Paranormal Book Club: Ghosts

2nd February 2020. Reading Time: 5 minutes General, Paranormal Book Club. 2877 page views. 0 comments.

Here are my favourite books that talk about GHOSTS.

Ghosts: True Encounters with the World Beyond by Hans Holzer

What is a ghost? How do you make contact with a ghost? How do you get rid of a ghost? Paranormal expert and storyteller extraordinaire Hans Holzer answers these questions as he explores more than 150 true ghostly manifestations throughout history. In this groundbreaking book, featuring eye-opening photographs of ghostly apparitions and visitations, Holzer presents fascinating case histories, tips on interpreting sounds and other signals from the beyond, and more. Not only does Dr. Holzer introduce us to those who visit from the next dimension, he explains why they seek contact with our world and he offers expert advice on how to interpret sights, sounds, activities, visions, and other experiences that signal the presence of someone from the other side. Ghosts is a must-read for all would-be ghost hunters and fans of the otherworldly. 'I became obsessed by Hans Holzer, the greatest ghost hunter ever. That's when the the idea of my film Ghostbusters was born.'-Dan Aykroyd

Book Depository

When I decided I wanted to research the paranormal a bit further and start reading as opposed to using 'google' for my research, there was one book which was almost always recommended to me. It was this one. For many, it is considered to be their ghost hunting bible. It covers almost every topic that a paranormal enthusiast could ask for while revisiting many of the cases Holzer was involved with and his views on different paranormal topics. While I myself don't necessarily agree with all of Holzer's views, it is one of the most comprehensive guides out there. Most people within the paranormal field have been influenced by this book in one way or another. If you would like a sneak peek into this book (which at 768 pages is quite an effort), I have broken down some different quotes from the book in this article: In the words of Holzer

Depending on the edition you buy, it can range from cheap to expensive. I bought my copy second hand from World of Books for only $20.

World of the Unknown: Ghosts by Christopher Maynard

First published in 1977, this cult classic has been reissued for a new generation of ghost-hunters. This book is for anyone who has shivered at shadowy figures in the dark, heard strange sounds in the night or felt the presence of a mysterious `something' from the unknown. Ghost stories are as old as recorded history and exist all over the world; described in this book are haunting spirits, screaming skulls, phantom ships, demon dogs, white ladies, gallows ghosts and many more.

Book Depository

If you think this book looks familiar then you are not mistaken. Many paranormal investigators remembering reading this book as a child. Since reboots were the thing of 2019, Usborne publishing brought back this much-loved favourite. You would think that a book that was written in the 1970's would not necessarily age well given the advancement of technology, but I would disagree. More than anything, I think this book displays a lot of the fundamental knowledge which investigators still use today.

The above image is still shared through social media today as an explanation as to why a ghost may walk through walls. I have been seeing this image on social media for years and always wondered where it came from. It came from this very book! While you may think it is only good for kids, it is still full of valuable information that has withstood the test of time. In fact, if your younger ones are interested in the paranormal, this is a great book to get them started. It covers all the basics as well as covering some of the more famous paranormal cases of the past.

You may be lucky enough to pick up a copy at your local second-hand store and if you do, there were also two other editions: Monsters and UFOS which at this stage have no been re-released. If you are not lucky enough to find a copy, you can buy Ghosts from book depository with the link above.

Guidance Notes for Investigators of Spontaneous Cases: Apparitions, Hauntings, Poltergeists and Similar Phenomena by Steven T Parsons

These guidance notes are intended to be helpful for those who seek to investigate Ghosts, Apparitions, Hauntings, Poltergeists and related phenomena. These are generally referred to as being spontaneous phenomena as they normally occur without warning, as such they cannot be predicted or prompted.

Since the earliest times, countless witnesses have attested to experiencing apparitions or other ghostly phenomena and thousands of buildings and places have gained a reputation for being haunted, To ignore or dismiss these accounts would be foolish, to acknowledge them as proof without question or study would be equally so.

Introduction: Guidance Notes for Investigators of Spontaneous Cases

Steven T Parsons

The above books are great for getting a wider understanding of 'ghosts' in general, however, this book tells a person how to investigate them. Published by the Society of Psychical Research, it is a small easy read, but full of valuable information that is fantastic for those wanting to conduct their own investigations. It is even a good refresher guide for those who have been investigating for a while.

While exploring the different categories of what a ghost is and how to label them, it also explores things like ethics, witnesses testimony, planning an investigation, setting up equipment, how to research a case and many more vital areas. For those wanting to really take their investigating to the next level, this is a comprehensive guide that will be really beneficial.

Guidance notes can be purchased directly from the SPR or from Amazon.

So there you have 3 great recommendations! I have many more but now I want to hear from you. What books do you recommend in this category? Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts?

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