Ghosts . . . are they real spirits or just the stuff of scary stories? Scientists have yet to find any evidence spirits of the dead exist in our world, yet many people believe they do. Whatever our opinions, legends of ghosts, poltergeists, and hauntings exist in many cultures. At times helpful, at times terrifying, ghosts have a fearful grip on our imaginations.

Explores stories and legends of ghosts, poltergeists, and hauntings, including discussion of saeances and ghost hunting.

The only practical travel guide on the subject ever published, this book provides useful and current information on haunted places--complete with addresses, instructions for finding sites, historical background on the place and region, what to look for when you get there, and what to expect once you've had an encounter.

Few people can claim the distinction of experiencing first-hand such occurrences as hauntings and the presence of poltergeists, but countless numbers of people are fascinated by these unexplainable events. Written by the world's most knowledgeable authorities in this field, the essays in this work promote a better understanding of the manifestations of and various reasons for hauntings and poltergeist phenomena. The experts come from such backgrounds as anthropology, history, philosophy, psychiatry, and sociology, and provide sober yet highly readable in-depth discussions of numerous ideas and rationalizations for hauntings and poltergeists, from a critical and scientific perspective. Divided into three major sections--sociocultural, physical and physiological, and psychological perspectives--this work provides an overview of each perspective and also addresses the general psychology of belief in the paranormal and how that belief relates to experiences with ghosts and poltergeists.

A door slams shut by itself. The scent of pipe tobacco drifts through an empty room. You hear your name being called, even though you know you're home alone. It seems as if your house is being visited—or invaded—by someone or something, and you're terrified. Is there a logical explanation, or do you have a real-life ghost on your hands? There's no reason to live in fear. This friendly beginner's guide offers reassurance and practical advice on identifying, and putting a stop to, any paranormal activity that's creeping you out. Discover how to rule out any earthly explanations for strange phenomena. A comprehensive overview of all kinds of hauntings and ghosts-from harmless family spirits to aggressive poltergeists to malevolent demons-will help you understand and identify your unearthly houseguest. If you still want to banish your ghost, you'll find plenty of simple, effective techniques to get the job done, and guidance on when it might be necessary to call in paranormal experts. Is Your House Haunted? also includes a paranormal FAQ and advice on how to talk to children about ghosts.

In almost every town in America there are places where strange things happen. The perfect companion to The International Directory of Haunted Places, this revised and updated edition of Haunted Places is both a fascinating and unusual travel guide as well as an indispensable casebook for those interested in the paranormal. From buildings and parks believed to have resident ghosts and poltergeists to areas where Bigfoot or UFO sightings are most frequently reported, Haunted Places will lead you to more than 2,000 sites of paranormal activity across the United States. Organized alphabetically by state, each entry is referenced to an extensive bibliography of sources-with descriptions, addresses, phone numbers, Web sites, and travel directions provided for all locations.

For today's huge cult of the supernatural, this companion to "The Field Guide of North American Monsters" explores the country's most haunted places and the stories behind them. 40 photos.