Customer Reviews

When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Many books on the subject of ghosts are either silly and trite or leave the reader with many unanswered questions. This book is different--and better. Mary Ann Winkowski claims to see ghosts (earthbound spirits) and is able to speak to them. If you accept that premise then the book's content is fascinating and answers many questions. Readers can and should be skeptical about such claims but if one reads the book with an open and curious mind it will be an enjoyable and enlightening read. It certainly makes you think. What happens to us after we die is always a compelling topic. "When Ghosts Speak" approaches the topic with ideas many people have not fully considered before. If you enjoy an easy, page-turning read about a topic that has always fascinated humankind, you will not be disappointed reading this book.

I believe in a spirit world. I believe spirits can communicate through certain people called mediums. I believe Mary Ann Winkowski, the author of this book, is a medium. What I have a hard time believing, however, is that she is as good as the stories in this book suggest. She seems to get names, personal information, and even computer passwords from the spirits without too much difficulty.

I have a pretty high boggle threshold, but this book exceeded it and left me shaking my head and wondering if she embellished some of the stories. It may be that she just mentioned the best cases and made no mention of her failures, but I remain skeptical. It would have really helped my skepticism if she had included an appendix of some kind with testimonials from the various police departments and other agencies or persons she states have been clients.

Most clairvoyant and clairaudient mediums, including James Van Praagh, who wrote the Foreword to the book, struggle to get names and they just get bits and pieces of information, often through symbols. But it is as if Mrs. Winkowski is sitting there talking to them over a cup of coffee, jotting down their verbatim words. She does state that she communicates only with earthbound spirits, i.e., those who have not yet gone into the light, while mediums like Van Praagh, John Edward, Lisa Williams and others known to the public apparently communicate with those who have gone into the light. Perhaps the vibrational level for earthbound spirits is closer to ours and that makes it easier to get information. I have done much study and reading in the area of mediumship and don't recall coming across this division before, i.e., those who can receive communication only from earthbound spirits and those who receive communication only from spirits who have gone into the light. It was a very interesting and educational read for me.

I don't rate a book down just because it exceeds my boggle threshold. It gave me much to think about and ponder on. I look forward to hearing more about Mary Ann Winkowski, but do hope she will offer some testimonials in a future book.

This book is fairly interesting with facts I had not read before. I purchased it because the author is connected with the Ghost Whisperer program and I am a devout fan. I am fascinated that Mrs. W, John Edward and Lisa Williams all perceive spirits in a different way. I wish I had the ability === so I read. The one "off-putting" item about the author is that she has a web site where she sells her quince seed protectors. You cannot purchase the seeds in bulk but must pay $40 for a small silver charm with one quince seed inside. I am dubious about individuals who sell their charms at such a high price to readers and such a profit for themselves. I've seen small silver charms for one third the amount and surely a quince seed (which she claims can only be purchased from her relatives in Italy) cannot come so dear. The book was interesting and I am not sorry I purchased it - but hold off in buying her trinkets -- and ALWAYS keep an open mind.

This is a very readable book but contains some statements that I find hard to believe. For example, the idea that after a person dies, the white light only lasts for a set amount of time, and after that, it disappears and a spirit is earthbound if they didn't enter it within that time frame. Huh ? I have NEVER read or heard that from any other psychic or medium. So, do your spirit guides and guardian angels just leave you earthbound after the 72 hours or so pass by ? I don't think so. According to the author, she creates the white light for ghosts she encounters. That's a mighty amount of power for a medium to have!

She makes it sounds like as many people remain ghosts as cross over - according to her, there are ghosts just about everywhere! I don't think they are all that common.

She also believes in Hell and curses, both of which most psychics will tell you do not exist (of course it is possible to curse someone, but it can only "work" if the person cursed believes it does). It's a common scam for fake psychics/mediums to claim a person is cursed and offer to lift the curse for a high price. I am not saying the author is a fake, but I don't think she is as insightful as most people with her gifts. She has some good general advice about protecting yourself from negative energy, but as another reviewer mentioned, I find it suspicious that she sells her quince seed charm for such a high price on her web site. (That is another thing I have never heard of - using quince seeds to ward off ghosts. Especially since they apparently only work if they are from her family in Italy. Hmmmm...).

On the plus side, she is a good writer - the book has an easy conversational style and some interesting stories - but I don't think it is a balanced account of the spirit world.

I first met Mary Ann Winkowski when I interviewed her for my book, Ghosthunters. I was completely charmed by her humble and warm Midwestern personality, not at all what I expected from someone who can see and talk to dead people. If you've ever watched CBS' Ghost Whisperer, you may already know something about Mary Ann since the program is loosely based upon her experiences. In fact, Mary Ann is a consultant to the producers of the show.

Mary Ann's new book, When Ghosts Speak, is a candid and thoroughly engrossing biography in which she explains her unique abilities. The book is written as though the reader was seated at Mary Ann's kitchen table, talking with her over coffee and biscotti. Yet, the amazing stories that she tells about her conversations with ghosts tells the reader that this is a woman with awesome, if not frightening, powers which have helped her to aid countless families who needed to communicate with recently departed loved ones. She also writes about her work with various law enforcement agencies throughout the country as she helps them solve crimes by talking with the dead crime victims themselves!

