My Life as a Seer

October 4, 1999
More than 50 years after his death, Cayce's diagnoses of medical conditions, conducted under hypnosis, remain controversial. Unfortunately, this disjointed collection of Cayce's writings and accounts from others fails to elucidate the life of the psychic. Contributing to the volume's unwieldy presentation is the variety of source material: Cayce's recollections from various points in his life, his father's flattering "biography," excerpts from Cayce's other biographers and newspaper notices. A number of appendixes mainly echo Cayce's own descriptions provided earlier in the book: for example, background on the Association of National Investigators in Virginia Beach, the first group established to sponsor Cayce's work, and the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE), which is now directed by Cayce's grandson. Readers may wonder why editor Smith, who wrote a biography of Cayce's eldest son, Hugh Lynn, and is the founding editor of Venture Inward, a publication of the ARE, was not able to organize the book to highlight the questions that haunted Cayce from the time he discovered his psychic abilities as an uneducated boy in rural Kentucky to his role as head of a large organization. A profoundly religious man, Cayce struggled to understand his abilities within the context of his spirituality, all the while battling business setbacks, family crises and negative publicity. Despite the plethora of detail and documentation bogging down Cayce's life story here, readers will likely be moved by his commitment to pursue answers to his questions, surmount his many hardships and leave a legacy that continues to draw followers.

September 15, 1999
Cayce enthusiasts and those interested in psychic phenomena in general will find a treasure in these republished memoirs. A well-known psychic who did what were called "readings" (primarily diagnosing illnesses and prescribing cures) while in a self-induced trancelike state, Cayce died in 1945. These memoirs give the reader insight into Cayce's childhood, his values and beliefs, and how he viewed his gift. The person who emerges from these memoirs is someone who, despite his fame and an unusual ability, was quite ordinary and who found success in life somewhat elusive. Cayce's significance makes this a recommended addition to public and academic libraries alike.--John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Libs., New York

Copyright 1999 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.