The Scientist and the Psychic, Christian Smith
The Scientist and the Psychic, Christian Smith
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The Scientist and the Psychic
A Son's Exploration of His Mother's Gift

Author: Christian Smith

Narrator: Douglas E. Hughes

Unabridged: 9 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/02/2021

Synopsis

Weaving together the story of his fractured relationship to his mother with research into her paranormal abilities, Dr. Christian Smith has created, in The Scientist and the Psychic, a captivating, one-of-a-kind memoir of belief, skepticism and familial love.

Christian Smith realized his mother was different in the autumn of 1977 when he was eight years old. Before then, he'd witnessed séances at home and the kids at school sometimes teased him about his mom being a witch--so he sensed that his life wasn't typical. But it wasn't until he was backstage at a renowned concert venue in Toronto, watching from behind a curtain as Geraldine commanded an audience of 2,000 with her extrasensory readings, that he understood she was special. As Geraldine's only child, he would assume the role of the quiet observer while she guided a live CBC broadcast of a séance; made startling and consistently accurate predictions; and eventually moved to LA to work with the parents of murder victims--and with convicted murderer Jeffrey R. MacDonald. Over time, the high profile and emotionally depleting work affected Geraldine's health and relationships. Addiction took over her life, and her son pulled away.

    Fast forward to the present day: Christian is a molecular biologist and Geraldine is retired and in poor health. They are closer than they've ever been, and now he gives us the story of her undeniable perceptual abilities and pioneering work as a psychic--and endeavours to make scientific sense of it.

About Christian Smith

Christian Smith is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology, director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, and director of the Center for Social Research at the University of Notre Dame.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily on January 04, 2021

What a book! A son digs into his mother’s career as a famous psychic, hunts down scientific investigations into ESP, and reflects on her impact on his life. Auras, true crime, addiction, forgiveness. I didn't want it to end! I loved reading about Geraldine's experiences handling murder cases in the......more

Goodreads review by David on January 15, 2021

What an unexpected story. Canada's most famous psychic has a son who becomes a scientist. There were fractures in their relationship over the years but Christian Smith finally applies a skeptical scientist's eye to his mother's indisputable gift. It is only successful because Smith has a deep love f......more

Goodreads review by Laura on January 04, 2021

An absolutely amazing, poignant and informative read. Fast paced, well crafted and a perfect mix of scientific inquiry and memoir writing. It doesn't matter if you are a skeptic or believer of psychic abilities because this is really a story about a mother and son, the ties that bind, potentially se......more

Goodreads review by Peggy on January 04, 2021

I eagerly anticipated reading this book by someone who had recently completed the program I'm currently enrolled in (Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction), and it did not disappoint. The topic is fascinating, and a complex life is well handled by the author, the son of well-known Canadian psyc......more

Goodreads review by Bookewyfe on April 27, 2024

I really enjoyed this book. The author was genuinely interested in the gifts his mother had. He was always healthily skeptical, but never a jerk about it. This is a memoir of that journey, and their relationship. In the end, he felt there was something to it that couldn’t necessarily be explained, b......more

Quotes

“In this utterly fascinating book, Christian Smith’s science background is juxtaposed with his mother’s paranormal gifts as a psychic medium, pitting research against experiences that cannot be replicated. Smith’s search for absolute proof of both the afterlife and the survival of consciousness after death will push even the most skeptical minds towards acceptance. The Scientist and the Psychic is also a love letter from a son to his mother—a ‘behind the lens’ exploration of mediumship, channeling, psychometry, and telepathy, and the heart-breaking toll these extraordinary gifts exacted on Geraldine Stringer’s closest family members, and on herself. A candid story told with honesty and great poignancy, and an absolute must-read.” —Susan Doherty, author of The Ghost Garden

“The Scientist and the Psychic is well-written and thought-provoking—an intriguing twist on the tale of a child of whose celebrated parent attends more to her public than to them. Christian Smith offers compelling ideas about his mother’s psychic mind and celebrates, in the end, the gifts of connection and forgiveness.” —Patricia Pearson, author of Opening Heaven’s Door and Wish You Were Here

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