The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings [Paperback]

Tom Ogden (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: October 4, 1999

You're no idiot, of course. You know Casper was a friendly ghost and that the Phantom Hitchhiker is someone you'd rather not meet on a deserted highway late at night. But when it comes to knowing the authentic roots of ghost stories--and which ones remain unexplained to this day--you don't stand a ghost of a chance. Don't get spirited away yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings is an eerie investigation into the firsthand accounts, legends, literature, and dramatic works surrounding the world of ghosts. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

You're no idiot, of course. You know Casper was a friendly ghost and that the Phantom Hitchhiker is someone you'd rather not meet on a deserted highway late at night. But when it comes to knowing the authentic roots of ghost stories--and which ones remain unexplained to this day--you don't stand a ghost of a chance. Don't get spirited away yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings is an eerie investigation into the firsthand accounts, legends, literature, and dramatic works surrounding the world of ghosts. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, you get:

About the Author

Tom Ogden has been a professional magician for more than 30 years, which sparked his interest in the paranormal. He has been featured on several televised magic specials and has opened for the Osmond Brothers and Robin Williams, among others. A consistent contributor to such magic magazines as Genii and The Magic Manuscript, he is the author of several books, including 200 Years of the American Circus: From Aba-Daba to Zoppe-Zavata and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Magic Tricks. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 1 edition (October 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028636597
• ISBN-13: 978-0028636597
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,248,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars For once a book that lives up to its name, March 6, 2002

By 

M. Williams "Ghosthunter" (McConnellstown, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings (Paperback)

I was very disappointed with this book. I am a ghosthunter by profession and bought this book out of curiosity. It is full of misconceptions anf false information. For anyone looking for serious information on the spirits and ghosts around us, I would not recommend this book. For those looking for some fun reading around the campfire this book is better suited for this purpose. For once I can say that a book lives up to its name....the author should research a little more........

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately will not make idiots any wiser, August 8, 2002

By 

Duliniel (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings (Paperback)

I have to say I was surprised at all the factual errors in this book. I know there are no "facts" in paranormal investigations, but this book gets actual "facts" wrong when discussing people and places. Queen Elizabeth I is not buried at Windsor Castle; she's entombed at Westminster Abbey. This is just one small example of MANY inaccuracies found in this book.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother, May 31, 2002

By 

the wolverine "x-men fan" (Long Island , NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings (Paperback)

This is probably one of the worst ghost books I have ever read. Perhaps it is trying to live up to it's title, since it assumes the reader does not know any definition for ghosts or hauntings or anything in between and chooses to act as if this book will give you all the answers. It doesn't give any. Most of the book is spent on small snippets of useless information in an effort to "tell you alot". If you want to read a real ghost book, go pick out anything by Hans Holzer, or perhaps "Gravesend",or "Haunted Heartland" or ANY other book on ghosts and hauntings but this one.