The Reality of the Unreal

Virtually every culture throughout time has had people with similar experiences of what might be called "The Unknown." Likewise, every culture has had names for these spirits of the dead. To know what to expect and how to deal with these mysterious wanderers of the spirit realms, you need to know everything you can about them. The best way to discover the truth is in Brian Righi's Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists.

This is one of the best-written and most thrilling books ever published on the subject. It reveals the background and history of some of the most famous—and infamous—experiences of ghosts describing exactly what went on, what people experienced, and what took place. Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists is not simply another brief recapping of the old stories—it examines them thoroughly. Nor is it a thoughtless debunking without investigation. Instead, it fearlessly and delightfully looks at all sides of the stories, presents the facts, and allows you to make up your own mind.

Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists begins by looking at some of the oldest stories of ghosts and spirits, from Gilgamesh and the Bible to Plato's warnings in the Phaedo against loitering around tombs where the dead still lurked.

It moves to the most important jump in public interest about ghosts, the birth of Spiritualism in the mid 1800s. Also covered are spirit rapping, table tipping, the use of message boards (such as the famous Ouija™ board), and automatic writing. You'll discover the strange material known as "ectoplasm... a theoretical substance believed to be exuded by the medium's body during a séance that allowed spirits to materialize." You'll also learn about apports (objects that materialize from thin air), asports (objects that disappear), and the amazing and ghostly sounds of spirit voices.

Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists provides a meticulous and detailed examination of the differences between the types of entities named in the title, and explores the role that such things as out-of-body and near-death experiences may play in some appearances. It also looks at the mischief of poltergeists and the very first "ghost busters" (such as Harry Houdini who, early in his career, worked as a fake medium!). You'll read about the strange experiences of England's most famous ghost hunter, Harry Price. To be complete, the book includes a discussion of demonologists, such as the controversial Ed and Lorraine Warren and their investigation of the famous Amityville Horror (about which several movies have been made and books written). Was the whole thing real, a fraud, or something in between? Read the evidence and decide for yourself.

Ghost Hunting 101
Once you have discovered the history and background revealed in Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists, you're ready to move on to doing some actual ghost hunting yourself. The book reveals virtually everything you need to know to participate as a ghost hunter:

• The tools you'll need
• Questions to ask when interviewing people who claim to have
experienced the paranormal
• What to look for as signs of ghostly activity
• Release forms
• Investigative permission forms
• How to record what you observe
• Readings to enhance your knowledge of the subject
• Groups and websites to contact and keep you informed

This is the ideal book to have with you when you watch the ghost-hunter type of shows on TV. Are they doing it right? Are they missing something? With this book you'll be in the know and be able to see which shows are good and which simply pander to believers or debunkers.

The Ultimate Ghoulish Guide for Ghost Lovers and Hunters
Whether you are a ghost enthusiast, an aspiring ghost hunter, or simply like spine-tingling but true tales of the paranormal, this is the book for you. You can read it to enjoy the stories or use it as a primer to begin your own investigation. Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists has it all!