The Mammoth Book of Nostradamus and Other Prophets - Softcover

Wilson, Damon

3.32

22 ratings by Goodreads

9780786706280: The Mammoth Book of Nostradamus and Other Prophets

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786706287 ISBN 13: 9780786706280

Publisher: Carroll & Graf, 1999

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Examining the various theories about how precog ition could work, this book discusses the nature of time, the possibility of contact with a spiritual world, the collective unconscious and the significance of astrology. It also outlines the major prophesies and the prophet Nostradamus's life and times, supported by exaplanatory notes and historical data.

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Review:

If you've already seen too many books about Nostradamus, don't be put off by the title of this book. Only eight of the 21 chapters are devoted to Nostradamus and they discuss some of the many variant interpretations by previous writers, rather than setting out yet another new set of imaginative ideas. As such, these chapters provide a useful overview of the Nostradamus- prophecy industry.

The rest of the book is also "overview" in nature, as one might expect from Damon Wilson, who has worked on several previous books with his more famous father, Colin Wilson, who has worked on several previous books with his more famous father, Colin Wilson, an authority on (among much else) the paranormal. There are some fascinating chapters on other prophets, including Mother Shipton, John Dee, Edgar Cayce and others, and on several quite different means of foretelling the future.

Most readers might not want to examine the internal organs of a sacrificed animal; extispicy is historically significant--it goes back at least 4000 years--but is rarely practised today. There are retellings of anecdotes of glimpses of the future; as always, it's very difficult to judge just how meaningful an alleged vision of the sinking of the Titanic or the assassination of President Kennedy might be. Dreams and visions usually come unbidden; other forms of prophecy are more formally structured. Wilson's chapters on Tarot, the I Ching and astrology, especially, are very informative and thought-provoking, and in themselves make this book excellent value for money. --David V. Barrett

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