Background
Nickell, Joe Herman was born on December 1, 1944 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Son of James Wendell and Ella Kathleen Nickell.
(Educational studies indicate a critical lack of scientifi...)
Educational studies indicate a critical lack of scientific awareness in children and young adults. Is it because science is no longer perceived as challenging, interesting, or just plain fun? Looking for scientific facts can be as enjoyable as "playing detective". Joe Nickell realized that a mere series of debunking stories might hold a child's interest, yet not kindle the development of critical skills. If children could be fully involved in the investigation of strange occurences . . . if the investigations could have all the thrill of a ghost story yet reinforce rational over irrational thought, and science over superstition . . . then the book as a whole would be an appealing introduction to logic, critical analysis, and the scientific method in action. In The Magic Detectives, Nickell presents thirty "paranormal" investigations in the form of brief mystery stories. Clues are embedded in each story; at the end of each account, the child can turn the book upside down to reveal the conclusion that professional "magic detectives" have already reached. Included are examinations of the "mummy's curse," bigfoot, haunted stairways, the Amityville Horror, the Loch Ness monster, poltergeists, and more. The "note to teachers" which follows the text of the book recommends that The Magic Detectives be used as an illustrative aid for teaching valuable skills to young people. Nickell makes specific suggestions for assignments, and includes a list of references consulted which can serve as a list for further reading.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879755474/?tag=2022091-20
(This authoritative book about the controversial "shroud" ...)
This authoritative book about the controversial "shroud" of Turin, claimed to be the burial cloth of Jesus, presents overwhelming evidence that the cloth is actually the creation of a clever medieval artist. From the earliest known document that mentions the shroud - a letter from a 14th-century Catholic bishop reporting that the artist had confessed - Joe Nickell traces the historical, iconographic, pathological, forensic, and physical and chemical investigations of the purported relic. He details the microchemical tests that revealed artists' pigments on the image and tempera paint in the areas claimed to be bloodstains. Working with a panel of distinguished scientific and artistic experts, the author links the reported medieval confession and the scientific proof of pigments by demonstrating that the much-touted "photographically negative" image can actually be convincingly simulated by means of an artistic technique employed in the Middle Ages. Inquest on the Shroud of Turin has all the elements of a good detective story as well as of an expertly presented judicial inquiry. Nickell notes the fact that few scientists with the requisite skills have examined the cloth (generally, those who did became skeptics). He concludes that this is one of the many suspicious circumstances in the cloth's known history of seven centuries. The so-called "shroud" of Jesus can only be traced to about 1355, when it surfaced at Lirey, France. For the thirteen centuries from the reputed death of Jesus of Nazareth until that date, there is no evidence that his burial garments were preserved or that the "shroud" was in existence. Even readers who do not believe in so-called holy relics will be fascinated by Nickell's methodical uncovering of the truth about the cloth. However, nothing in this book attacks the faith of Christians.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1573922722/?tag=2022091-20
(Tales of alien abductions, miraculous relics, and haunted...)
Tales of alien abductions, miraculous relics, and haunted castles have attracted believers and skeptics across the globe for centuries. Paranormal investigator Joe Nickell tackles the world's most seemingly inexplicable myths in Adventures in Paranormal Investigation. With four decades of experience in the field, Nickell employs skepticism and scientific analysis to pull truth from the mires of false evidence and trickery that surround both old and new legends and mysteries. Unlike authors who engage in hype and sensationalism in order to foster or debunk myths, Nickell approaches each case with a rational and scientific approach intended to find the truth. Occam's Razor―all things being equal, the simplest solution is the best one―is a principal instrument in his investigative toolbox, as well as the belief that it is the claimant's responsibility to provide the extraordinary proof required in such extraordinary cases. Adventures in Paranormal Investigation features Nickell's on-site explorations in unusual phenomena. Among the forty unique cases, Nickell examines mysteries ranging from snake charmers who purport to hold influence over the reptiles, to the Holocaust victims who reportedly haunt a gas chamber in Dachau, to Lake Simcoe's resident lake monster Igopogo in Canada. In addition to the case studies, Nickell analyzes how the propensity to fantasize can affect human perceptions of and belief in paranormal activity and how his personal experience with the paranormal was altered when intuition led to the discovery of a daughter he didn't know existed. More than just another myth-busting text, Adventures in Paranormal Investigation brings together reason and scientific analyses to explain both the phenomena and the role of human perception therein, establishing Nickell as the foremost paranormal investigator of our time.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813124670/?tag=2022091-20
(Investigative writer Joe Nickell and forensic analyst Joh...)
