Lawrence LeShan facts for kids

Lawrence LeShan (born September 8, 1920 – died November 9, 2020) was an American psychologist and teacher. He wrote many books, including the popular How to Meditate (1974). This book was a helpful guide to meditation. LeShan also wrote about 75 articles and 13 books on topics like psychotherapy (a type of mental health support), war, and helping people with cancer. He even wrote science fiction stories using the pen name Edward Grendon.

About Lawrence LeShan

LeShan studied at several universities. He earned his first degree from The College of William & Mary. He then got a master's degree from the University of Nebraska. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Chicago.

He taught at different colleges, including Pace College, Roosevelt University, and the New School for Social Research. LeShan worked as a psychologist for over 50 years. This included six years as a psychologist in the United States Army. He served in the army from 1943 to 1946 and again from 1950 to 1952.

Exploring the Paranormal

In the 1960s and 1970s, LeShan did a lot of research in parapsychology. This field studies things that seem to be beyond normal scientific understanding. In his book The Medium, the Mystic, and the Physicist, he looked into paranormal topics. He also explored mystical ideas and quantum mechanics (a branch of physics).

In this book, LeShan said he tested his idea of "clairvoyant reality." Clairvoyance is the supposed ability to gain information about objects or events without using the known senses. He claimed his tests were successful. He believed he could heal people using "mental power" and teach others to do the same. However, some people, like Tim Healey, found his results were not very convincing.

In another book, World of the Paranormal: The Next Frontier, LeShan continued to share his paranormal ideas. He suggested that psychic abilities could be explained using quantum theory. These abilities include precognition (knowing future events) and telepathy (communicating thoughts directly).

Helping People with Cancer

In the 1980s, LeShan started focusing on how psychotherapy could help people with cancer. He is seen as a pioneer in this area. He worked to provide support and mental health care for cancer patients.

Lawrence LeShan lived in New York City. He was married to Eda LeShan, who was also a writer. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 100.