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Haunted America by Micheal Norman & Beth Scott
This book has several entertaining ghost stories divided into chapters by state. The date range of the some stories they reference makes it hard for me to believe they contained confirmable data. Many locations are vague and would be difficult to find and visit on your own. I don’t recall any even vaguely scientific information or documentation mentioned (ie. Appearance of things in pictures in the least).
Rating: Fluff, entertaining but no real research value. Check it out from a library if you want entertainment.
Closer to the Light By Melvin Morse M.D.
No, this is not a book that studies ghosts or hauntings. It does however, try to explore some questions that are inevitable raised once you start exploring this area. The author of this book is a physician who interviewed several children who had experienced a Near-Death Experience at an early age. Small parts have a definite religious agenda, however for the most part I found it very interesting and free of religious overtone. I believe he focused on early ages to try to lower the rate of religious exposure and influence, which he only partially succeeds at. It is an interesting exploration, however in the end I don’t really feel much is answered except the experience of the first few moments of the “journey”.
Rating: It’s a short book, worth reading for a look at a different aspect of death. It made me very curious as to what could’ve been captured on video at these points. Check it out at the library.
The Book of Ghosts By Trent Brandon
This book is different from the standard ghost topic book. If I forgive the fact that there is no science involved and a lot of the data is so vague it could be fiction, I still find the book entertaining. Brandon’s take in this book is more on the “this is the story we seem to find behind ghosts” side by listing different “types” of ghosts of hauntings. As I found in his other book (see below) he has a several contradictions (basically saying things like “don’t do this but this is how to do it”). He also has several things that are more for trying to strike fear into people after all the “sad stories”.
Rating: Buy it USED purely for entertainment, and take with a grain of salt.
The Ghost Hunters Bible By Trent Brandon
Wow, this book was such a mismash of useful truth and garbage I am not sure what to say. So much of it is contradictory and based on fear and a few things that had no place whatsoever in a book about ghosts. Then there were a few things I thought were just plain ignorant. And then there’s a least one that didn’t belong in the book and was just plain ignorant to boot . Any science at all is the basic “this is the equipment we use” however it’s never mentioned being in use in the whole rest of the book. Who brings lists on required items “a cross and Bible”? Only the ignorant who want to believe we are demon-chasers not GHOST-chasers. These are the type of people who make me horrified I have to say I am in the same field as them.
Rating: Don’t buy it…. If you do.. don’t ask ME what do to with it, you won’t like the answer.
Haunted Houses By Bernhardt J. Hurwood
This book would make a good campfire stories type book. There’s no science at all, it is merely a collection of ghost stories almost of urban legend proportion, lots of names of people but very vague places in most. It was entertaining (and short).
Rating: Buy it used for a good bathroom book. (you won’t find it new anyways) Entertainment only.
Phone Calls from the Dead By D. Scott Rogo & Raymond Bayless
This book has some great case studies including first person accounts. It even delves a little into the science of the time, including plans for what appears to be a very easy ‘phone to the dead’, though it was published in 1979. Author makes a couple leaps in theory, but for the most part his observations are interesting. It definitely would be nice to see an updated version.
Rating: Worth getting if you can find it!
Real Ghosts By Daniel Cohen
Author claims these are his ‘best real ghost stories’ but it is clear he does not believe in ghosts but the undertone of the book. He spends more time discussing fake psychics and uses more fake photos than real evidence. He even writes about an exorcism, which has no place is a ghost book.
Rating: Don’t bother buying it….I know it’s small and a quick read… but you’ll want those brain cells back.
13 Ghosts By Will Osborne
Mostly ghost stories with vague references to the media reports (but no bibliography). Some sites are identified some are vaguely generalized and some stories are questionable. The title claims “strange but true” but was published under Apple fiction. True or not, basically just useless ghost stories.
Rating: Buy if you need something to read and then feed the camp fire. Otherwise, don’t bother buying it.
I Never Believed in Ghosts Until…. By USAWeekend
First hand accounts of experiences submitted to USA Weekend newspaper. Some are questionable but most are right along what we see/hear in the field. No useful site information.
Rating: Interesting, but useless. A good used-bought bathroom book.
Cemetery Stories By Katherine Ramsland
This is one of the best books I have read in a while. Not specifically about ghosts or haunted sites, it does give enough site info, when referenced, to find the site. All kinds of topics are covered in this book ranging from the death process & embalming to the history of body disposal, to wackos & the dead.
Rating: Get it now! Don’t read it with meals!
Sightings By Susan Michaels
This is the written accounts from the television sightings. The book covers episodes on Ghosts, UFOs and several other show topics including animal mutilations, show by show. No pictures.
Rating: Great Big Yawn. Don’t buy it, at least the show had some PHOTO EVIDENCE.
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