Mrs. Piper & the Society for Psychical Research

Mrs. Piper & the Society for Psychical Research by Michael Sage delivers a gripping, sober exploration of the famed medium Mrs. Piper and the experimental inquiries that captivated scientists and the public around the turn of the 20th century. Sage’s clear-eyed narrative, translated and slightly abridged from the French, walks listeners through the carefully recorded sittings, the controls and protocols developed by the Society for Psychical Research, and the heated debates over interpretation—from telepathy to survival of consciousness. Rooted in the historical context of Victorian and Edwardian interest in spiritualism, the book balances detailed case summaries with philosophical reflection, showing how early psychological methods were applied to anomalous claims. Sage refrains from sensationalism, instead interrogating witness reliability, experimental rigor, and the limits of contemporary theory. Prefatory material from leading investigators underscores the work’s place in the evolution of scientific approaches to paranormal phenomena. Ideal for anyone curious about psychology, the history of science, or the origins of parapsychology, this audiobook is a thoughtful introduction to how serious inquiry met spiritualist practice—and why those encounters still matter for debates about mind, evidence, and belief.