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The Unidentified
The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained | Colin Dickey
9 posts | 12 read | 11 to read
America's favorite cultural historian and author of Ghostland takes a tour of the country's most persistent "unexplained" phenomena In a world where rational, scientific explanations are more available than ever, belief in the unprovable and irrational--in fringe--is on the rise: from Atlantis to aliens, from Flat Earth to the Loch Ness monster, the list goes on. It seems the more our maps of the known world get filled in, the more we crave mysterious locations full of strange creatures. Enter Colin Dickey, Cultural Historian and Tour Guide of the Weird. With the same curiosity and insight that made Ghostland a hit with readers and critics, Colin looks at what all fringe beliefs have in common, explaining that today's Illuminati is yesterday's Flat Earth: the attempt to find meaning in a world stripped of wonder. Dickey visits the wacky sites of America's wildest fringe beliefs--from the famed Mount Shasta where the ancient race (or extra-terrestrials, or possibly both, depending on who you ask) called Lemurians are said to roam, to the museum containing the last remaining "evidence" of the great Kentucky Meat Shower--investigating how these theories come about, why they take hold, and why as Americans we keep inventing and re-inventing them decade after decade. The Unidentified is Colin Dickey at his best: curious, wry, brilliant in his analysis, yet eminently readable.
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TorieStorieS
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Mehso-so

This was our first listen for the roadtrip and it wasn‘t exactly what I expected it to be. There are some anecdotes of varying degrees of fame (from Nessie & Bigfoot to some lesser known cryptids like Altie in Darien, GA), alien abduction accounts and conspiracy theories, Dickey clearly approaches from a debunking/stance of disbelief. Unsubstantiated assumptions & sweeping statements can be off-putting. Slow-paced & not as much fun as I hoped!

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Sweettartlaura
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Pickpick

My #spookyreadathon got a bit derailed in week 2 🤷🏻‍♀️. But I finally finished this tonight.

Without saying a word about the pandemic or the current political situation, it does a LOT toward explaining how we‘re fighting about basic provable facts. I was not expecting that.

Link to full review below. In short, I recommend it 👍🏻

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3078870296

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Bookboss
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Pickpick

As a kid, I was fascinated with Bigfoot and Nessie. As a young adult, I was obsessed with the X-files. Although I enjoyed the stories, I have never really believed any of them. Real discoveries of new species and actual missions to space are amazing. The unexplained phenomenon that Dickey explores is the attraction of conspiracy theories that defy science. I would have like more research into the psychology of the attraction, but I enjoyed it.

40 likes4 stack adds
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sarahljensen
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Pickpick

This book looks at cryptids and aliens, but mostly it's looking at the people who are searching for them and asking why. This is the second one of his books I've read, and I'm about to order the third one.

#catsoflitsy #litsycats

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Ephemera
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Mehso-so

This book purports to explain why people believe in such things as UFOs, Sasquatch, aliens and such. I myself believe that Sasquatch exists. There is a lot of physical evidence which supports this. While the author does make a lot of good points in this book, he often makes allegations that he doesn‘t support with facts. In short, the book is an exercise in debunking and not much else. Two and a half stars.

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Luulit
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https://www.luulit.com/product/the-unidentified-mythical-monsters-alien-encounte...

“Absolutely perfect for the current moment.“ (BuzzFeed)

America's favorite cultural historian and author of Ghostland takes a tour of the country's most persistent “unexplained“ phenomena.

24 likes1 stack add
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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

If you liked Ghostland, I think you'll enjoy this exploration of the Sasquatch, UFOs and other unexplained phenomena. I like how Dickey doesn't try to persuade the reader to believe one way or the other, he offers the phenomenons, discusses various theories, then leaves it to the reader to decide what they believe. 4 💥💥💥💥

36 likes1 stack add
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Morr_Books
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Mehso-so

Didn't get to read much yesterday but still managed to finish my first book of #24B4Monday. It was an ok book.
@Andrew65 @jb72 @SumisBooks

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 4y
45 likes1 comment
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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

Author of Ghostlands, Dickey looks at the "fringe" concept, paranormal explanations and hypotheses to justify what can't be answered. From folklore, religion, economic demographics, and cultural histories, the book presents the theories of cryptids, lost civilizations, and UFO's in a more plausible idea.

8 likes1 stack add