Covering the popular, the academic, and the bizarre, the encyclopedia includes topics from alien abductions to the Bermuda Triangle, crop circles, Feng Shui, and near-death experiences.

Indeed, in the introduction to the book Shermer says that he expects that this section could be used by students, journalists and science professionals as resource for conducting background research.

Shermer claims that this is “…the most original section ever compiled in an encyclopedia in the form of a “pro and con” debate between experts, allowing readers to judge for themselves by hearing both sides of an issue.” Part five is titled ‘Historical documents’ and includes five classic works in the history of science and pseudoscience, such as the speech that William Jennings Bryan never delivered in the Scopes trial, and the first scientific and skeptical investigation of a paranormal/spiritual phenomenon (mesmerism) by Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier.

We are, after all, humans, not gods.” “What we hope to provide in this encyclopedia is a thorough, objective, and balanced analysis of the most prominent scientific and pseudoscientific controversies made in the name of science, mixing both facts and theory.” “The encyclopedia entries are written at a level appropriate for high school and college students conducting research in science and pseudoscience, members of the media looking for a balanced treatment of a subject, and those in the general public who desire a highly readable yet trustworthy resource…” “…members of the media desperately need a reference resource in order to quickly get their minds around a subject, to book guests on both sides of an issue in order to properly set up a debate, and to get “just the facts” needed for the sound-bite story that is often demanded in the hectic world of journalism.” “…most entries offer a respectable bibliography of the best sources on that subject from both the skeptics’ and the believers’ perspectives, allowing readers to conduct additional research on their own after learning what the encyclopedia’s expert author has had to say on the subject.” Tom Gilson in Against the Grain [5] has some positive comments about the encyclopedia: "[T]he treatment afforded the topics covered in this encyclopedia is serious ...

The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience is one of those sets in which the fascination value may equal its reference use ... without a doubt, many people are captivated with the issues discussed in this work."

Gilson questions the price of the volumes, given that “…at least half of the content is reprinted from Skeptic Magazine.” He does however recognise that “The contributors are fully identified and many are academics with advanced degrees.” The American Reference Books Annual[6] says that: "A careful reading ... should be required of all who wish to get a university degree ...

In the Internet age ... people ... should make every effort toward two goals: To spread good scientific methods for evaluating truth claims, and to help nurture enlightened traditional worldviews.