- For those not afraid of the truthI remember six or so years ago when Peter Popoff, was exposed as a fraud and how he used a microphone and scouts in his rallies to find out information ahead of time so he could pretend to "know" that someone was in need of help and how he even planted people with crutches etc for healings. Thru reason and scientific fact James Randi shows why these smoke and mirror televangelists are like the small man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. Like me he isn't against reading or looking into other ideas and beliefs, since true knowledge is power. Personally I think every religious or new ager should read this book if for no other reason that it will at least plant the suggestion of things to pay attention to. It is like learning about the sleight of hand tricks that magicians use. The only difference is that magicians will tell you up front that it is an illusion, a sleight of hand and a "trick".
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- There's them that's sheep, and there's them that shear 'emJames Randi is an rock of clear thinking in an avalanche of paranormal ooze. The detective work he and his fellow skeptics do to smoke out these fraudulent Elmer Gantrys is a marvel of ingenuity. In other books he is mild towards the self-deluded, but here he has only anger for the jackals in the bad combovers and white vinyl shoes who prey upon the ignorant and desperately sick. He calls for federal laws against the faith-healing swindle, which is a bad idea and obviously isn't going to happen. But the meat of the book is his exposure of the false healers. You'll fume with helpless rage.
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- Sraight to the point...Mr. Randi does a fine job at delving into the deplorable depths of faith healing in this book. With sentimentality nearly non-existent, only facts and clear-cut explained conclusions remain. An especially good account of the shyster "Reverend" Peter Popoff, is related. It was Mr. Randi's investigation that banished Popoff's ministry from arenas and network, national television to one-room conferences and UHF-stations... Evident proof that even the followers of faith healing can eventually see the true light if given substantiated claims.
The only bone to pick with this book is its publishing year. It's over a decade out of date, but that can't be held against the author. The information provided is as applicable as it was ten years ago, only I wish Mr. Randi would venture into this topic once again. Perhaps he could do for Benny Hinn on Jay Leno, what he did for Peter Popoff on Johnny Carson...
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- One of the best by RandiI love James Randi books (even if sometimes he repeats a certain point several times, like trying to get it through our head by hammering it). This one, and "Flim-Flam", are my favorites.
In "Faith Healers" he exposes the tricks of those who claim that are able to cure in name of the Lord. The book is not only an eye opener, but sometimes works as an excellent detective story (as how he exposed Popoff).
Some critics of this book -and other by Randi- express that there is such things as miracles, that we need the Lord, etc... If you read carefully, you will find that Randi is never oppossed to our liberty to select a religion. He is strongly against all those people who take advantage of faith to take other people money and their possibilities of getting appropiate medical attention. Hey, religious people, even the Bible talks against people claiming falsely to have powers from God. Skeptic or believer, you have to support Randi and his causes!
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- An expose of religious con artistsMr. Randi has done an excellent job of pulling the cloak off the charlatans and professional liars in this book. He gives examples and proof, using the "faith healers" own words; what better way to do it. Let their own words and actions trap themselves. I strongly suggest that even Christian believers should read this book, and stop giving money (if they have been so foolish to have done so) to these mountebanks . If the book has a shortcoming, it is somewhat dated. Since these religious con artists are constantly popping up, as they find an easy way to wealth, many of the newer ones are not mentioned in the book, primarily the "anointed one"...Some of the others, however, are still around...Buy this book and read it. Mr. Randi speaks the truth about those that don't speak the truth.