From Elsewhere: Being E.T. in America

Mandelker, a San Francisco New Age counselor, believes he is an ET (extraterrestrial). His two dozen interviewees--among them a hospital technician, a nurse, a psychic, an architect, a housepainter--all maintain that they are from other planets or dimensions. Mandelker, who spent years immersed in Buddhist, Taoist and Zen meditation, classifies some respondents as ``Wanderers,'' who, born of human parents, gradually awakened to their ET souls. Others typify the ``Walk-in,'' meaning someone whose body and mind were suddenly taken over by an ET entity. Mandelker's informants express little interest in nuts-and-bolts UFOs; instead, they talk of nonphysical beings, expanded awareness, information channeled from spirit-guides or ET entities. Interviewees predict a familiar scenario: impending global eco-catastrophe followed by the spiritual awakening of humanity's remnants. Unfortunately, there is nothing here to convince the reader that these alleged ETs are something other than victims of delusion. (Nov.)