The Men on Magic Carpets: Searching for the superhuman sports star

Description

'An absolute gem. Funny, incredible and brilliantly reported, in Ed Hawkins the sports world has its own Jon Ronson.' - Will Storr The bizarre true story about the cosmic side of sports Ever wondered if the mind tricks used by Luke Skywalker or his Star Wars brethren were real? Ed Hawkins did. A Jedi-wannabe and sports nut, he pondered: what if a coach or athlete had tried to harness such mysterious powers? They would be unstoppable. This set Ed off on an extraordinary adventure across the West Coast of America in search of a superhuman sports star. He discovers cosmic thinkers who, back in their 1960s heyday, believed that through the power of thought alone a superhuman could be created. One that could see into the future, slow down time and control minds. So successful were their tactics that they attracted the attention of the US government. Meanwhile in Russia their Soviet counterparts were employing equally bewildering brain power. Their goal? To win the Cold War. And so from the 1970s and into the Eighties the underground free-thinking movement became a fully-funded state secret in an 'inner space race' between the US and the Soviet Union. Both sides attempting to create the perfect human killing machine. It worked. Sort of. Instead of building a super soldier, the mystics from both sides came together to preach peace and love to their political paymasters. After the thaw, the search for the superhuman sports star began again and continues to this day. In The Men on Magic Carpets Ed goes deep into a secret network of supernatural sages and is told about a mysterious American football coach who made it to the top by teaching his players The Force. But can he be found? Will he admit to what he truly believes? And how does our intrepid author cope with his own brush with the Dark Side as the shadowy military once again attempt to use the mystical powers for ill?

Ed Hawkins is an award-winning author and investigative journalist. He has written several books including the critically acclaimed The Lost Boys: Inside football's slave trade and Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy, which was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. He has won three Sports Journalist Association awards. He lives in Kent.

'An amazing book... it's brilliant' * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio * This book is brilliantly conceived, a wild ride through the sporting occult. Forget staring at goats, Hawkins' collection of mystics, madmen and seers had their eyes fixed on far greater prizes. * Jon Hotten * An absolute gem. Funny, incredible and brilliantly reported, in Ed Hawkins the sports world has its own Jon Ronson. * Will Storr * A magic-carpet ride of a book. From the depths of the Cold War to Halifax Town FC, the cast of characters is unforgettable. A book to live long in the mind * Ian Herbert. Daily Mail sportswriter and author * This is sports psychology taken to its outer limits and stripped bare. An enjoyably bizarre book, at times frightening and funny. * Patrick Barclay * Ed Hawkins breaks new ground with this walk on the wild side of the sports superstar industry. Amusing and bizarre tales, retraced by an accomplished investigative writer. * Paul Hayward * Fascinating - well-researched, insightful, surprising. I read it in a day! * Vassos Alexander * Very entertaining * The Observer * Jaw dropping tales of when athletes have called on the paranormal to get results. * The Daily Telegraph * A three-year journey through the mystical underbelly of sports * New York Post *