Astrologers, Alien Autopsyists Beware

The skeptic's motto; "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof", is the reason for the existence of this magazine. It does a superb job of holding claimants of extraordinary circumstances up to the light of reason. Recent articles include articles on "The Pseudoscience of Oxygen Therapy", "Confessions of a Graphologist" and the inevitable end of the year list; "The Ten Outstanding Skeptics of the Twentieth Century". Past articles have dealt with the alien autopsies, dowsing, religious statue weeping, creationism, astrology, ghosties and other beasties. The typical magazine contains sections of News and Comment, Martin Gardner's column, various commentary, Investigative Files by the Committee for the Scientific Claims of the Paranormal's (CSICOP, for which the Skeptical Inquirer is the house rag) superb investigator, Joe Nickell, articles and reviews.

As a subscriber for over 15 years, I have found the Skeptical Inquirer to not only be useful and informative in the debunking of many claims, but also very comforting to know that in the vast wasteland of popular culture, there are others who look at our culture with some rationality and rigor.

I do find that some articles can be a bit strident and humourless in their zeal to show how others have been led astray. Other articles can be a bit technical for the average reader, but not to the extent of a refereed technical journal. Also some of the writing can be a bit dry. However, these small complaints do very little to detract from the excellent mission for which the magazine exists. I highly recommend this magazine.