10 Paranormal Books for Beginners
In the beginning we only have what others have experienced or learned to guide us or to formulate a game plan on how we want to approach any subject. People like Nikola Tesla began like any other, learning about electricity and mechanical engineering from those who came before him until his capacity for knowledge of what was known to be fact was full, he began to push the facts further to understand and create more. In much the same way each of us as paranormal investigators need to learn what has been understood and achieved before we came to the table so that we attempt to integrate new and creative formulas for understanding the paranormal.
While there are many subjects that comprise the paranormal; in this particular blog I am keeping to books that discuss mostly ghosts, spirits, and hauntings. Each text is good for the beginner and the seasoned investigator. The following information includes my perception of the texts included and should in no way invalidate any conclusion or perception that you reach on your own. We each learn and view things in different ways which makes the paranormal community well rounded. I also want to remind any new or old paranormal investigator that books alone cannot give you guidance. You must spend time researching and investigating with serious intention before you can accurately form conclusions for yourself and others.
1. The Everything Ghost Hunting Book by Melissa Martin Ellis
If every I could share a book that is a well rounded and brimming with information to get started it is this one. Every new member of my paranormal team is told to pick one up and to read cover to cover. The book discusses the history of the paranormal and the belief in the afterlife. It covers psychic abilities and how to hone your own abilities if you have them. There are many chapters dedicated to your personal, emotional, behavioral, and physical approach to paranormal investigation and ghost hunting. It discusses professionalism, documentation, equipment, techniques, data collection, data analysis, conclusions, and sharing information. It talks about cleansings, blessings, and helping others. It is pretty in depth but perfect for the beginner and the seasoned investigator.
2. How to be a Ghost Hunter by Richard Southall
One of my favorite past times is to wander book stores and look for anything that could possibly help me in my pursuit of knowledge into the paranormal. On one such trip I actually stumbled on this book which obviously has a title that does little to hide the contents. Southall created an incredibly well developed outline to ghost hunting, start to finish. He discusses his experiences which engenders a firmer understanding of how he attained his approach to paranormal investigation and beyond. He develops structure to interviewing clients and witnesses, collecting data on the investigation, equipment uses, technique, and more. While this particular text is older and does not include the newer types of equipment, the basic premise of ghost hunting is captured and is still very alive in a lot of paranormal team's approach today
3. Ghost Hunter's Guidebook by Troy Taylor
I can without a doubt say that Troy Taylor was one of my first mentors, even though he doesn't know it! This book was by far the most eye opening to the paranormal community. Many paranormal investigators through the years have created how-tos that give you a starting point for creating your own formula for paranormal investigation however this particular text warns you of the dynamics of the paranormal field. Taylor's personality and no nonsense approach to the paranormal, investigation, and his peers; is refreshing and informative. This like many other guides to ghost hunting includes history, equipment, technique, documentation, and more. It's a must have on any paranormal investigator or ghost hunters bookshelf.
4. The Case for Ghosts: An Objective Look at the Paranormal by J. Allan Danelek
5. Haunted Houses by Camille Flammarion
This book will be a bit of a struggle to locate but I feel that it should be included. Written in the 1920s by a French Astronomer, this particular book reads like a journal. Flammarion compiled letters, documented paranormal experiences and encounters, shared colleague input, and put his questions to paper to create a one of a kind reading experience. You may wonder what a French Astronomer could have to say that would impact us as a paranormal investigators today in 2019, but I will revert back to my earlier assessment, you must know what others have done before us to create and formulate our own approach. Flammarion may only have eye witness experiences and opinion to go on however his approach to these are unparalleled. He documented everything and traced the steps. Several investigators over the
years have read this particular text and have agreed he was a pioneer.
6. The Ghost Hunter's Field Guide by Mark Nesbitt
Mark Nesbitt has long been known for his paranormal knowledge when it comes to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This book was something I picked up on a weekend in Gettysburg. I seem to collect guidebooks just to compare notes. (No wonder I am writing my own?) Nesbitt not only outlines his approach to ghost hunting he outlines ghost hunting in Gettysburg. It's like a win-win. This particular book is not in depth; it is short, sweet and to the point. It is a great guide for the beginner!
7. The Ghost Hunter's Survival Guide by Michelle Belanger
Over the years I have been asked many times about my and my teams approach to spiritual protection. Until recently I honestly could say that I just focused on the investigation and told the spirits they had to stay when I left. Was that always successful? No it wasn't however until I personally developed abilities and began to connect with spirits that I determined I needed to protect myself. I now recommend to anyone beginning or seasoned to create a well developed way to protect yourself and others spiritually. Belanger does just that in this text outlining her experiences, feelings, and approach. She includes many techniques for various situations and even outlines how to help clients with the paranormal on a spiritual level. If you don't have a mentor for spiritual guidance this text will be a great introduction of what to look for and how to approach it.
8. Scientific Paranormal Investigation by Benjamin Radford
I will admit that this was one of the hardest books for me to read, however it was one of the most rewarding. In everyday life there is a necessity to challenge oneself and their beliefs. Radford does this with detailed references for every situation he approaches. One of the things I understand about the paranormal is that if we understood it or we could explain it, we would have already. There are many ways to explain away what we experience but it never quite hits the truth of the matter. In this particular book you will get the nuts and bolts of how to approach a paranormal investigation scientifically (as much as it can be...) and how to dot your i's and cross your t's. Radford also includes how NOT to investigate the paranormal. I personally enjoyed seeing the holes in our investigation techniques through his eyes, the challenge to close those holes and
make sure that our results are more validated.
9. PSIence by Marie D Jones
Without a doubt my favorite paranormal author is Marie D. Jones. Marie writes about subjects that normally make your eyes cross in a way that makes you understand them so fully you can't help but feel a million times smarter for "getting it". In this particular book Marie delves into correlating Quantum Physics and new science to explaining the existence of the paranormal. I see many paranormal investigators investigating, recording, sharing experiences, posting audio clips, and more with out really having any depth to what they are doing. I personally need to have depth added to what I do as a paranormal investigator. I find sharing audio clips of voices that make no sense to be pointless and unrewarding. The idea that in some way reading a book like this one could answer some of our questions and even help us formulate a more accurate way to communicate is ground breaking.
10. The Resonance Key by Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman
Have you ever read or heard something that just made so much sense it gave you goose bumps? This. Is. It. Jones and Flaxman are a dynamic duo creating an understanding to resonance, vibration, consciousness, and theories that could unlock our understanding of paranormal phenomena. This is by far my favorite read in correlating the paranormal to known science. I enjoyed every second of it and I firmly believe anyone that is interested in sound as it correlates to the paranormal should read it as well.
While I have many books on the subject of the paranormal and ghost hunting these are by far my favorite go-to's. I have read and networked with so many knowledgeable people that it is hard to pin down the most influential. Interested in knowing more? Email me at AntietamParanormal@gmail.com
Rebecca Boyer
Co-Founder/ Case Manager
Antietam Paranormal Society
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