Book Review: Ghosts From Our Pasts

If you are a huge fan of the Ghostbusters films than Ghosts from Our Past is a book for you. This is a fictional book by Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates with Andrew Shaffer.

If you want to seriously learn about ghosts and ghost hunting this isn't the book.

The book opens with short stories on Erin and Abby getting into ghost hunting business.
It then briefly goes into their research, such as Ghosts Throughout History.
The following chapter is the history of paranormal investigators. In this chapter, they discuss some of the well-known mediums, philosophers, and scientists as well as illusionists. Some examples are:

• William James (1842-1910), 
• Duncan MacDougall (1866-1920), 
• Marie Curie (1867-1934) and Pierre Curie (1859-1906)
• Harry Houdini

"Not all ghosts are created equal. Some ghosts appear as dim balls of light; others as entirely opaque humanoids. Mistaking a Class II repeater for a floating free-roaming vapor is like calling iceberg lettuce 'kale'. They are both green, leafy vegetables , but one goes on a burger and the other goes in the compost."p.97

My favorite chapter is chapter 8;How to determine the class of a ghost. There are seven classes of ghosts. The first class is vapors and whispers but once you start seeing disembodied hand then it moves up to class 2. Abraham Lincoln haunting the White House is considered to be a class four ghost. Class seven are your very powerful interdimensional entities with god-like powers.

The last part of the book explains the tools you can use when ghost haunting. Some tools you need are: animals, batteries, camera, EMF meter, dowsing rod, flashlight, etc. My favorite tool they list is Toliet Paper. "Toliet Paper: Not technically paratechnology, but it's better to be safe than sorry. And while you're at it, don't forget to pack an extra pair of underwear."

Now that you have your tools you need to know where to hunt ghosts at. The most common haunted places are houses, theatres, especially old opera houses, hotels, battlefields, prisons, and hospitals. This chapter has many different locations that are haunted.

I couldn't help but laugh when I came to the last pages of the book. The back of the book has a sample waiver of liability for metaphysical examinations agreement and interview question forms.

Would I recommend reading this book? Yes and no. It was funny here and there, but to me, it was more boring than funny.

More about this book click here.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

ABOUT GHOSTS FROM OUR PAST

As seen in the Sony Pictures 2016 film Ghostbusters, the ultimate guide to identifying, understanding, and engaging with any paranormal activity that plagues you
Years before they made headlines with the Ghostbusters, Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates published the groundbreaking study of the paranormal, Ghosts from Our Past. Once lost to history, this criminally underappreciated book is now back in print, revised and somewhat updated for the new century.

According to Gilbert and Yates, “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” and whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, you’ll find the information you’re seeking right here in this extraordinary book, including:

· The childhood experiences that inspired Erin and Abby’s lifelong passion for the scientific study of the paranormal;
· The history of ghosts and other supernatural entities, the science that explains their existence, and profiles of the groundbreaking paranormal researchers who have investigated them;
· An illustrated guide to Class I through Class VII ghosts;
· Helpful sidebars like “A Ghost by Any Other Name” and “Ectoplasm Cleanup Tips”;
· Updates including “The Ghostbusters’ Arsenal” by Jillian Holtzmann and “Haunted History” by Patty Tolan;
· A new Ghostbusting Resources appendix, featuring the “Paranormal Quickstart Guide”, “Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz”, “A Supernatural Stakeout Journal”, “The Devil’s Dictionary: Paraterminology You Need to Know”; and more.

With this helpful—and hilarious—official Ghostbusters guide in hand, you’ll be prepared for almost any spirit, spook, or spectre that comes your way. As for the rest, you know who to call.

ABOUT GHOSTS FROM OUR PAST

As seen in the Sony Pictures 2016 film Ghostbusters, the ultimate guide to identifying, understanding, and engaging with any paranormal activity that plagues you
Years before they made headlines with the Ghostbusters, Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates published the groundbreaking study of the paranormal, Ghosts from Our Past. Once lost to history, this criminally underappreciated book is now back in print, revised and somewhat updated for the new century.

According to Gilbert and Yates, “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” and whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, you’ll find the information you’re seeking right here in this extraordinary book, including:

· The childhood experiences that inspired Erin and Abby’s lifelong passion for the scientific study of the paranormal;
· The history of ghosts and other supernatural entities, the science that explains their existence, and profiles of the groundbreaking paranormal researchers who have investigated them;
· An illustrated guide to Class I through Class VII ghosts;
· Helpful sidebars like “A Ghost by Any Other Name” and “Ectoplasm Cleanup Tips”;
· Updates including “The Ghostbusters’ Arsenal” by Jillian Holtzmann and “Haunted History” by Patty Tolan;
· A new Ghostbusting Resources appendix, featuring the “Paranormal Quickstart Guide”, “Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz”, “A Supernatural Stakeout Journal”, “The Devil’s Dictionary: Paraterminology You Need to Know”; and more.

With this helpful—and hilarious—official Ghostbusters guide in hand, you’ll be prepared for almost any spirit, spook, or spectre that comes your way. As for the rest, you know who to call.