The Truth About Uri Geller

Infobox_Book
name = Truth About Uri Geller


author = James Randi
cover_artist =
publisher = Prometheus Books
release_date = June 1982
media_type = Paperback
pages = 241
size_weight = 10.08 ounces
isbn = ISBN 0-87975-199-1

"The Truth About Uri Geller", formerly known as "The Magic of Uri Geller", is a 1982 book by magician and skeptic James Randi about alleged psychic Uri Geller. In this comprehensive biography Randi challenges Uri Geller's assertion that he performs paranormal feats. Randi explores Geller's background as a stage magician, and explains how Geller's spoon bending can be easily reproduced by any magician using sleight of hand.

In 1991 Geller filed a USD$15 million lawsuit against Randi and Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) over slander concerning Randi when he said Geller had "tricked even reputable scientists" with tricks that "are the kind that used to be on the back of cereal boxes when I was a kid".cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | date = 2002 | url = http://www.simon-jones.org.uk/articles/uri_geller_how.htm | title = How does Uri Geller do it? | work = | publisher = The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience | accessdate = 2007-01-29] The court found against Geller, who eventually settled the case at a cost of $120,000.In April 1992 Geller sued the Prometheus Books in Miami, Florida for $4 million alleging libel made in two other books.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | date = August, 1994 | url = http://www.csicop.org/articles/uri_dis.html | title = Uri Geller Libel Suit Dismissed | work = | publisher = Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | accessdate = 2007-01-29] This was thrown out in 1994 and the judge ordered Geller to pay $20,272.89 in legal fees.

In February 1992 Geller sued Randi, Prometheus and local book distributors in London, England for libel concerning "The Magic of Uri Geller".cite web | last =Stenger | first =Vic | coauthors = | date = 1993-09-20 | url =http://randi.org/hotline/1993/0026.html | title = Another Geller lawsuit: Geller v. Stenger | work = | publisher = James Randi Educational Foundation | accessdate = 2007-01-29] The suit was over the line: "He began his career as a stage magician in Israel where he was once arrested for claiming his feats were performed with psychic power." Randi commented in 1993, "My position is that I made an unintended factual error in misinterpreting the words 'brought to court' and 'guilty' as 'arrested,' and that this was done without malice or reckless disregard for the truth." Geller lost this case as well and had to pay Randi's legal fees. After Geller's three lawsuits, Randi "never paid even one dollar or even one cent to anyone who ever sued me, and certainly not to Geller". [cite web | last =Randi | first =James | coauthors = | date = 2007-02-09 | url =http://www.randi.org/jr/2007-02/020209morebrowne.html#i6 | title = More Geller Woo-Woo | work = SWIFT Newsletter | publisher = James Randi Educational Foundation | accessdate = 2007-01-29]

ee also

*Exposure (magic)
*James Randi Educational Foundation

References

External links

* [http://www.prometheusbooks.com/site/catalog/book_727.html Description] from Prometheus Books
* [http://www.randi.org/uri/index.html The Truth about Uri Geller Video] hosted by James Randi Educational Foundation
* [http://www.zem.demon.co.uk/ttaug.htm Quotes and Notes about this book]