Graphology Digest Factbook, by Nigel Bradley 1999, published by Nigel Bradley. 286pp, 15 x 21cm, paperback. Price: 30 pounds sterling ISBN 0 9513207 7 7
Quite simply, this is a collection of the various Graphology Digests which the author has put together from No. 1 to No. 60. Nigel Bradley is to be thanked, not only for his brilliant collection of data and statistics regarding graphology in general, but also for the work he has done specifically for the B.I.G.
This book has a main word index, as well as numerous cross references within the text and there is a clear and concise explanation of how best to use it. I often meet people from all walks of life, both clients and journalists, as well as others unconnected with our profession, who ask questions about it.
They do so, because our discipline is controversial and because there are on-going attempts to validate, or prove the workings of , handwriting analysis. When this happens, I have been fortunate in having sufficient answers to satisfy, or at least allay, misgivings.
If I am asked about which universities teach our subject, or where are they? In which languages are books available? When and where are seminars or symposia held? Are they all similar? How do they differ? How international is graphology? What type of courses are there/ How do we deal with amateurs? What applications does it have? Which psychologists are also graphologists? etc., etc. It is a real relief to have "Nigel" in my pocket. You too can put him there, if you are worried about answering people's questions - or, indeed, if you feel you do not know all the answers!
Review copyright 2000
by Tony Soar. This review appeared in
Graphology No.53, July 2000, pg.41
Some readers may already be aware that, since 1994, Nigel
Bradley has been producing a short monthly news-sheet entitled, "Graphology
Digest, which ranges widely over the current graphological scene.
From time to time this was supplemented by a Factsheet furnishing more
specific information on particular subjects.
The whole is now brought together into a single volume covering the last
six years.
As indicated in its introductory User's Guide",
it is a digest of graphological news, information, courses and
publications, assembled from a variety of sources such as journals, newspapers,
magazines, personal communications, television, radio, internet sites, etc.
The book's contents comprise firstly the collected monthly
digests. These touch briefly
upon a broad spectrum of items. To
cite a few random examples, mention is made of:- the S.F.D.G'S decision to shed
the Le Senne characterology from its courses;
a Swiss graphology course in Esperanto;
the B.A.o.G. 1997 Advanced diploma results; an item on the "Ripper Diaries";
a brief biography of Bernard Wittlich;
a definition of "Sonking";
assorted comments on graffiti...etc. etc.
Each of some 650 items is accorded a short, succinct, practical paragraph
with appropriate sources and references.
Secondly there follows a list of books, periodicals,
booksellers, libraries, archival sources and organisations offering training
courses in graphology and some allied disciplines. This information extends across Europe and the American
continent.
The book concludes by listing available computer programs,
internet groups and email & website directories. It thus serves as a useful
handbook for student, practitioner, tutor and researcher alike, and is easy to
use by virtue of its clear layout, generous index and comprehensive
cross-referencing.
Any specialised study may, over time, render its exponents
somewhat inward-looking, and graphologists are not immune from this.
However this handbook can assist in broadening the horizon and opening
the mind, whether by suggesting a fresh avenue of enquiry, pinpointing a useful
contact, stimulating a line of research or merely exciting serendipidous
interest.
A certain infectious enthusiasm for his subject shines
through the author's presentation, yet he still manages to remain objective.
The book is informative without being ponderous and one has the
impression that if Nigel Bradley cannot answer a query, then, far from being
discouraged, he will derive pleasure from searching out someone who can.
For those wishing to explore their subject further, in an increasingly complicated world, the "Graphology Digest Factbook represents a unique and invaluable signpost.
Review copyright 1999 by Kate Gladstone
Have you ever learned about some graphologically useful, interesting and/or important bit of news - only by chance, and only weeks, months, perhaps years after it was reported? Have you tried to prevent this and "keep current" by saving copies of any old magazines that have (or might have) news- items of relevance to graphology/graphologists)?
Have you filled up your www with ever-growing stacks of them? (...or do you perhaps haunt your local library in search of aging copies?) - with (again) no real way of finding exactly the info you want and need except by purest chance?
Have you ever wished for some easy way of contacting all those graphologists and graphological organizations you have heard of?
