Reviewer Andrea Coventry: Andrea is a Montessori child - turned educator. An avid reader and writer, she is published on several websites. Click Here to find a listing of Andrea's sites where you can find many of her writing contributions.
Author: Colin Wilson
Publisher: Llewellyn
Worldwide
ISBN: 978-0-7387-1867-5
Click Here To Purchase Poltergeist: A Classic Study in Destructive Hauntings
For those who
have ever been curious about that paranormal phenomenon known as the
poltergeist, then this book by Colin Wilson is for
you. Poltergeist: A Classic Study in Destructive
Haunting goes beyond simply telling a scary ghost story.
It delves into centuries of stories and case studies, dating as far
back as the Ancient Greeks and Romans and has some research to back
it up. It answers many questions, and leaves others
unanswered.
The stories he shares range from the typical ghost
story of objects flying through the air, to some of the most truly
bizarre, such as the girl who could see through her ear, or the
talking mongoose. Some of them are famous, such as the story of
the Bell witch, and the bizarre case of Uri Geller and his ability to
make random objects move and appear. Other stories are lesser
known.
What they tend to have in common is some sort of force
that propels the movement of the objects, usually centering around a
teenager, almost always a female. When she leaves a place that
appears to be inhabited by a poltergeist, the events usually stop.
Most poltergeists do not speak, but on occasion, they attempt to
mimic speech. Most can be eventually driven away. All of
them are creepy.
It's a book that is going to appeal to the
more intellectual crowd, as the stories are written as case studies.
Wilson attempts to use strong evidence for answering questions, such
as the creation and impetus of poltergeist forces, and what tactics
they seem to use for survival. It is well-researched, with
documentation spanning the centuries, as well as scholarly studies
and reports by other professionals in the field. Those stories
that seem unlikely are exposed and challenged. Wilson has been
chasing ghosts for years, and knows what he is talking about.
While
the book doesn't read like a novel, it is still an entertaining look
into a history that is shared by cultures all over the world.
It's the kind of history that you are not going to get in a
traditional classroom setting. And it's scary enough to give
you chills when you read it before bed or to question those little
bumps you hear in the night.