been studied and, in some cases, disproven. Some of the topics covered in this book are extraterrestrials, ghosts, reincarnation, and precognition plus so many others. Chris French looks at research that has been done be himself and others and gives a solid summary of this.

I noticed that there are some reviews that state Mr. French made fun of people for having religious views. I didn't really see that from my point of view. I was thinking that since this book was in the Religion and Spirituality category on NetGalley, people may have gotten the wrong idea about the content of this book and taken offense where I don't think any was meant. Of course the words "science" and "shit" in the title should've been a little bit of a tip off.

The one part of this book that I didn't enjoy was the narrator on the audiobook I received. When the author used parenthetical phrases, the narrator really changed his tone and I found it very distracting. It was almost like the announcer they use on the game show Password when the password is told to the audience in a hushed tone. But others seemed to enjoy his narration, so to each their own.

Thank you to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

In the book The Science Of Weird Shit, The perception of the paranormal by Chris French in narrated by Michael Langan in the book Chris French talks about the cause of why and how we come believe in the paranormal crypto science existence of aliens and the one that really pissed me off The belief in Jesus. First off he starts talking about the type of psychologist he is and how there really wasn’t a term for it until someone came up with one in 1980 something he has found out about and has white knuckled it ever since. I think when making yourself out to be an expert and talking about things that other people may either believe in or find interesting it’s all good and well but when you start believing in God is something people do with heart and soul, it helps form their identity and so to mock their religion I think you’ve gone too far. More than once in the book he puts religion, heaven in hell etc. in a list with such things as Bigfoot ghost aliens ET see which tells me a lot about Mr. French. With most people their religion is in bedded and makes them who they are and so mocking it is the same thing as mocking religious people. OK back to the book it said it was the science of weird shit but none of it was weird it was just stories of the paranormal and then him telling you why these people either need mental help or an electrician. If you like books where they tell you stories and then tell you why those stories are not true then maybe you’ll like this book I think I would’ve been more entertained especially due to the fact the narrator Michael Langdon had such an awesome voice am comedic timing he really knows how to sound absurd but likable at the same time. Sadly I only read this book 2 stars because one the narrator that is why it’s more than just one star and it would’ve been more it’s not for putting my religion in the same category as cartoons I get that Mr. French doesn’t believe in religion that is his prerogative but not believing in totally discrediting is something totally different. I want to thank dreamscape media and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

In this book, Chris French includes what is called the Australian Sheep-Goat Scale to know in what end of the gullible-sceptic spectrum one fits. I’m happy to say that I was in the sceptic side. Still, I want to believe, so I was hoping that this volume would help me understand the neurological issues behind what’s known as the supernatural. In that way, French delivers. He offers scientific explanations to what could pass as parapsychology. I enjoyed those parts, even if he didn’t go as deep as I was hoping. I also enjoyed the narration by Michael Langan, with his beautiful accent and agreeable voice. He really makes the sense of humor pop. What I didn’t like was the way it is written, which makes it sound like French feels superior to the suckers who believe in the supernatural. He does repeat many times how he could be wrong, but I guess that putting God in the same category as astrology was a little too much for my Catholic beliefs (yes, I know they’re irrational but still, the existence of the soul is very different to a daily horoscope, in my opinion). Intelligent life in the universe was another topic I didn’t agree with. No, I’m 99.9% convinced that Area 51 is not full of little grey men but can anyone really know for sure that there isn’t life in any one of the billions of galaxies? So that’s why I didn’t connect with this book, there is a big difference between superstition and what we have no way of knowing. I was here for the ghosts and Nessie and I got heavier content than expected. I still enjoyed it.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#HighBridge Audio.