Occultism and Common-Sense

Occultism and Common-Sense is a book by Beckles Willson, first published in 1908. Written at the height of public fascination with spiritualism, séances, and psychic phenomena, the book presents a critical and investigative look at occult beliefs through the lens of rational inquiry. Willson, a journalist and historian, approaches the subject not from a place of mockery but with a level-headed skepticism, aiming to separate verifiable phenomena from superstition and fraud.

Drawing on contemporary accounts and well-known cases of the time, he explores mediums, spirit photography, mesmerism, and other popular manifestations of the occult, all while advocating for a grounded, commonsense approach to such claims. The book stands as an insightful snapshot of Edwardian society’s grappling with the unseen, offering both a historical and cultural critique of early 20th-century esoteric thought.