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Kindle Edition Published in 2011 by the James Randi Educational Foundation

All rights reserved

No Part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in review.

First printing 1982

Send Inquiries to:

The James Randi Educational Foundation

2941 Parkview Drive, Suite 105

Falls Church, VA 22042

www.randi.org

Except where otherwise noted, all illustrations and photographs are by the author.

Cover Design by Travis Dick

ISBN 978-098-28322-1-9 (Kindle Version)

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Preface to the Original Edition

Preface to the Current Edition

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements for the Digital Edition

Introduction

1 Flim-Flam!

2 Fairies at the Foot of the Garden

3 All at Sea...

4 Into the Air, Junior Birdmen!

5 The Giggling Guru: A Matter of Levity

6 Chariots in Flames

7 The Laureland Hardy of Psi

8 The Great Fliess Fleece

9 The Medical Humbugs

10 The Will to Believe

11 Off the Deep End

12 Gods with Feats of Clay

13 Put Up or Shut Up

Epilogue

Appendix

Selected Bibliography

The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

About the Author

About the JREF

Author’s Note

The author has had the good fortune to come under the influence of many kind and thoughtful people in the past five decades. Mr. Tovell taught more than physics—he taught curiosity. Elsie Freedman was more than a landlady—she was a second mother. Harry Blackstone, Sr., was not only the world's greatest magician—he was also a towering inspiration.

Many years ago I was introduced to a man whose name is familiar to millions, though he has never been interviewed on radio or television, does not give speeches, and has never accepted any of the many personal appearance invitations offered by his admirers. His column for Scientific American magazine attests to his erudition. His alter ego, Dr. Matrix, allows him to vicariously pursue delights that his real life—and his wife, Charlotte—will not allow. I'm thankful that he's on our side, I'm thrilled to call him friend, and I revel in the delight of his company. This book would not have been possible without his help and encouragement, and I take great pleasure in humbly dedicating it to journalist, mathematician, humorist, and above all, rationalist, Martin Gardner.

Preface to the Original Edition

The adventures of this book have been numerous. Contracted by one publisher with great enthusiasm, then passed on to a successor where it was received with somewhat less delight, and finally inherited by the eventual producers with no interest whatsoever in its future, the original hardcover book was planned to have a first printing of 17,500 copies; it ended up being 5,000. Very shortly after it was officially released, it was declared out of print—with several thousand copies on back order, and some already paid for by would-be readers. Why?

A book so sought after should be a candidate for prompt reprinting in a business that has come upon hard times. But the harsh fact is that the market for books promoting belief in the paranormal is possibly the single greatest money maker in publishing today, and this cannot be ignored by those who assign priorities in the publishing houses. Flim-Flam! was an albatross of sorts.

I have before me at this moment a huge file of letters from interested persons wanting to purchase the book. Some are school librarians—from the United States, England, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and other countries—who want as many as six copies for their library shelves. State and county library systems want even more. Teachers inquire about quantity prices with the intention of using the volume as a text or as a "required reading" item. I assure you, this is all very flattering to an amateur author.

Again, why? Why is this book in such demand? I think it is because there is so very little available in the way of rational,