Wild Talents

Wild Talents by American writer and researcher Charles Fort was first published in 1932. Like Fort's earlier works, this book examines anomalous phenomena while critiquing mainstream scientific theories. The book focuses on Fort's theory of 'wild talents' – latent psychic and mental powers he believed humans possess as evolutionary remnants.

It explores topics such as poltergeists, spontaneous combustion, animal mutilations, psychokinesis, and occult-related murders, arguing that these abilities, though undeveloped, once aided survival in primeval times. Fort humorously recounts supposed cases of werewolves, psychic murders, and even personal experiences, such as imagining a picture frame falling moments before it happened.

He critiques societal taboos and scientific dismissal of such phenomena, suggesting their acceptance hinges on scientific validation. An interesting thing about this book is that Fort proposes that people with these capabilities will be eventually used by the military. In 1933, this idea was no doubt laughable, but the Military did indeed delve into the realms of remote viewing and parapsychology in the 1970s.