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''Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions'' is a 1980 book by magician and skeptic James Randi about paranormal, occult, and pseudoscience claims. The foreword is by science fiction author Isaac Asimov. Randi explores topics which he says that scientists and the media are too willing to promote without skepticism and proper expertise. ==Content== Timothy Ferris wrote that ''Flim Flam!'' "will enlighten any reader who does not clearly understand that not one shard of evidence exists to prove that the Bermuda Triangle poses any special menace to ships and planes, that earth is being visited by alien spacecraft, that the unassisted power of the mind can read closed books, predict our future or induce levitation, or that the 'psychic surgeons' of the Philippines have relieved their patients of any burden more troublesome than their money."〔 Randi levels criticism at the sloppy study designs and faulty controls of the investigations into remote viewing by Russell Targ and Harold Puthoff. George Kauffman wrote, "Randi explores and exposes the outrageous deceptions widely promoted in the sensation-seeking media." The book calls on "researchers" to be accountable for their failures and impostures.〔 Randi writes the public is badly served by scientists investigating the paranormal who don't adhere to the standards of their profession and shows how sloppy research was followed with rationalization of their failures.〔 The book repeatedly explores the sloppy nature of research into the paranormal, pointing out how commonly carelessness and selective interpretation that would not be tolerated in other fields of research is accepted in investigations of the supernatural. Randi documents how the scientific method is often twisted and bent to accommodate the subject of investigation.〔 One anecdote in the book is Randi's experience as a newspaper astrologer in Montreal under the name Zo-ran where he cut horoscopes from old astrology magazines and randomly assigned them to the twelve signs of the zodiac, publishing the results. Randi also debunks the book ''Chariots of the Gods?'' noting, among other things, the author's eurocentrism. The Transcendental Meditation movement and Edgar Cayce's mystic medical practice are subjected to Randi's skeptical scrutiny.〔Transcendental Meditation and Edgar Cayce: * * * *〕 The author also deconstructs the Cottingley Fairies particularly addressing how Arthur Conan Doyle fell for the hoax.〔Cottingley Fairies: * * *〕 The complete absence of any physical evidence of UFOs is also discussed. Later sections of the book cover specific cases of paranormal feats where Randi was consulted as an expert or judge.〔 These include tests of dowsing and pyramid power.〔Dowsing and pyramid power: * * *〕 In these anecdotes the reader learns some of the methods used by charlatans including how to guess cards, tilt tables, read while blindfolded and produce photographs.〔 Randi announces an annual award for "the psychic who fools the greatest number of people with the least effort" and the scientists, journalists and foundations they fool.〔 The "Uri trophy" is a bent spoon on a "flimsy and quite transparent base". He writes that winners will be notified telepathically.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Flim-Flam!」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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