If so (and, indeed, if you are anyone who is *not* possessed of infinite information and perfect memory about all that pertains to the field, directly or indirectly) then the GRAPHOLOGY DIGEST FACTBOOK will come as an eye-opener, a professional life-saver, to you as it did to me.
For the first time in the history of the field, Bradley has made it easy and pleasant to find graphologically relevant news and information: not only items that one is specifically looking for, but also news and information that one did not know existed (and therefore did not know that one needed until the happy discovery was made).
Bradley has accomplished this feat by the stunningly simple approach of simply re-printing, issue by issue and page by page, each of the summaries of graphologically relevant newspaper- and magazine-articles which he has run in his journal GRAPHOLOGY FACTBOOK since its first date of publication - all listed in chronological sequence, then copiously indexed to make this good-sized, yet easy-to-handle book.
If you want to read graphologically relevant news that "broke" in a certain year - why, you have only to turn to that section and start reading. Alternatively, the detailed and comprehensive indexing (far superior to that of most other graphological publications I have seen) makes it not only easy, but pleasant to look up a certain name, topic, etc., and find out when (or if) it was mentioned during the year(s) of interest.
Perhaps one of the best uses of the book, though, is simply to read it straight through, cover to cover, and see what's of interest: indulging in serendipitous discoveries of this sort has been my pastime almost daily ever since the book arrived, for topics covered include not only the obviously graphological, but such unexpected goodies as ... ... pen-operated computers in which handwritten input replaces keyboards, ... society's attempts to deal with graffiti and graffiti-writers, ... the history of the letter i, ... and ways to test the handwriting skills of five-year-olds (to pick the topics which jumped out at me when I randomly opened the book four times.)
The FACTBOOK is given an even greater value and import through the following feature: as well as summarizing handwriting-news over the years, it also contains listings of contact-information (including e-mail/Internet contact-information) for literally hundreds of graphologists and graphological organizations around the world.
If you've admired the recent work of any individual or group connected with the field of graphology, and wondered how to get hold of him/her/them, there's a quite good chance that this book may allow you to do it. (In fact, I'd have been willing to pay the full price of the book for the contact-information sections alone!)
One word of warning to the faint-hearted, though, is in order - over the years, Bradley has shown great even-handedness and integrity in covering handwriting-news in the pages of his GRAPHOLOGY DIGEST (from which the FACTBOOK is compiled). A consequence is that (unlike too many graphologists and graphological journals/publications), he does not limit himself to reporting only pleasant news, but sees it as his responsibility to report _all_ significant news affecting the field: favorable news, yes, but also news that is less than favorable in its implications for graphologists.
Thus, along with the usual "good news" (news in direct or indirect support of graphological claims) that fills most graphological works of reference, Bradley also makes sure to keep us equally aware of what cynics might call the "bad news": here, as in perhaps no other recent graphological reference-work, you will learn about the times when graphology and graphologists have *not* found themselves welcomed with rejoicing by business or academia, the times when graphological reports did *not* prove reliable or valid, etc., etc., etc. If having this sort of information on your shelf (or in your mind) upsets you in any way - why, then, in that case there's a possibility that the facts of the FACTBOOK are not for you. Otherwise, though, the FACTBOOK is essential for anyone who needs to give him/herself a good picture of the world of handwriting today.
This review appeared AHAF JOURNAL September-October 1999
One of the most fascinating books to arrive on the graphological scene in some time is the Graphology Digest Fact Book by British bookseller Nigel Bradley. Decidedly unusual, its unique focus is that it is a collection of intriguing, easily absorbed facts about the graphology field, not graphology per se.
By drawing on a wealth of contacts around the world, Bradley has collected an extraordinary array of world wide graphological facts pertinent to the February 1994 - August 1999 time period. Delivered in a digest format.
The vital information is given so follow up is possible. Growing out of a four page Graphology Digest that he published for several years, he found much to his surprise that it had created a demand of its own. He expanded it to provide vital information covering every possible aspect of the field including books, tools, institutions, university courses, organizations, events, thoughts, personalities, and other tidbits of the graphology landscape.
It's amazing to find a list of some 119 graphological organizations and associated interest groups world wide with US organizations only a small minority. He has given those in this country the opportunity to gain a stronger sense for what has happened to advance our field around the world.
