20 Oddly Expensive Books

Summary

The presenter showcases 20 unusually expensive or hard-to-find books, mostly about occult claims, mind control, ritual abuse, UFOs, alternative archaeology, and disputed history. He emphasizes that the books are not presented as proof that their claims are true: a high price does not make a book accurate, and some of the material is speculative or dated.

His main point is that scarcity and price can restrict access to information. He suggests books may become hard to obtain when publishers withdraw them, authors retreat from controversial subjects, or publishers decide not to handle similar material again. He says he bought many of these books using Amazon reward points from business spending, rather than treating the collection as a financial boast. The prices he recalls are approximate and may have changed.

The 20 Books Discussed

1. The Todd Phenomenon — Daryl Hicks and David Lewis A 1979 book that attempts to debunk Johnny Todd, who spoke about occult influence in music. The presenter finds the book interesting partly because, in his view, some people Todd implicated later became involved in scandals. He recalls paying close to $100.

2. The Six-Pointed Star — O. J. Graham A short book arguing that the six-pointed star has occult origins and is not connected to Mosaic law or Judaism. The presenter recalls paying roughly $20–$30 and says it was later listed for around $300.

3. Hypnotism — George H. Estabrooks The presenter highlights a chapter about military uses of hypnosis, including the possibility of creating a “super spy.” He says the book is expensive but may sometimes turn up more cheaply in used-book shops.

4. A book about “MILABS” — authors described as a German couple The book examines claims that some reported alien-abduction experiences may involve covert military operations. The presenter characterizes its approach to extraterrestrial explanations as relatively agnostic. He says the couple’s other books are in German.

5. Children for the Devil — Tim Tate An account of ritual-abuse claims, including case material from the United States and Britain and a section on the McMartin case. The presenter says the publisher withdrew the book after a police officer objected to a sentence that could be read as portraying him negatively. He recalls paying around $100 and says digital copies can be found.

6. A book by Greg Valdez about Gabe Valdez, cattle mutilations, and Dulce The presenter describes this as an investigation of cattle-mutilation cases and the claims surrounding Dulce, New Mexico. He says it questions some of the myths around Dulce and presents an interpretation involving possible biological- and psychological-warfare research on local communities. He owns a signed copy; the subtitles do not give the book’s title. He notes that a Kindle edition was available for about $10 when he checked, while hard copies were difficult to find.

7. Ancient Structures: Remarkable Pyramids, Forts, Towers, Stone Chambers, Cities, and Complexes A book about archaeological sites and interpretations the presenter describes as outside accepted narratives, particularly concerning the history of North America. He found it at Half Price Books.

8. Microwave Auditory Effects and Applications — James C. Lynn A 1978 book about the Frey effect and claims that microwave transmissions can create auditory sensations. The presenter says a viewer once found it listed for about $1,000, though its price may fluctuate.

9. Man the Puppet — Abram Lipsky A 1925 book about influencing human behavior and social movements through media. The presenter describes it as an insider-style account of how manipulation might be carried out. He says reprints are available more cheaply than original copies.

10. A Nation Betrayed — Carol Rutz A personal account of alleged childhood involvement in a mind-control program and Cold War experimentation. The presenter describes it as difficult but important reading and owns a signed copy.

11. Was Jonestown a CIA Medical Experiment? A dense, critical examination of the Jonestown story. The presenter considers some of the author’s speculation worthwhile but emphasizes that many questions remain unresolved.

12. Satanic Ritual Abuse: A Therapist Handbook — D. Brown A guide to working with survivors of alleged ritual abuse and multiple personalities, containing examples such as children’s drawings and personal accounts. The presenter calls the subject matter distressing but relevant to understanding these claims.

13. Cover Up of the Century — Daniel Ryder A collection of ritual-abuse case details. The presenter says it also explores the theory that trauma and mind-control practices could be used to influence people later in life. He considers it a useful reference but presents its broader claims as a theory, not established fact.

14. Behind the Balfour Declaration — Robert John A short history of the Balfour Declaration and its role in the political foundations of modern Israel. The presenter says he read most of it soon after buying it and later discovered that the book had become expensive.

15. Operation Mind Control: The Researchers Edition — Walter Bowart A large compilation on alleged government mind-control programs, covering material through roughly 1994–95. The presenter explains that earlier versions could be reproduced with the author’s permission and says a reprint may now be available.

16. UFOs: The Grand Deception and the Coming New World Order — Norio Hayakawa A UFO researcher’s work that the presenter says considers the political implications of UFO claims and technology. He notes that Hayakawa later changed or withdrew some of his views.

17. The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations A book about the institute’s alleged influence on American culture and society. The presenter says he was surprised to find it listed at a high price.

18. Secret German Weapons of World War II — Rudolph Lusar A book about German weapons, including reports of disc-shaped aircraft. The presenter connects this subject to the idea that some UFO reports might involve secret aircraft.

19. The Controllers — Martin Cannon A short manuscript arguing that some UFO-abduction reports may be connected to mind-control methods, with UFO mythology serving as a cover. The presenter notes that Cannon later distanced himself from this line of research.

20. UFOs in the New World Order — Michael Lindemann A book considering whether UFO-related technology or beliefs could be used to influence the public and promote a new political order. The presenter describes it more as a cautionary argument than as a definitive revelation.

Additional Points and Practical Tip

• The presenter stresses that an expensive or rare book is not necessarily reliable; books can be scarce for many different reasons.
• He shares a used-book-shopping tip: at some Half Price Books locations, expensive books may be kept behind the register. He recommends asking staff to see them rather than overlooking that area.
• He briefly mentions that the most expensive book he personally bought was a rare magic book, Magic by Robert Harbin, reportedly costing about $1,300. He distinguishes it from the books in the main list.

Speakers and Sources

• Speaker: One unnamed presenter, who introduces the books and gives his opinions, recollections, and price estimates.
• Authors or works featured: Daryl Hicks and David Lewis; O. J. Graham; George H. Estabrooks; an unnamed German couple; Tim Tate; Greg Valdez; James C. Lynn; Abram Lipsky; Carol Rutz; the unnamed author of Was Jonestown a CIA Medical Experiment?; D. Brown; Daniel Ryder; Robert John; Walter Bowart; Norio Hayakawa; Rudolph Lusar; Martin Cannon; Michael Lindemann; and the author of The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (not named in the subtitles).
• Other people mentioned: Johnny Todd, Gabe Valdez, William Cooper, Nikki Haley, and Robert Harbin.