The material that Hinton uses in this book was generated by a 1996 directive asking volunteers to write about their attitudes to the supernatural, understood in a broad sense, and how those attitudes relate to their other beliefs … What emerges is a fascinating picture of a complexity that is missed by the idea of a simple religious/nonreligious divide.

Theology

Our understanding of religion, spirituality and non-religion is impoverished by a lack of first-hand accounts about something so universal, and ineffable, that it lacks even a shared vocabulary: the 'supernatural', or sense of 'something else'. Fortunately, the eminent historian and Mass Observation expert Prof. James Hinton has filled that gap by creating an engaging, informed book based on late 20th century accounts of such phenomena from MO volunteers. His reflections and interpretations are well-grounded in social history and the social scientific study of religion, making this an indispensable resource for scholars and students trying to understand how modern people make meaning, regardless of their religious affiliations.

Abby Day, Professor of Race, Faith and Culture, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK

In a recent overview of the use of documents in research about religion, my co-author and I remarked on the unrealised potential of the Mass Observation archive. How satisfying therefore to find a book that not only addresses this lacuna but does so superbly well. I recommend unreservedly this generous, sensitive and compelling account.

Dr. Grace Davie, Professor of Sociology, University of Exeter, UK