The facts are numbered consecutively and indexed making it a snap to reference any fact or topic. For example, just a few documented tidbits reveal a wealth of current pertinent information that expands the graphological horizon.
February 1994. Fact 003: Twelve boxes of Robert Saudek's working papers have been found in the Harry Pryce Library in London. Purchased from Saudek's estate along with his book collection, the books now form part of the holdings of the British Library. In the 12 boxes are case studies of over 100 individual and research files. Research covers physical and mental problems, crime, signatures, etc. Also included is correspondence with clients and other graphologists - including Allport, Seeman, Crépieux-Jamin, Roback.
June 1994. Fact #038: Moretti Institute Theses. Twenty-two (22) diploma (research) theses were accepted on 4/23/94 at Urbino, Italy. Subjects included obesity, avarice, poor sight, learning disturbances, juvenile delinquency, doodles, family guidance, Vels, Girard, religion, image of graphology, teaching and future. All are in Italian and can be consulted in the archives at Urbino.
October 1994. Fact #084: Bank Invested in Graphology. A new book The Warbergs by Ron Chernow published by Chatto & Windus describes the involvement of the family and bank in graphology. Successful use of a Swiss graphologist, Theodora Dreifuss, led to funding of the European Foundation of Graphological Science & Application and a Chair in Graphology at the University of Zurich in 1963. (BIG Graphologist No 43, page 62).
June 1995. Fact #171: Moretti Institute Theses. Twenty-seven (27) diploma (research) theses were accepted on 25/03/95 at Urbino, Italy. Subject included police, drug addiction, human resources, Ink, QD, Moretti's signs, Klara Roman, adolescence, suicide, humor, grapwwwtry, T.A. partnership, and art. All are in Italian and can be consulted in the archives at Urbino. (Letter 07/04/1995). The June '94 and '95 facts are invaluable for American researchers - they are worth the price of the book alone!
With an intent of providing a permanent reference to assist researchers, scholars, tutors, and critics, Bradley includes resources, details - such as libraries, training, contact addresses, web pages, even a sizable email directory (although one must expect some degree of error since those addresses undergo continuous change). Bradley has made a monumental contribution to graphology by creating a valuable historical perspective the only lament is its scope of years is not as wide as we would have wished, but it is invaluable nonetheless.
NEUE BÜCHER
Review copyright 2000 by H. Ploog. This review appeared in
Nigel Bradley: Graphology Digest Factbook, brosch., 287. S., 1999, zu beziehen über den Verfasser: N. Bradley, 91 Hawksley Ave, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4TJ, England, email: bradlen@wmin.ac.uk, Preis ca. DM 90, - ISBN 0951320777
In der Veröffentlichung werden im ersten Teil die Jahrgänge von 1994 bis 1999 des vom Verfasser monatlich herausgegebenen Newsletters abgedruckt. Dieser Informationsbrief umfaßt in der Regel vier Seiten und enthält aktuelle Informationen über die graphologische Szene, d.h. Kongresse, Neuerscheinungen, Presseartikel, Fachzeitschriften, Todesfälle usw. Auf Seite 77 wird z.B. in elf Zeilen Leben und Werk von Christian Dettweiler gewürdigt. Die Zusammenstellung der Inhalte ist originell, vielseitig und informativ. Es folgt eine Aufstellung graphologischer Fachliteratur, Zeitschriften, Buchhändler, Büchereien, Ausbildungsstellen, Adressen graphologischer Vereinigungen weltweit (immerhin 92 Gruppierungen!), Computersoftware, Internetgruppen, Ein Website-Verzeichnis und email-Anschriften von Graphologen. Ein Indexverzeichnis im Umfang von 20 Seiten ermöglicht das Auffinden aller gesuchten Informationen. Das Buch ist für jeden interessant, der internationale graphologische Kontakte aufnehmen will, wobei es dem Verfasser natürlich nicht möglich war, etwas über die Qualität und das Niveau der jeweiligen Vereinigungen und Aktivitäten auszusagen. Diese Arbeit muß der Benutzer des Nachschlagewerks schon selbst erbringen.
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