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bexlrose's review
5.0
A stunning book. Non-fiction, an account of a scientist studying premonitions. Nothing wooly or airy-fairy about it. No mentions of star signs or astral planes, but good, valid scientific methods to try to study the relatively unstudyable.
Fascinating, thought-provoking and eminently readable. 5 stars.
Fascinating, thought-provoking and eminently readable. 5 stars.
ectoplasms's review against another edition
5.0
This book really worked for me. I had no specific assumptions about the book when I started reading it, and was just happy for the book to take me wherever it went. The meandering, fragmentary nature of it, with bits and pieces stitched together, was really to my taste. The language of the book was immensely enjoyable and the narrator was excellent. All in all a fantastic little book.
phoebebrown37's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
seventhswan's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
3.5 stars, but a very strong 3.5 - this was a fascinating read! I don't truly know if I believe in premonitions or not, despite believing I and people I know have experienced them, and it seems like neither Knight nor the researchers in this book know if they do either. A conclusion either way is never drawn, and we are left to make up our own minds.
Regardless, though, I thought this was an accessibly-written book, free of outright woo but also of preachy scepticism. The opening section about Aberfan was particularly gripping. I did find that the following sections meandered a bit - everywhere they went was interesting enough, but I struggled to find the thread linking them together - and I would have liked to hear more about the later work and wrapping-up of the Premonitions Bureau. Towards the end things got a little repetitive (here is a bad thing that happened, here is someone who predicted it) but it was refreshing to read such a well-researched, clearly-written book about something a little fringe!
Regardless, though, I thought this was an accessibly-written book, free of outright woo but also of preachy scepticism. The opening section about Aberfan was particularly gripping. I did find that the following sections meandered a bit - everywhere they went was interesting enough, but I struggled to find the thread linking them together - and I would have liked to hear more about the later work and wrapping-up of the Premonitions Bureau. Towards the end things got a little repetitive (here is a bad thing that happened, here is someone who predicted it) but it was refreshing to read such a well-researched, clearly-written book about something a little fringe!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Mental illness and Medical content
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis