The Complete Idiot's Guide To Ghosts And Hauntings (Complete Idiot's Guide to)

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately will not make idiots any wiser
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Though it's an "Idiot's" guide, the author does not insult the intelligence of his reader. The tone of the book is just right. The author does not give himself away as a dyed-in-the-wool believer, and neither is he a rock-em sock-em skeptic a la the CISCOP gang. Instead, he presents the information in a light,fun,informative manner. The bibliography at the back of the book warmed the cockles of my heart, as they've gotten to be rare as hen's teeth in these days of vanishing literacy. In addition there are addresses of groups and other resources for those interested in learning more. Maybe this book was not written for Rocket-Scientist- stiff-upper-lip-all-night-in-the-crypt-ghost hunters (a little joke there...a little irony...) but it covers many topics and it does a masterful job at doing so. For instance, it gives a good accounting of Urban Legends as well as phantasmagoria...now where are you going to find that range under one cover? Yes, Odgen does get a fact or two wrong, but that's a far cry from the usual rote repetition of hearsay that passes for fact in almost every paranormal book on the market. (And, sure, it's a good book for kitty-box reading if that's what your passion is!) I also like his presentation of the historical beginnings of spiritualism, tracing them directly to Swedenborg (an old buddy) and Andrew Jackson Davis, the 19th c. seer before the Foxettes shuffled off with the show in Hydesville, N.Y. Ilustrations are good too--many classics here, including that cute Drummer of Tedworth! And--as a bonus--he includes a mini-Ouija board for some do-it-yourself yesyes fun.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother
Review: 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.