I enjoyed reading When Ghosts Speak and I recommend it to any readers who want to know about the real Ghost Whisperer.

John Kachuba

Author: Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World

I recieved a bound proof of this book and found it to be very informative. It does not address the subject in a storybook manner but instead addresses each area of interest from a personal and practical standpoint much like a reference book.

I must say after having read literally dozens of books on the paranormal and indeed having done a few investigations of my own I found this book to be one of the most well written, informative and interesting books I have read so far. It addresses how to recognize certain situations, What to do If?, What NOT to do and some her personal accounts as well. This is definately NOT A BORING READ!

I am by no means a diehard (pardon the pun) skeptic. I am an avid reader of anything re: LAD, NDE, ect. And though I take everything I read with a grain of salt, THIS particular book has me straddling the fence, caught between wanting to believe she is credible and wanting to roll my eyes and burst into laughter. In both book form and a few YouTube videos I've watched of her, Mary Ann comes across as completely theathrical and over the top. First of all, as someone else mentioned, the spiritual photos, most particularly that of the statue look p.h.o.n.y. It looks as if it is what it is...a STATUE. And she wants us to believe that she has caught on film what NO reputable ghost hunter to my knowledge has ever managed to achieve? A clearly defined photo that leaves no room for doubt? Okkkk. She details conversations with earthbound ghosts as if she is talking to an average, flesh and blood person. Considering a spirt is nothing but energy with no form; no features, are we really expected to believe that they 'wiggle their eyebrows suggestively'? Far too over the top for me to suspend disbelief. And why is it that nearly every medium out there claims to 'work with police' to help solve cases, yet not one of them has any evidence, including from said law enforcement to back up those claims? I hate seeming so negative and skeptical, when the fact is, I am just like millions of others. I WANT to believe. However, as interesting and borderline unique as this book was from others I've read, it still reads like fantasy fiction. I am a huge Ghost Whisperer fan, but this belongs in a television studio, not reality. As with everything else, take it with a grain of salt. It's a fantastically entertaining read, but not quite convincing.

I simply could not put this book down. Mary Ann Winkowski's way of telling her story is open, frank, humorous and direct. Thought provoking and constant, this is an intriguing, amazing book. Part biography and part extensive personal paranormal experience. Easily one of the best books on the topic of ghosts and the afterlife. Mrs. Winkowski's account of her life and dealing with earth-bound spirits resonates with directness and plausibility.

When Ghosts Speak is one of the best books I've read on this topic--and I've read most of them!

I bought this book to help with an issue I am having in my rental home. My husband died there and I have moved out and am now having problems keeping renters in the home. This book truly made sense to me and helped to explain some of the problems going on in the home.I believe she knows what she is talking about,this book was well written and easy to read, very informative and helpful for me.

I recently read Mary Ann Winkowski's 'When Ghosts Speaks' in order to take in her perspective of seeing and talking to ghosts. Mary Ann's stories are quite interesting, and the reader learns why she is a rock star among the world of ghost communicators. Her gift of being able to see and speak to lost human souls is something, well, incredible.

There is a wealth of information in this book that I find helpful for those who wish to know more about ghosts and haunting. Mary Ann also has a fun style of story telling and a long history of working with people who need help with troublesome spirits. I admire the author for speaking "her truth" (what she currently understands about ghosts) with conviction.

Now allow me to share about a few areas of the book I disagree with. Having worked for years at attempting to understand ghost behavior, I struggled with a few "matter of fact" statements about ghosts and haunting made by Mary Ann. For example, the idea that "the light" (where ghosts are sent forth to) can be a place of judgment where a soul might end up in Hell seems to be based more upon her Catholic heritage than it does her actual experiences. Mary Ann does admit she doesn't know for sure what happens to ghosts after they enter the light, yet still holds onto the ideas of eternal punishment (and demons). She also states that ghosts always stand at the foot of their coffin during calling hours and that "the light" they should enter into will also be with them until it disappears after about 72 hours. I find myself questioning these interesting ideas, even though I do not know whether or not they are incorrect. I guess I am suspicious of this because I have found that there never seems to be any certainties with ghosts and haunting. Each ghost's experience, behavior and situation seems to differ from one spirit to another.

I was disappointed to read that Mary Ann does not advocate that people try and communicate with ghosts if a haunting is taking place within their home. She recommends ignoring the ghost. In my experience, we are better off to acknowledge disembodied humans, otherwise, the haunting typically escalates. Ghosts often make their presence known in order to communicate. To ignore disembodied people seems a bit heartless to me. Couple this with what seems like superstitious ideas of using herbs, holy water, sea salt, etc to keep ghosts out of a home and I worry that readers might hold fast to the Hollywood portrayal of ghosts as something "other-worldly" we should fear.

Ghosts are people who often need our help, and compassionate communication with the lost is always a best approach. Mary Ann is at her best when she is lovingly guiding lost, human spirits home.

Louis Charles

Helping Ghosts: A Guide to Understanding Lost Spirits from Angels & Ghosts (Volume 1)