Experiences with strange phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs, psychics, and miracle cures make for titillating stories. Many of us treat these stories as just that—stories—but for some people, the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and otherworldly happenings leads down a dark path. Paranoia and the belief in the paranormal have real-life consequences. What is the science behind these scenarios?

Everyday Extraordinary provides an antidote for the fringe beliefs and science denial prevailing in today’s pop culture.

People will always believe in the unbelievable. In this skeptical and scientific investigation, Barry Markovsky pushes back against harmful flights of fancy with down-to-earth, evidence-based explanations wrapped in compelling stories. Each of the chronologically ordered chapters has a “Frontstage” and “Backstage” section. The “Frontstage” recounts a personal experience from the author’s life: Awakening from a night terror as a young child; Having his fortune told by a psychic; The claims of an alternative medicine practitioner. The “Backstage” section explains in simple terms what’s really going on—mechanisms and functions behind dreaming; deceptive “cold reading” techniques used by psychics; distorted evidence promoted by quack doctors. Each explanation is scientifically grounded, presented with minimal jargon, and softened with anecdotes, illustrations, and humor.

Everyday Extraordinary makes sense of things that at first seem inexplicable. Many of these experiences feel special and unique despite being remarkably common. And even when not experienced directly, most are all too familiar to readers through reality TV shows, tabloids, and social media. (Includes 6 B&W illustrations.)