'Controversial' book from dead wife

A Waikanae man and self-proclaimed psychic, has written a book of what he describes as conversations with his deceased wife.

Desmond Long said he has never read, or heard of a book that is more controversial than his book The Littlest Crusade. "I'm going to get my head kicked right off when this comes out, but when you get a bit antiquated like me you've got less to lose."

Mr Long said he has been a "psychic, for want of a better term" since childhood.

After his wife passed away in 2007 Mr Long said he communicated with her while in a neurological trance over about nine months.

"It's not me that wrote [the book]. I was entranced and channelled it from my wife and then I encountered a situation in which I was asking questions that of course my wife knew nothing about. Some of these questions, according to the publisher, are more controversial than they have ever encountered in their life."

The book is written in a question and answer format with subjects ranging from abortion, euthanasia, prayer, climate change, religion, death, and the nature and destiny of humanity.

"What's in this book nobody else has ever come across," said Mr Long.

He describes himself as a "just the postman" delivering someone else's message. Mr Long said he would be happy to take an "independent, scientifically based" polygraph test. "The truth would soon come out".

The book, published by American Book Publishing in Utah, is due out this month or in March, said Mr Long.

BELIEVE IT, OR NOT?

The Kapiti Observer asked New Zealand Skeptics for its response to Mr Long's story, but the group did not reply before time of press. However, the group's website gives this advice about claims of psychic ability: "The burden of proof rests on those making extraordinary claims. You have to ask is what this person is doing so extraordinarily compelling that we have to overturn all we think we know about how the universe works in order to explain it? Is there good evidence supporting the claims that people make to be able to contact the dead . . . Any careful, sustained observation of any of the myriad approaches out there, regardless of culture or modality, indicates that there is not."