The Invention of Telepathy explores one of the enduring concepts to emerge from the late nineteenth century. Telepathy was coined by Frederic Myers in 1882. He defined it as 'the communication of any kind from one mind to another, independently of the recognised channels of sense'. By 1901 it had become a disputed phenomenon amongst physical scientists yet was the 'royal road' to the unconscious mind. Telepathy was discussed by eminent men and women of the day, including Sigmund Freud, Thomas Huxley, Henry and William James, Mary Kingsley, Andrew Lang, Vernon Lee, W.T. Stead, and Oscar Wilde. Did telepathy signal evolutionary advance or possible decline? Could it be a means of binding the Empire closer together, or was it used by natives to subvert imperial communications? Were women more sensitive than men, and if so why? Roger Luckhurst investigates these questions in a study that mixes history of science with cultural history and literary analysis.

The power of thought? How is it possible? Every thought contains within it the power of thought - your thoughts, too. You only need to know how to recognise, strengthen and apply the power of thought. The secret of telepathy. The laws of the transfer of thought. The 7 lessons. Imagine welcoming a visitor, who has arrived only because you have personally chosen and invited them to visit you by the sole power of your thoughts. Numerous opportunities with friends or strangers, anywhere you like, will confirm your "fantastic" ability. Through the experiments provided, you will experience the mysterious power of telepathy and the influence of thought. SAMPLE EXCERPT: AN EXPERIMENT ON THE STREET... Excerpt from the chapter "A simple experiment on the street" in the third instructional part (page 16): ... if you would like to test the power of your thoughts using the technique of building up thoughts - as explained clearly in the 2nd part - carry out the following experiment out on the street: Look calmly and fixedly at the back of the head of a person walking in front of you (at a distance of between 6 metres and 25 metres). Together with the thoughts that you have already built up inside yourself, visualise the person in front of you turning their head towards you. The more you have built up your thoughts, and the more vividly and strongly you imagine the person to be turning their head, the faster your success will be. Don't make any noise whatsoever. No coughing or clearing your throat, and don't make your footsteps become heavier. The connection may only take place through your thoughts and through your imagination ... Try it yourself and you'll be amazed as, with a sufficient build-up of thoughts, this and similar experiments have a high rate of success.

This is Volume I of seven in a series on the Philosophy of Religion and General Philosophy. Originally published in 1953, this is a collection of selected essays looking at Psychical Research to philosophy, arguments around the validity of a personal God and also looking at afterthoughts at the time of the Cold War.