I woke up and saw a female spirit standing on my boyfriend’s side of the bed." "The cats would not go up the stairs...sometimes they hiss at something out of nowhere." More than two out of five Americans believe in ghosts, and nearly one in five claim they've encountered one themselves. And the rest of us are morbidly curious about it, judging from the wild success of dramatizations of spirit encounters through shows like Netflix's Paranormal and movies like Spirited. Just in time for Halloween, we present an organized collection of compelling ghost stories, tales of haunted houses, energy orb sightings, and other unexplained phenomena, and bring some science to bear. Do our dead really still live among us in a shadowy alternate state...and if not, what in the world is actually going on?
Enter… If You Dare • THE UNCONVENTIONAL, SPELLBINDING, AND SPINE-TINGLING WORLD OF GHOSTS
Ghosts: A Haunting History • Through all of human history, our stories show that ghosts have been along for the ride.
What Are Ghosts, Anyway? • They appear and disappear at will, but here are some clues to their nature.
HOW CAN GHOSTS WALK THROUGH WALLS?
Spectral Encounters • Real-life accounts of ghostly visitations across the centuries
THE GHOSTS OF WALT DISNEY WORLD
Pop Culture Phantasms • From books and movies to cartoons and video games, ghosts have long played a starring role.
GHOSTS IN NOVELS
A Ghostly Glossary • Helpful definitions of some common, otherworldly terms and phrases
Ghost Stories • Tales of ghostly encounters and legendary mysteries
The Bell Witch • A spectral visitor terrorizes a Tennessee family to the point of murder.
THE ELGIN AND WINTER GARDEN THEATRE CENTRE
The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge • A tragic tale of two lovers, torn apart—and the hauntings that followed
EMILY’S BRIDGE
Highways to Hell • Seven haunted roads whose reported encounters will send chills down your spine
KNOCK-KNOCK ROAD
WHISKEY HOLLOW ROAD
The Lizzie Borden House • “Come down quick! Father’s dead—somebody came in and killed him!”
CALCASIEU PARISH COURTHOUSE
The True Story Behind The Conjuring • If you thought the movie was frightening, just wait until you hear the real story.
THE HAUNTING OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Present-Day Paranormals • It isn’t just historical hauntings: Even today, ghost stories are stealing the spotlight.
CELEBRITY GHOST ENCOUNTERS
THE STRANGE HAPPENINGS ON THE EXORCIST FILM SET
Huggin’ Molly • The eerie apparition that terrorizes Alabama’s children at night
LA LLORONA
The Stanley Hotel • The haunted hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining boasts its own ghastly stories.
HOTEL MONTE VISTA
The Story of the Gray Man • A benevolent spirit that predicts hurricanes—ignore him at your peril
What’s Really Happening? • If our restless dead aren’t actually walking among us, what are people seeing?
Energy Orbs • Are these delicate lights really spirit energy?
Electromagnetic Activity • Does this energy indicate a ghostly presence?
WHY ARE GHOSTS MAGNETIC?
ESP • Is there really a sixth sense?
Cold Spots • Are ghosts truly chilling?
ARE OUIJA BOARDS REAL?
What Do Mediums Do? • Understanding the strange world of paranormal psychics
MEDIUM-BUSTER HARRY HOUDINI
Gear Up for a Ghost Hunt • From flashlights to motion detectors, here’s how to be ready for any encounter.
Where to Find Ghosts • Regional highlights to inspire your own ghost-hunting adventures
Haunted Cities of the Northeast • Battlefields, murder scenes, and witch trials...