Investigative writer Joe Nickell and forensic analyst John F. Fischer probe ten tantalizing mysteries that, for decades, have defied rational analysis and convinced many people that supernatural events really do happen. Using their skills and experience in historic document examination and forensic research, Nickell and Fischer carefully scrutinize the evidence for a variety of strange historical, paranormal, and forensic phenomena. - Is a historic Kentucky home really haunted by the "gray lady's ghost"? - Did Lee Harvey Oswald assassinate J.F.K., or was the killer a Soviet look-alike? - Has the U.S. government concealed evidence of UFO visitations to Earth? - Is a miracle taking place in a Naples cathedral where the congealed blood of a martyred saint periodically liquefies? Taking neither a credulous nor close-minded approach, the authors search for answers to these questions and other mysterious conundrums. Their deductions and proposed solutions (which make use of blood chemistry, forensic analysis, document examination, and a knowledge of stage magic) are truly worthy of Sherlock Holmes and will keep readers turning the pages to find out the rest of the story.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879757655/?tag=2022091-20
(As a former private investigator and forensic writer, Joe...)
As a former private investigator and forensic writer, Joe Nickell has spent much of his career identifying forged documents, working undercover to infiltrate theft rings, and investigating questioned deaths. Now he turns his considerable investigative skill toward the paranormal, researching the most well-known and mysterious phenomena all over the world―spontaneous human combustion, UFO visitations, auras, electronic poltergeists, and many, many more―with an eye toward solving these mysteries rather than promoting or dismissing them. Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal examines the cases of over forty paranormal mysteries. Using a hands-on approach, Nickell visits the scene of the so-called unexplainable activity whenever possible and attempts to physically duplicate the miraculous. Whether he's inflicting stigmata on himself or recreating the liquefying blood of Saint Januarius, Nickell does whatever necessary to eliminate the probable before considering the supernatural. What is left is that much more fascinating. Nickell reports on familiar legends from American history such as the supernatural events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's death and the supposed crash landing of an alien spacecraft near Roswell, New Mexico. He closely examines claims of the miraculous, from rose petals bearing the likeness of Jesus to photographs of a "golden door" to heaven. Controversial mysteries such as clairvoyance and "spirit painting," haunted places, and freaks of nature are just a few of the many topics covered. Suspenseful, engrossing, funny, and grounded in scientific methodology, Real-Life X-Files provides real explanations for the "paranormal" activities that have intrigued human beings for centuries.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813122104/?tag=2022091-20
(The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a fas...)
The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a fascinating legacy of mystery and intrigue. The secrets behind such daring feats as fire-eating and sword swallowing and bizarre exhibitions of human oddities as "Alligator Boys" and "Gorilla Girls" still remain, only grudgingly if ever given up by performers and carnival professionals. Working alongside the performers, Joe Nickell blows the lid off these mysteries of the midway. The author reveals the structure of the shows, specific methods behind the performances, and the showmen's tactics for recruiting performers and attracting crowds. He also traces the history of such spectacles, from ancient Egyptian magic and street fairs to the golden age of P.T. Barnum's sideshows. With revealing insight into the personal lives of the men and women billed as freaks, Nickell unfolds the captivating story of the midway show.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813191955/?tag=2022091-20
(A comprehensive historical study of writing instruments, ...)
A comprehensive historical study of writing instruments, ink, paper, penmanship and documents.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813117194/?tag=2022091-20
(What constitutes historical truth is often subject to cha...)
What constitutes historical truth is often subject to change. Joe Nickell demonstrates the techniques used in solving some of the world's most perplexing mysteries, such as the authenticity of Abraham Lincoln's celebrated Bixby letter, the 1913 disappearance of writer and journalist Ambrose Bierce, and the apparent real-life model for a mysterious character in a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nickell also uses newly uncovered evidence to further investigate the identity of the Nazi war criminal known as ""Ivan the Terrible.""
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813191378/?tag=2022091-20
(The centuries-old art of handwriting is practiced daily b...)
The centuries-old art of handwriting is practiced daily by millions, yet few have any idea of its history or the tools used in handwriting. In Pen, Ink, and Evidence, Joe Nickell traces the development of writing and writing materials from the ancient cuneiform tablet to today's ball-point-scribbled memo. Nickell not only describes how ink, paper, pens, and pencils have been manufactured and used over the centuries, but also explores the history of such ancillary activities as learning calligraphy, cutting quill pens, deciphering old scripts, detecting forgeries, identifying watermarks, dating ink bottles, and reading faded manuscripts. He also traces the development of autograph collecting, describes how to identify inks, and offers sidelights on postage stamps, early typewriters, mourning stationery, fountain-pen fillers, and the evolution of the desk. Richly illustrated from the author's own collection, the book includes photos of historic inkwells, traveling writing kits, pens of glass and gold, ink eraser knives, quill cutters, paperweights, letter openers, pen racks, and sealing-wax melters, as well as documents ranging from valentines and genealogical records to secret messages. Pen, Ink, and Evidence is an essential text for calligraphers, archivists, literary scholars, historians, genealogists, collectors, document analysts, teachers of handwriting, and all others with an interest in writing and its accoutrements.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584560924/?tag=2022091-20
(With a foreword by James Randi Paranormal investigator Jo...)
