The Mask of Nostradamus
 | |
| Author | James Randi |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Prometheus Books |
Publication date | 1993 [1990] |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Paperback (1993), Hardcover (1990) |
| Pages | 256 pp |
| ISBN | 0-87975-830-9 |
| OCLC | 27034316 |
| 133.3/092 B | |
| LC Class | BF1815.N8 R35 1993 |
The Mask of Nostradamus: The Prophecies of the World's Most Famous Seer is a 1990 book by magician and skeptic James Randi, published in paperback in 1993. Randi's biography looks past the "mask" of Nostradamus with a critical look at some of his alleged prophecies.
Reception
New Scientist wrote the book was a good biography exploring how people rewrite Nostradamus's predictions to give the illusion of fulfilled predictions.[1] The Skeptic's Dictionary cites Randi as debunking Nostradamus' claimed predictions of Adolf Hitler.[2]
John Koontz wrote about the book that "Randi can provide a much more parsimonious explanation than any given by true believers in prophecy".[3]
John Blanton explains that in the book Randi described prophecy's believers willingness to bend the meanings of words in favor of their claims about Nostradamus.[4]
The book received an average of 3.82 out of 5 stars at Goodreads, from 138 readers' ratings.[5]
Editions
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2013) |
- French edition by Editions Griot, 1994, as Le vrai visage de Nostradamus;
- Polish edition, 1994, as Nostradamus Bez Maski;
- Italian edition by Avverbi, 2001, as La maschera di Nostradamus;
- Chinese edition, 2001.
See also
References
- ^ Grossman, Wendi (10 November 1990). "Review: There are no prophets with honour". New Scientist (issue 1742). Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ Carroll, Robert (2007). "Nostradamus". The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ Koontz, John (February 1998). "Nostradamus" (PDF). The Atheist. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ Blanton, John (February 2003). "Nostradamus". North Texas Skeptics. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ "The Mask of Nostradamus by James Randi". goodreads.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
External links
- Description from Prometheus Books
- Description from the author, James Randi
- Nostradamus listed in Randi's Encyclopedia