How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide [Paperback]

Joshua P. Warren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2003

In How to Hunt Ghosts, paranormal researcher Joshua P. Warren teaches the novice ghost hunter the basics, which above all include treating the paranormal as any other scientific field: one requiring well-documented research and hard evidence. This unique guide breaks down the theories, explains the tools of the trade, and even offers forms to facilitate your investigation. Peppered with anecdotes from Warren's personal experience, How to Hunt Ghosts offers answers to such questions as:

• What is a ghost?

• How does a ghost interact with the world?

• Where can you find a haunted house?

• Why do people usually see ghosts at night?

• How do you record a ghostly encounter?

If you suspect you live in a haunted house and want to exorcise a ghost or attempt spectral communication, or if you are interested in pursuing a career as a ghost hunter or are simply curious about the paranormal, this intriguing and informative guide is for you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Warren, president of a "paranormal research team," is at pains to distance himself from "wackos" and "charlatans"; he insists that paranormal research is a legitimate science (indeed, he says, in its pursuit of the unknown, "all science is a form of paranormal research"). Amidst metaphysical rumination about death, time and the mind-body problem, he comes up with an almost plausible theory of ghosts: they are the remains of our "unique energy bodies" that manifest themselves through "free-floating static electrical charges." This framework helps him validate ghost lore via scientific terms; for example, ghosts are most active after dark when Earth's magnetosphere is least distorted, he says. His practical ghost-hunting advice runs the gamut, from staffing (a 10-person research team is right for the average house) to liability waivers to PR (ghosts may enhance their outlines for photos if asked). Most important is a panoply of high- and not so high-tech gadgets, including audio recorders, night-vision scopes, infrared video cameras, electro-static generators and dowsing rods to capture every trace of the spectral evanescences under investigation. The surveillance apparatus is needed, according to Warren, to provide "objective evidence" that can "rule out conventional phenomena, leaving only anomalous activity." Skeptics will argue that 10 people traipsing around in an old house after dark with both sensitive electronic gear and static-electricity generators are guaranteed to record some kind of anomalous sound, "mist," "orb," erratically fluctuating electromagnetic field or other ghostly tell-tale. In other words: if you use Warren's approach to hunting ghosts, you'll probably find them. B&w photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Peter Underwood president of The Ghost Club Society A fascinating work by a longtime student of psychic phenomena who is much respected and consulted. It deserves the widest possible readership.

Rosemary Ellen Guiley, PH.D. author, Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits What a great book -- it's fun, fabulous, and filled with insider's tips and techniques. Join the pros and investigate ghosts as an expert!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743234936
• ISBN-13: 978-0743234931
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joshua P. Warren is a world-renowned paranormal investigator who currently appears on the Discovery Channel series "X-Ops" and hosts a regional radio show, "Speaking of Strange." He has also been regularly featured on TLC, the Travel Channel, and the History Channel. As president of his research team, L.E.M.U.R., Warren uses scientific methods to document unexplainable activity. He wrote the best-selling Haunted Asheville, which refers to his home city in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and How to Hunt Ghosts. His articles have been published internationally, and he has been covered by such mainstream periodicals as Southern Living, Delta Sky, FATE, New Woman, The New York Times, and FHM.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but needs a new title. Rating is 3.5 stars, really., September 20, 2005

By 

mark twain "sam" (florida, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide (Paperback)

This book is well written. It is professional. It's great for those who know next to nothing about ghosts and how to hunt them. The book should be re-titled however. The first half of the book (almost exactly 50%) is nothing more than a study of WHAT GHOSTS ARE. Now, I understand that in order to hunt something, you need to know what you're looking for - and the whole "plasma" theory was cool - but the book's title is simply "How to Hunt Ghosts". The title should be "Ghosts - What They Are And How To Hunt Them". A short introduction on the current theories of what ghosts are would've sufficed. I wish the entire book had gone into a lot more detail about the "hunt" itself. Joshua should have given much more detail about his actual experiences in his investigations, especially in the use of the equipment. For example: We used such and such piece of equipment at this investigation and got these results, rather than just speaking in generalities about what the equipment does. It definitely needs more focused, detailed info if it's going to be appreciated by anyone but a true novice in the field.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of its kind I've read, September 8, 2003

By 

James Schroeder (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide (Paperback)

Joshua Warren's book is a fascinating look into real-life ghost hunting and paranormal investigation. It is clearly written, and the fact that Warren has really been doing this kind of research for a long time comes through on every page. I heard about the book on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (Warren has been a guest numerous times, with both Noory and Art Bell), and ordered the book the next day. I got my copy before the release date (pleasant surprise) and found it even better than it had sounded. It has lots of practical advice on equipment to use in hunting ghosts from very simple things most people can use up through sophisticated cameras and scientific equipment. But it also has a section on different kinds of ghosts and hauntings, including some that aren't really ghosts but have other kinds of explanations. It is also filled with lots of anecdotes and examples from Warren's work that makes it a really interesting read.

I imagine that its going to get a lot of negative reviews from people who put down anything having to do with the paranormal, but if you have experienced ghostly things yourself or at least have an open mind, give it a try. Warren's approach and the kind of information he presents is definitely not the usual new-agey spiritualism or hokey "ghost-hunting" book by amateurs. Warren is a pro, and it shows. Buy it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good book, October 21, 2004

By 

Chancellor R (Missouri) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Hunt Ghosts : A Practical Guide (Paperback)

There are roughly three types of paranormal investigation books. Simple for the beginner,dry for the more advanced, and crud written by people looking to make a buck who don't care about the science,or who are of questionable investgative ability to say the least. Joshua Warren has tried to write a book that splits the difference between the simple and advanced, and has done a pretty good job of it. I don't feel it presents the beginners view as well as Southalls book,and it doesn't explain some of the more complicated ideas as well as other books either. However Mr Warren has done a good job presenting information on a varied and complex subject, that unlike some of the scientific disciplines there are no known absolutes. Most of the people investigating out there have their own take that is slightly different from the next. Mr Warren gives you his. This book should be read by everyone interested in this subject.