Customer Reviews

Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Interesting reading, but know what you're getting; it's essentially a compilation of incidents regarding the shadows, with not much analytical work. Unfortunately religion permeates the text, so there's not even an attempt at objectivity.

Drawing on personal encounters and his experience as a journalist, author Jason Offutt has created a well-researched, balanced analysis of a phenomenon that's only become widely known over the last couple of decades. Shadow people are present in many cultures around the world, yet nobody really knows what they are or where they come from.

Darkness Walks is easy to read and the stories Offutt relates of those who've seen these ghostly apparitions are compelling and, in some cases, chilling. But he digs deeper, drawing on his skills as a reporter to explore possible scientific and metaphysical explanations of the phenomenon. Offutt touches on physics, psychology, biology, and religions of all types without advocating any particular view as the definitive answer.

There are consistent themes that emerge, however: almost universally, religious scholars cited by Offutt view shadow people as ambivalent entities at best. The most one can hope for if a shadow person appears, it seems, is that it takes no notice of humans nearby.

Offutt details the categories of shadow people reported by experiencers, and he includes chapters on why some people seem haunted by them and how to rid oneself of the shadows. While not an explicitly religious book, Darkness Walks seems to confirm the research of deliverance ministers who believe that certain behaviors can open metaphysical doorways through which shadow people -- and demons -- can enter.

Darkness Walks is highly recommended.

I found this book to be very interesting, educational and informative on this subject matter. There is very little in book form on this subject so I was pleased when I found this book. The stories do get a little "old" at times in the book; you really want information on shadow people, not always someone else's experiences. There were no photos of shadow people which was a disappointment as they are out there, especially if you look on line. All in all, I found this book to be a keeper for my library and would recommend it to anyone who is in the paranormal world for the long haul and is building up their library.

I gave this book five stars because it is the only book on shadow people you'll ever need to read. Every kind of experience is here.

The problem is that this book is so SCARY that I couldn't finish it.

It has me starting at every unfamiliar noise, no matter how faint. It has me looking over my shoulder and looking around the room at intervals. It has me looking twice at every shadow cast by anything in my house to make sure it isn't moving. It has me sleeping with the light on. And I may not be able to ever sleep with it off again.

This book is that scary, so be warned. You may never feel safe and secure again after reading it.

I bought and read "Darkness Walks" with high expectations but I must admit to being disappointed. Unlike the other readers, I could read it at night, put it down easily, and sleep peacefully because none of it was convincing. Like some of the 'witnesses' in the book, I can tell tales of things sitting on my bed, scrabbling at bed clothes and calling my name while I lay there unable to move. Hello! Sleep paralysis anyone? I have experienced this many times over the years and I can attest to the sense of dread and threat, but it is a perfectly natural thing. There is no evidence for anything paranormal in this book, just a lot of people jumping at shadows and reading FAR more into a situation than the events warrant. As I said, disappointing.

I have always been facinated by the 'shadow people' concept. I heard of this book and just had to get it. It is the kinda book that you read a few pages and then you must set it down and look over your shoulders, yeah it's that creepy. A majority of the book are various peoples encounters with these 'darker than night' creatures. And each story is an absolute story of terror. I had never actually made up my mind on if these creatures are for real, until i had an encounter myself, but thats another story. Now I know they are real. Whether you believe in them or not, it's a very good read.

Are shadow people real? If so, what are they, an what are their intentions? This book takes you at least partway towards an answer about these mysterious entities.

Darkness Walks attempts to pass off a paranormal study - one deeply embedded in religious and cultural mythology - as a common, hitherto undervalued, phenomenon. And for the first few chapters it works, before quickly devolving into a general recount of a series of very similar cases, in which the witnesses say the same things. I found myself skim reading before long and not feeling as though I was missing anything.

The other thing I noticed about the book is the underlying Christian dogma threaded throughout. I was starting to think this is a Christian recruiting guide, using what they know best: fear mongering.

Before I found this book, I had seen a dark shadow at my mothers house in the middle of the night. I couldn't figure out it what it was until I found and received the book on Shadow People.
thank you for your promptness.

A phenomenal book. The experiences shared in these pages seem to feel familiar. If you are a fan of Jason's Haunted Missouri, you have to enjoy this new book.