With a foreword by James Randi Paranormal investigator Joe Nickell has spent more than thirty years solving the world's most perplexing mysteries. This new casebook reveals the secrets of the Winchester Mystery House, the giant Nazca drawings of Peru, the Shroud of Turin, the "Mothman" enigma, the Amityville Horror house, the vicious goatsucking El Chupacabras, and numerous other "unexplainable" paranormal phenomena. Nickell has traveled far and wide to solve cases, which include a weeping icon in Russia, the elusive Bigfoot-like "yowie" in Australia, the reputed power of a headless saint in Spain, and an "alien hybrid" in Germany. He has gone undercover―often in disguise―to reveal the tricks of those who pretend to talk to the dead, accompanied a Cajun guide into a Louisiana swamp in search of a fabled monster, and gained an audience with a voodoo queen. Superstar psychic medium John Edward, pet psychic Sonya Fitzpatrick, evangelist and healer Benny Hinn, and many other well-known figures have found themselves under Nickell's careful scrutiny. The Mystery Chronicles examines more than three dozen intriguing mysteries. Nickell uses a hands-on approach and the scientific method to steer between the extremes of mystery mongering and debunking. His investigative skills have won him both acclaim and controversy during his long career as one of the world's foremost paranormal investigators.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813123186/?tag=2022091-20
(Detecting Forgery reveals the complete arsenal of forensi...)
Detecting Forgery reveals the complete arsenal of forensic techniques used to detect forged handwriting and alterations in documents and to identify the authorship of disputed writings. Joe Nickell looks at famous cases such as Clifford Irving's "autobiography" of Howard Hughes and the Mormon papers of document dealer Mark Hoffman, as well as cases involving works of art. Detecting Forgery is a fascinating introduction to the growing field of forensic document examination and forgery detection.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813191254/?tag=2022091-20
(Religious relics, defined as "either portions of or objec...)
Religious relics, defined as "either portions of or objects connected with the body of a saint or other holy person," are among the most revered items in the world. Christian relics such as the Holy Grail, the True Cross, and the Lance of Longinus are also the source of limitless controversy. Such items have incited people to bloodshed and, some say, have been a source of miracles. Relics inspire fear and hope among the faithful and yet are a perennial target for skeptics, both secular and Christian. To research the authenticity of numerous Christian relics, Joe Nickell takes a scientific approach to a field of study all too often tainted by premature conclusions. In this volume, Nickell investigates such renowned relics as the Shroud of Turin, the multiple heads of John the Baptist, and the supposedly incorruptible corpses of saints, first examining the available evidence and documented history of each item. From accounts of true believers to the testimony of the relics' alleged fabricators, Nickell then presents all sides of each story, allowing the evidence to speak for itself. For each relic, Nickell evaluates both the corroborating and contradictory bodies of evidence and explores whether the relic and attributed miracles can be reconstructed. In addition to his own experiments, Nickell presents findings from the world's top scientists and historians regarding these controversial objects of reverence and ire, explaining the circumstances under which each case was examined. Radiocarbon dating and tests to determine the validity of substances such as blood or patina indicate a variety of possible origins. Nickell even reveals some of the techniques used to create archaeological forgeries and explains how investigators have exposed them. Each relic is a mystery to be solved; guided by the maxim, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof," Nickell seeks only the truth.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813124255/?tag=2022091-20
( In Camera Clues, Joe Nickell shares his methods of iden...)
In Camera Clues, Joe Nickell shares his methods of identifying and dating old photos and demonstrates how to distinguish originals from copies and fakes. Particularly intriguing are his discussions of camera tricks, darkroom manipulations, retouching techniques, and uses of computer technology to deceive the eye. Camera Clues concludes with a look at allegedly "paranormal" photography, from nineteenth-century "spirit photographs" to UFO snapshots.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813118948/?tag=2022091-20
( The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a f...)
