Abnormal Lore: The Close Encounters Man by Mark O'Connell

"Ridicule is not a part of the scientific method and the public should not be taught that it is."

-J. Allen Hynek

It is a rare and wonderful treat to read a biography that captures not only the essence of its subject, but of the time period itself.  Mark O'Connell's The Close Encounters Man takes the life of J. Allen Hynek and places it firmly in the post-war era that spawned America's UFO craze.  O'Connell doesn't just examine the life of one of ufology's leading figures, but also the burgeoning UFO culture that helped shape the study of this phenomenon for decades.  Exhaustively researched--with unfettered access to Hynek's personal records--this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the roots of the UFO phenomenon, and learn about the early scientific credibility that has been so conveniently swept under the rug by strident debunkers.