Brian Inglis: Advocate for Psi, and Mortal Enemy of CSICOP

As an instantly recognizable figure in the UK, known for his serious manner and credibility as a historian, Brian Inglis (1916-1993) combined television with writing books and journalism to great effect. He halted his TV career in the early 1970s to enter the world of the paranormal, becoming friends with psychic celebrities (including Uri Geller), and then embarking upon full-length studies intended to publicize what he viewed as the major story of his age, the psi force. Yet Brian did not have the debating podium to himself--and a bitter war of words with CSICOP and with other skeptical authors and organizations was soon to follow.

Brian's son Neil Inglis has been an NCAS veteran since 1988, and spoke on Michael Servetus during our 2005-2006 lecture season. A staff translator/reviser with a local international organization, Neil edits a Reformation history magazine in his spare time. In recent years, Neil has assisted in preparing new, electronic editions of his father's books, including Brian's classic psi histories. Neil's talk is given from his intensely personal perspective as an Inglis family member; his presentation is certain to be of interest to those who follow the history of fringe belief systems and of CSICOP itself (now CSI). Furthermore, Neil asks the question that we all ponder: why do intelligent people continue to believe bizarre things?

Views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Capital Area Skeptics.

[windyworm]

All our yesterdays was my favourite historical TV programme.

[MichaelDembinski]

I am here because I remember Brian Inglis and 'All Our Yesterdays' from childhood into teenage years, watching it most weeks, and recalling - almost with a sense of shock - that this respected, serious intellectual would fall prey to nonsense. Age and fear of death, I attributed it to back then. Yet here I am today, having experienced a similar shift in worldview myself. And many mainstream scientists, physicists, philosophers, also unafraid to go into unconventional areas of research as they get older and feel they have nothing to lose (Nobel Prize winner Brian Josephson being a particularly good example). Thanks for putting this up!

[arteetmarteperfect]

I was fascinated by All our Yesterdays in my teenage years, I watched it cover the start of war until the end. Riveting

[bpattique]

Gosh, never knew this about Mr Inglis .. I just remembered him from All Our Yesterdays

[puma]

As child I would watch a tv show called All Our Yesterdays with my Father esecially the shows concerning ww2, these videos you produce are very similar to the shows we watched at the time very informative and very enjoyable,

[jazzman]

I wish “All Our Yesterdays” by Brian Inglis was on you tube or even better, available on DVDs. Apart from this video, all I can find is rubbish which bares no resemblance to the real thing but is nevertheless under the title “All Our Yesterdays”. I used to love watching it. Soon after, in 1973, The World At War was on TV. That, I have on DVD. Television was far far better in the 1960s and 1970s.