
S1. Ep.3 - The World of Ted Serios
S1. Ep.3 - The World of Ted Serios
Richard delves into challenging misconceptions held by both skeptics and believers through the lens of Jule Eisenbud's "The World of Ted Serios," which underscores the significance of caution in scientific inquiry while also exploring the debilitating doubt often encountered in paranormal exploration.
“Certainly an attitude of caution and skepticism should be expected of anyone undertaking to test a hypothesis according to conventional cannons of scientific inquiry. But not the kind of gnawing, festering doubt that took possession of me." –The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud
In this episode of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, we’re exploring The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud. And we’re taking on one of the longest-standing feuds in the world of paranormal exploration: skeptics vs. believers.
In the 1960s, Theodore Judd Serios, a Chicago bellhop, gained fame for producing "thoughtographs.” Ted, it seems, could think images onto film. Polaroid film to be exact. Parapsychologist Jule Eisenbud arranges to meet with him, and over the next three years of wild experiments, Jule goes down a rabbit hole from which he never completely emerged.
As Richard immerses himself in Eisenbud's narrative, he grapples with the dichotomy between skeptics and believers, challenging misconceptions that often plague serious paranormal inquiry. Through insightful commentary, Richard sheds light on the rational pursuit of knowledge among individuals intrigued by the unexplained, contrasting it with the hasty conclusions drawn by both skeptics and true believers.
Books
More
Buy the book, The World of Ted Serios here
Check out the Rhine Research Center here
Ian Stevenson's Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia
You can study parapsychology in Scotland! Learn more here
Check out some of Ted's "thoughtographs" at the Jule Eisenbud collection on Ted Serios and thoughtographic photography here
Stay at the GORGEOUS Palmer House Hotel in Chicago (and maybe even stay in Room 1320-W!)
This is the camera that Ted used, the Polaroid Land Model 100
An exhibit of Ted's work at The Image Centre in Toronto
David Eisendrath & Charles Reynolds attempt to debunk Ted Serios on "Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers"
Buy "The Mind's Eye", a new book of Ted's photographs, many never seen before, plus commentary