While in London in October '86, I managed to read
this new Geller book. I didn't buy it, but managed to
arrange a copy as a birthday gift (teleport via friendly
psychics). The book, which looks impressive with lots
of photos showing Geller with some pretty important
people, is really quite a farce. It is replete with claims
that cannot be proved and lots of little and childish
jabs at the skeptics.
Of the clever points, which can be counted on the
fingers of one hand, the highlight is the quote printed
on the back cover of the paper sleeve. It reads: "People
always used to ask me, ‘If you're so psychic, why
aren't you a millionaire?’ This is real clever, because
it's actually true. People have always levelled this
criticism on the psychics. Well, Geller IS a millionaire.
The psychology is brilliant. If he is a millionaire, then
we are subliminally forced to accept that he IS psychic!
A lovely touch! However, this is the most impressive
piece in the book.
The book is divided into three sections - Parts 1 and
3 are by Playfair, the second is by Geller himself.
Playfair plays his part well. He is already a believer,
although he comes on as a skeptic. It's a common
trap. He believes, and probably quite genuinely, that
he could detect a trick if Geller was to use one.
Unfortunately, this very attitude traps the observer
unless he is specifically trained in detection of psychic
fraud.
Even a magician can be fooled by a clever psychic
using tricks. It takes a magician with a very special
understanding of this sphere to catch a trickster at
work. That's why Geller fooled the magicians he
mentions in the book. They were good competent
magicians, but NOT specialists in this field.
Right from the beginning of the book, Playfair implies
that he is a good observer. Let's have a close look and
see just how clever he thinks he is.
Here's a quote from Playfair just prior to Geller
bending a spoon: "He was not wearing a watch, 1
noticed, or a ring, or a belt, and the copper bracelet on
his right arm was well beyond the reach of the end of
the spoon. The more obvious ways of spoon bending
by sleight of hand were thus ruled out." See, he misses
the point. None of the psychics, especially Geller,
require any of those items for the bending trick. It's
just not required! But Playfair is implying that sleight
of hand is ruled out due to their absence. He is wrong.
As it turns out, Geller did bend the spoon for
Playfair. He was sitting on his exercise bike when the
feat took place. Now, there is a point of leverage for
you. (Not that Geller would have needed it for the
small spoon used in this demonstration.) Note how
Playfair failed to acknowledge this bike as a possible
tool for deception.
Next, Playfair participates in a telepathic
experiment. He claims to have seen magicians
performing the same type of trick and decides to guard
against pencil reading. "I held my notebook parallel to
my chest and made several movements with my pen
that bore no relation to what I drew, adding a few
scratches with my thumbnail for good measure. That,
I reckoned, would make it difficult for him to guess
what I was drawing by watching the top of my pen or
by listening to the sounds it made on the paper. What
I eventually drew, after Uri had become rather
impatient and asked me to hurry up, was a very small
head with a three-pointed crown on it."
Now this is all a little confusing. Playfair first tells
us that he did the extra movements and sound effects
to conceal what he drew, and then adds "What I
eventually drew...". And, he "eventually drew" only
after Geller had become impatient. Sounds as if Uri
had everything under HIS control as usual. As it turns
out, Geller drew a cat with a head and body. Playfair
did see some similarities and scored it a success. Yes,
Geller's pencil reading was partially successful here.
Playfair sums up the two experiments by saying "A
spoon had bent (upwards incidentally) and a drawing
had been at least partially reproduced without any
obvious normal methods being used. Nor had he used
any of the magicians' tricks that are just as obvious to
somebody who knows what to look for."
Well, Mr Playfair, you were fooled by these very
tricks. Maybe they're not quite as obvious as you'd
like them to be!
So, Mr Playfair turns out to be a weak observer
due to his own misplaced confidence in his abilities as
an observer.
The second part of the book is written by Geller.
He supplies the details of the times he spent in Mexico
and jetting around the world mixing with the jet set. It
seems to have been what Uri really wanted to achieve.
His apparent exploits with the CIA are mentioned.
But, it turns out that his intelligence work is
commissioned by individuals and always unofficially.
Naturally, no-one wants to be identified. The fiction
rolls on.
It's in this section of the book where it really
becomes obvious how dangerous people like Geller
can be. Take the following dialogue for example:
This is just after Uri had performed his standard
drawing reproduction. This time, the victim is Henry
Kissinger.
Says Uri, "Kissinger went a little pale." "What else
did you get from my mind?" Kissinger supposedly says.
"Oh, I'd better not talk about that here," Geller replies.
Now, whether it actually went like this, no-one can
say. But if it did, and Kissinger was really concerned,
it just goes to show that people like Geller are not
harmless. Millions of dollars have been wasted on
researching psychic phenomena directly due to such
interludes.
Shrewd operators like Geller can unsettle and
mislead the minds of the most powerful men. The
resulting irrational thoughts and actions can be very
dangerous. As someone said, not so long ago, "I hope
that at the moment of truth, Jean Dixon doesn't have
her finger on the button!"
This second chapter continues with more of Geller's
tales involving psychic detection, inventions, and
computer magic. Yes, Uri has been fooling some of
the big computer companies by demonstrating his
abilities to alter and erase computer disks. Again, this
is nothing more than a magic trick that can be
performed by any competent magician. However, it
fools the scientists and technicians. Although these
writings by Geller are not as airy-fairy as his other
works, they are still fantasy.
Careful reading will indicate that Geller actually
admits (in a roundabout fashion) that he is a magician!
You see, magicians have certain rules that they must
adhere to in order to create their illusions. Geller is
constantly referring to these very same rules, although
shrouding them beneath various excuses. Geller applies
them at exactly the same time and for exactly the
same reasons that a magician must. There is no other
reason for him to do this except to conceal his trickery!
In the final section of the book, Playfair returns again
with his defences up. In fact, the entire book is very
defensive. Geller claims that he doesn't care about
the controversy or what people think, yet this book
seems to convey the exact opposite, contrary to the
comments put forward. Take the book in toto and it's
one big defence job.
Playfair rushes along crucifying the skeptics, the
magicians and almost anyone who has questioned the
Geller myth.
Playfair ends: "The bent spoons may be locked away
in filing cabinets. The face [Geller's] may have faded
from the screens. But the subversive idea has remained
buried in the collective subconscious: things are not
what we have been taught they are. [Emphasis in the original.]
Sure, Guy, maybe in your dream-world.
Editor's note: Ben Harris is the author of "Gellerism
Revealed" which describes the techniques used to bend
spoons and keys, start watches, etc.