Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places Paperback – August 1, 2003

My interest in the supernatural was awakened in my childhood - I grew up in Southeast Asia, a region much steeped in mysticism and superstition, even till today. Hearing tales of the supernatural was a common occurrence and I myself have had some strange experiences that seemed othwerworldy.In "Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places", author Brad Steiger gives us valuable insights into the world of the supernatural, covering just about every area to do with the supernatural or paranormal and each story is well-written, the narrative flowing easily whilst vividly capturing the eerie experiences in the different places described here. This collection covers not only famous hauntings and historical personalities, but also ordinary folk, lending an authentic feel to the stories.The various chapters covered are:Haunted Houses and ApartmentsEncounters with Glowing Entities and Ghost LightsPoltergeists: Unwelcome House GuestsShadow beings that AttackedSpirit Parasites that PossessedSpirits seen at Deathbeds and FuneralsGhosts that Returned to Bid FarewellGhosts that Warned of Approaching Danger or DeathInspirational Messages from the Other SideGhosts that Gave Proof of their ExistenceSpeaking to Spirits: The Mystery of MediumshipGhosts that Came Back to LifeApparitions of Religious FiguresGhostly Encounters of Famous Men and WomenAnimal Ghosts - Domesticated and WildRestored Scenes of the PastHaunted Churches, Cemeteries, and Burial GroundsHaunted Mansions and PlantationsCreepy Castles and Ghostly RoyaltyPhantoms on Roads and HighwaysHaunted Hotels, Motels, and InnsHaunted Restaurants, Bars, and TheatersBattlefields where Phantom Armies Eternally Wage WarGhosts in Civic Buildings and PrisonsPhantoms Seen on Seas and LakesGhosts on Trains, Planes, and AutomobilesWhen Ghosts visit Stores and Office BuildingsMysterious Entities and dark, Hooded Bedroom InvadersStrange Beings that Masquerade as HumansGhosts from Outer SpaceThere are detailed appendices at the end of the book, i.e.Cities, Towns and Villages in North America Heavily Populated by GhostsGhost Hunters, researchers, and ResourcesSelected FilmographyBibliographyIndexThis is truly a well-researched and comprehensive compendium on the supernatural and highly recommended to those interested in the genre.

I've read Steiger's writings since he first started publishing and have always been amazed at how he manages to capture important nuances that seem to escape the average writer. Brad has put into practice all that he has written about. He is definitely familiar with a wide variety of paranormal phenomena and has been able to bring many theories and thoughts on the subject together in this book."Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places" is one of the finest compendiums of ghost stories I have ever seen. In fact, I doubt that it would be possible to find a book that features more information on the best known reports of a haunting, along with lesser known reports published for the first time. Along with the stories, Steiger furnishes many of the techniques employed by modern paranormal investigators. This information is simply missing from most other collections of ghostly tales and helps the reader understand the current theories and approaches investigators have in this field.Everything in this book including the Appendixes, with movie recommendations, and a listing of paranormal groups makes this book a solid addition to anyone's library, whether it is for the serious researcher or those who love a good ghost story and would perhaps like more in depth information on ghosts and haunting activity.I've spent over 35 years researching and investigating in this field and cannot think of anything that Brad has failed to at least touch on with this work. It is certainly a Magnum Opus, and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject.

I liked this book, a matter of fact I'm still reading it. It has everything from ghosts to poltegeist to orbs. This book has it all. The stories in it are all very long and descripted. I don't believe every story in it but the majority I do. The pictures in the book are really freaky also. The freakiest picture is the Amityville one with a child who's a boy, is looking into a camera by the door and staircase. They're was a camera set up and left alone by the stair case for a man who was investigating the house, is it real? Could it of been a kid curious what was going on and peeked around the corner at the wrong time? Was it one of the investigators kids trying to make some money? Who knows, all I know is it freaked me out. Other then that, the book is worth reading and has every story across the globe.

A thick book packed with ghosty goodness. Dozens and dozens of anecdotes of the supernatural, from poltergeists to the Amityville Horror house, to religious apparitions and possessing spirits...there's not much not left touched upon here. Steiger's been around for a long time, and his knowledge of (and love for) the subject matter shows. Most accounts are no more than four pages long, which for me was perfect for quickly digestible bits to seize in between the rest of life. Steiger strays away from delving into the science of the paranormal, instead relying on the culmination of years of personal research and collecting firsthand accounts to smartly draw his own conclusions about each particular phenomenon. It's hard to come away from reading this book and it's spooky anecdotes that literally span the globe and the centuries and not come away just a little less skeptical regarding the unseen world. Great for the paranormal researcher as well as those simply seeking a little chill in their evening. A well layed out, well composed page-turner.