The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a fascinating legacy of mystery and intrigue. The secrets behind such daring feats as fire-eating and sword swallowing and bizarre exhibitions of human oddities as "Alligator Boys" and "Gorilla Girls" still remain, only grudgingly if ever given up by performers and carnival professionals. Working alongside the performers, Joe Nickell blows the lid off these mysteries of the midway. The author reveals the structure of the shows, specific methods behind the performances, and the showmen's tactics for recruiting performers and attracting crowds. He also traces the history of such spectacles, from ancient Egyptian magic and street fairs to the golden age of P.T. Barnum's sideshows. With revealing insight into the personal lives of the men and women billed as freaks, Nickell unfolds the captivating story of the midway show.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UXHRLQ6/?tag=2022091-20
(The willingness of people to believe in magical icons, my...)
The willingness of people to believe in magical icons, mystical relics, and miraculous pictures (like the Image of Guadalupe) is almost as curious as these phenomena themselves. Though they cry out for scientific investigation, millions of people blindly accept them as fact. Historical and paranormal investigator Joe Nickell confronts such strange events, powers, and objects as the Shroud of Turin, bleeding or weeping statues, burning handprints, liquefying blood, ecstatic visions, miraculous cures, and people speaking in tongues in Looking for a Miracle. Departing from standard critiques of religion, Nickell carefully investigates the evidence relating to specific claims. Religious believers and rationalists alike have much to learn from this revealing examination of the evidence for the miraculous.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879758406/?tag=2022091-20
(Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go...)
Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go bump in the night. Since earliest times, public fascination and popular imagination have focused on phenomena known as "supernatural." But extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. When mysteries and coincidences seem too remarkable to be true, reason demands careful investigation and analysis of the facts rather than the invocation of "unknown forces." Utilizing their experience as professional crime-solvers, authors Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer delve into the labyrinth of the unknown armed with open minds and the remarkable array of information sources and scientific methods available to the modern investigator. Examined are such classic enigmas as the haunting of Mackenzie House (Toronto's rebel statesman is said to tread noisily upon the stairs of his historic home); the question of the "Crystal Skull" (the "grand-daddy of all crystal balls"); the case of "The Two Will Wests" (two prison inmates with the same name, identical features, and similar fingerprints); plus bleeding doors, phantom pictures, restless coffins, disappearing footprints, human fireballs, and miraculous portraits - a fascinating panoply of mind-bogglers, riddles, and ambiguities. The methods, procedures, and sources used by Nickell and Fischer to solve these "mysteries" included forensic and microchemical analysis, controlled testing, archaeology, instrumental analyses, iconographic studies, genetics, deductive logic, photography, art history, pathology, engineering, genealogy, police records, and plain common sense. Neither a mere collection of stories nor a categorical debunking, this book goes beyond the spine-tingling to focus on details of available evidence, appropriate investigative strategies, and convincing explanations for these intriguing "occult" mysteries. The answers provided may disappoint the determined believer in the supernatural - but the solutions, and the fascinating methodology used by the authors, are as unique and interesting as the perplexing cases on which they are based.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879756853/?tag=2022091-20
Nickell, Joe Herman was born on December 1, 1944 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Son of James Wendell and Ella Kathleen Nickell.
Bachelor, University Kentucky, 1967. Master of Arts, University Kentucky, 1982. Doctor of Philosophy, University Kentucky, 1987.
Professional stage magician, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1968-1973; private investigator, Toronto, 1973-1975; music exhibit designer, Dawson City (Yukon) Museum, 1975-1976; freelance investigative writer, since 1976; teaching assistant, U. Kentucky, Lexington, 1980-1987; instructor, U. Kentucky, Lexington, 1987-1995; senior research fellow, Committee for the Science Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, Amherst, New York, since 1995.
(This authoritative book about the controversial "shroud" ...)
(As a former private investigator and forensic writer, Joe...)
(Detecting Forgery reveals the complete arsenal of forensi...)
(The willingness of people to believe in magical icons, my...)
(Religious relics, defined as "either portions of or objec...)
( In Camera Clues, Joe Nickell shares his methods of iden...)
(With a foreword by James Randi Paranormal investigator Jo...)
(The centuries-old art of handwriting is practiced daily b...)
(Tales of alien abductions, miraculous relics, and haunted...)
(Educational studies indicate a critical lack of scientifi...)
(The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a fas...)
( The carnival sideshows of the past have left behind a f...)
(A comprehensive historical study of writing instruments, ...)
(Investigative writer Joe Nickell and forensic analyst Joh...)
(What constitutes historical truth is often subject to cha...)
(Weeping icons, relics, stigmata, visions and healing cure...)
(Clifford Irving's autobiography of Howard Hughes. Han Van...)
(Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go...)
(Mysterious happenings. Famous apparitions. Things that go...)
(Book by Nickell, Joe)
(Book by Nickell, Joe)
Fellow Committee for the Science Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
Married Diana G. Harris, 2006. 1 child Cherette.