Joe Nickell

Infobox Person
name = Joe Nickell


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education = Ph.D. in English
alma_mater = University of Kentucky
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occupation = Stage magician
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Joe Nickell was born December 1, 1944. He is a former stage magician and is a prominent skeptical investigator of the paranormal. He also works as an historical document consultant [ [http://www.joenickell.com/HistoricalDocsConsult/historicaldocs1.html Historical Document Consultant ] ] and has examined such famous forgeries as the purported Jack the Ripper Diary.

Nickell holds B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Kentucky. His Ph.D. is in English for graduate work focusing on literary investigation and folklore. He is a senior Research Fellow for the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal and is a member of its Executive Council. He writes regularly for their journal, the "Skeptical Inquirer". He is also an associate dean of the Center for Inquiry Institute. He has worked professionally as a private investigator, journalist, and university instructor, and is the author or editor of several books. He is married to Diana Harris. [cite journal
last = Nickell
first = Joe
authorlink = Joe Nickell
coauthors =
title = A Skeleton's Tale: The Origins of Modern Spiritualism
journal = Skeptical Inquirer
volume = 32
issue = 4
pages = p. 20
publisher = Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
location =
date = July/August 2008
isbn = The article is about the Fox sisters. He thanks his wife by name in the Acknowledgments.]

In “An Interview With Joe Nickell,” Eric Krieg of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, describes Nickell (using Nickell's own words) as an “investigator” and formerly an “undercover detective, teacher, draft dodger, river boat manager, carnival promoter, magician and spokesperson.”

Public and Media Appearances

Nickell is a recurring guest on Point of Inquiry, and conducts the annual Houdini Seance at the Center for Inquiry Institute every Halloween [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/?p=135 Audio of The 11th Annual Houdini Seance] .

Nickell has appeared on the following national TV shows [ [http://www.csicop.org/list/listarchive/msg00135.html Skeptical Inquirer columnist Joe Nickell on Tour ] ] :

* CNBC's "News with Brian Williams"
* "Dateline NBC"
* "TLC's Best Kept Secrets"
* "Larry King Live"
* "Oprah"
* "Ricki Lake"
* "Jerry Springer Show"
* "Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious Universe"
* "Unsolved Mysteries"
* "Politically Incorrect"
* "20/20"
* A&E's "The Unexplained"
* "48 Hours"
* "Exploring the Unknown"
* Several Discovery Channel documentaries including "The Science of Magic" and "America's Haunted Houses"

Awards

He was a co-recipient of the 2005 Robert P. Balles Prize in Critical Thinking, awarded by CSICOP.

Books

* Adventures in Paranormal Investigation (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2007).
* Relics of the Christ (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2007).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2006; with co-author Benjamin Radford).
* Cronache del Misterio (Newton Compton editori: Rome, Italy; 2006).
* Secrets of the Sideshows (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2005).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2004).
* The Kentucky Mint Julep (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2003).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 2001).
* Investigating the Paranormal (Barnes and Noble Books: New York; 2004).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 1999; with co-author John F. Fischer).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1997; co-edited with Kendrick Frazier and Barry Karr).
* (CSICOP: Amherst, NY; 1996, co-edited with Barry Karr and Tom Genoni).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 1996, 2005).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1995).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 1994, 2005).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1994).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1993, 1998).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1992; with John F. Fischer).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1992; with Robert A. Baker).
* (University Press of Kentucky: Lexington, KY; 1992, 2005).
* Wonder-Workers! How They Perform the Impossible (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1991).
* (Oak Knoll Books: New Castle, DE; 1990, 2000, 2003).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1989).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1988, 1991; with John F. Fischer).
* (Prometheus Books: Amherst, NY; 1983, 1998).

Notes

External links

* [http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/joe_nickell/nickell-bio.html Brief biography]
* [http://www.joenickell.com/ Joe Nickell official site]
* [http://www.scifidimensions.com/May00/jnf.htm The Joe Nickell Files]