Searching for answers can lead to the strangest places.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Americans flocked to book stores looking for insight into why such a horrific event could happen. At Stigliano's BookSource in Hermitage the top selling books were writings of a man who died nearly 450 years ago.

"People were literally running in and grabbing anything on Nostradamus,'' Stigliano said. "We've sold far more on Nostradamus than anything on 9/11.''

A 16th century French astrologer and physician, Nostradamus, whose real name was Michel de Nostredame, wrote rhymed prophecies under the title "Centuries'' in 1555. Gaining favor in the French court, at times his prophecies foretold of man-made cataclysmic events, typically war.

Before the terrorist attacks the store would sell only an occasional book on the astrologer. Customers clamoring for Nostradamus books believe that somewhere in-between the lines he must have visioned this would happen.

"People were just crazy,'' Stigliano said. "When they came in they wanted to buying Nostradamus saying he had predicted this. At one point we had 10 calls a day from people wanting to know if we had books on Nostradamus.''

In most cases, customers knew exactly what they wanted.

"People were coming in with lists of Nostradamus books,'' Stigliano said. "Price didn't seem to matter.''

Over the years Nostradamus has been credit by some for predicting the rise of Adolph Hitler and World War II. But scholars scoff at the idea the astrologer had some kind of supernatural clairvoyance.

"He's so vague you can predict almost anything with him,'' said Guido Ruggiero, a Pennsylvania State University professor who teaches Renaissance and Middle-European studies at State College.

In pouring over Nostradamus' writings, the English press said he predicted an English soccer team would win the World Cup this year, Ruggiero noted. The team didn't even get past the first round.

"From a historian's perspective that's why he's lasted so long,'' Ruggiero said. "He's been read and re-read. On the basis of hindsight you can prove almost anything on vague predictions.''

During In his era though, people took philosophers seriously.

"In his time it was much more accepted,'' Ruggiero said. "You find monks and priests who made a pretty good living off of their prophecies.''

But what is it in the modern world that still gives Nostradamus acclaim among some?

"It may make people feel in control again,'' said Dr. Tom Laton, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist for UPMC Horizon. "Humans have an innate need to control what's around us and, to some extent, our destiny.''

Laton was taken aback about the popularity of Nostradamus in dealing with Sept. 11.

"I think it's an unusual coping response, not what I've heard of,'' he said.

After the terrorist attacks Laton said he only saw a few patients who were having difficulty sleeping and adjusting.

"By and large I think Americans have been pretty resilient and experienced a normal range of emotions and stress and recovered quickly and were able to get on with living,'' he said.

However, by no means was Nostradamus the only book snapped up by buyers, Stigliano said. A popular book was "Bin Landen, the Man who Declared War,'' which came out shortly after the attacks. A hit among readers was commemorative edition magazines such as from Time and Newsweek.

The Quaran, the Muslim holy book, also sold well.

"There are people who want to learn about other peoples' cultures and religious beliefs,'' Stigliano said. "They're looking at the Quran for answers.''