The Believer

Alien Encounters, Hard Science, and the Passion of John Mack

By: Ralph Blumenthal

Narrated by: Phil Thron

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The Believer is the weird and chilling true story of Dr. John Mack. This eminent Harvard psychiatrist and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer risked his career to investigate the phenomenon of human encounters with aliens and to give credibility to the stupefying tales shared by people who were utterly convinced they had happened.

Nothing in Mack's four decades of psychiatry had prepared him for the otherworldly accounts of a cross section of humanity, including young children who reported being taken against their wills by alien beings. Over the course of his career, his interest in alien abduction grew from curiosity to wonder, ultimately developing into a limitless, unwavering passion.

Based on exclusive access to Mack's archives, journals, and psychiatric notes and interviews with his family and closest associates, The Believer reveals the life and work of a man who explored the deepest of scientific conundrums and further leads us to the hidden dimensions and alternate realities that captivated Mack until the end of his life.

©2021 Ralph Blumenthal (P)2021 Tantor

What an amazing man Dr John E Mack

I've always been intrigued by Dr Mack, but never really knew his story. I thought this was a well written and very interesting biography, in a fashion. Dr Mack rubbed shoulders with some amazing people of his era. Sad to hear how Dr Mack died, yet interesting how people reacted, and the belief Dr Mack reached out to each. Maybe it's a way they truly processed his death, or who knows. Overall, the voice performance was solid, and I was never distracted by the narrator's various voices. Interesting how the scholastic community is full of weirdos, Dr Mack having some of that, but maybe that is how some geniuses act. He had his problems, but I appreciated his passion in whatever he did. The stories of the abductees were quite interesting to say the least. On a side note, and a common theme in other books, is Carl Sagan had a super inflated egomaniac who didn't seek the truth often standing in the way of truth. I think Dr Mack stood as a giant over dinosaurs like Sagan, although he did do some great things, just his ego crushed his ability to do more. Great book. I wish Dr Macks books were on Audiobooks. Thanks, Ralph, for this work.

Dr. Mack was an interesting man

I was interested in reading about Dr. John Mack after having read his ground shaking book ABDUCTION. I knew Dr. Mack suffered blow back from his research into the UFO questions. So this book was a nice explanation of where Mack came from and how he got to his beliefs. A worthwhile listen if you read either John Macks books.

Blumenthal honored John Mack’s pioneer work well.

John Mack reigns Supreme in the realm of discovery of other species and their intentions albeit negative or positive toward Humans. Mack’s early demise is suspicious and leaves his readers missing what could have been his continued work in this field of the paranormal.

Eye Opening

Great book to listen to if you’re thinking about UFOs! Nice to get another educated prospective. The aliens are here! Here is some more proof.

Learned a lot about Dr. John Mack

I didn't get as much out of this book as I hoped that I would but it was good nonetheless. I liked learning about Dr. John Mack, who I had never heard of before, or, if I had heard of him it did not click. Anyhow, now I will always know about him, and so will you if you read this book. Plus there's a couple interesting case studies I had never heard about before, as well as a couple ones I had.

Interesting

John Mack had a long and interesting career, may he RIP. I didn’t feel this was a book I could listen straight through. Overall it was interesting but at times was very slow. There are quite a few supposedly conversations with others but who’s to know. Lots of information on Mr. Mack, who was interesting on his own. Despite the things mentioned I would still recommend this book.

This ends well

I like it. I got this book because I’ve had “Abduction” from a used bookstore for decades so I was interested in a book about John Mac the author.

This was mostly middle of the road but the ending is strong.

Top notch biography

very well written but very long and sluggish as times, yet still worth a listen or read.

Into the Abyss…or is there an Abyss?

John E. Mack a titan with human frailties but an inspiration for those that question authority and aspire towards exploring the boundaries of consciousness,….icing on the cake is a summary of his Pulitzer Prize tome on T.E. Lawrence…. I’m running to listen/read all of his books!

Ralph Blumenthal fills in the blanks on John Mack

I always wondered by John Mack took up experiencers and their issues. i wondered why he spent so much energy on TE Laurence. I didn't know the degree to which Danny Sheehan went to war with Harvard for John Mack. We learn this and much more from this great book.