Talking to the Dead

by George Noory, Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Throughout history, people have sought ways to contact the dead and spirits. Such experiences challenge beliefs and often set people on a path of deeper exploration, looking for validation―and ways to have controlled, direct contact. Do spirit communication devices really work? What are the prospects of someday being able to pick up a cell phone or sit in front of a webcam and talk to the Other Side? While proof of contact is still elusive, there is an abundance of tantalizing evidence and experience to inspire people. For the past century, inventors have been inspired by the spirits themselves to create telephone, video, radio, and computers to attempt real-time, two-way communication with the dead and other entities. Talking to the Dead explores the colorful history and personalities behind spirit communications, weaving together spirituality, metaphysics, science, and technology. It examines the idea that new technology can connect to the ancient and universal wisdom of the "music of the spheres"; that contact with the spirit realms can be made through the vibrations of sound.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paranormal

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

American talk radio show host on paranormal topics.

Since January 2003, Noory has been the weekday host of the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM.

He has also appeared in the History channel series Ancient Aliens and in Beyond Belief, a subscription-based online video series presented by Gaiam TV.

Reviews

[Kme_17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book with first reads. It is an very informative book. This book has facts and detail a plenty . If someone is truly intrested in starting to try to communicate with the dead it has a way of going about this. The book also has quite a history of the pursuit to talk to the dead. However for a person such as myself who has a novice intrest in the subject this book can get a little hard to read. Definitely informative and the authors truly try to look at all sides of the issue. Also I definitely know more about the subject then I did before this book. But this book is for those who want a beginner handbook for trying to talk to the "other side". Other readers might find this a difficult read to get through.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for several reasons, the main one being my interest in ghosts and EVPs. I also listen to George Noory’s radio show Coast to Coast and I’ve read many of Ms Guiley’s work. I got this from her at the Mothman festival this year and am looking forward to talking to her next time about it if possible.

I was hoping that it wouldn’t be just antecedents from the radio show and while there were a few of them, just enough to not feel overwhelming. Instead, the book was about the history of EVP research and I found that fascinating. I didn’t know that when I got the book but I couldn’t have been happier. I have tons of books on first hand accounts but very little on how the movement evolved.

They went back to some of the earliest days of ‘modern’ evp (electronic voice phenomena) to today, including tips on how to do it yourself. I found it fascinating especially the information on Nikola Tesla (note to self read up on Tesla). They went back to about the 1700/1800 hundreds and moved forward. Mostly they talked about the successes, naturally since that is the point of the book but they did talk about the potential scams as well.

I thought this was a well researched, easy to access book and I really enjoyed it and I’m giving it to my brother for the holidays so I’m pretty sure he’ll enjoy it too.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have been privileged to receive as a first read.
Several times in my life I have heard, seen or dreamed things that really made me wonder. This book was really an interesting read that left me open to the possibility that communication with the deceased may happen. I found it fascinating that so many devices have been used, and with good results (?). Although questions remain for me, I am one who retreats back to my religious beliefs yet applaud the scientific research. One thing that I would have found helpful would be an index, as I spent a lot of time referring back.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I poured right through it. The subject matter was very different from other books on the spirit world, that I have read. As a spirit medium and recent guest on Coast to Coast. I have expierenced many of the things talked about in the book. Spirit box communication, phone calls from the dead ect. The book goes into the history of these things and projects what could be in our future, The possibility of communicating with the dead in real time via a phone or computer. The components are there for this to take place. For some this may be to much to handle, for me and many others it's very exciting.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to research paranormal activity without feeling crazy, but this book did a good job of helping me feel like it's a valid topic.

Some of the theories and tools mentioned therein seemed a bit far-fetched to me, but then I saw one of the Timestream theories from the end of the book in a blockbuster movie!

I was looking for a book with more examples of paranormal experiences, but the information on technology used in this research was fascinating, anyway.

[Jana Denardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book on the evolution of the electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) from it's earlier days til now. It also looks at the possibility of the voices not being ghosts but rather alternative dimensions so there's a little M theory tossed into the mix.

[Richard Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative overview of the ITC/EVP phenomenon, written in an entertaining style.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book co-written by the host of Coast-to-Coast AM.

[Courtney Skelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. The concept of the book is very intriguing-enough to have me buy it retail- yet most of it fell short of expectations. It has quite a few accounts of people having conversations with the departed to make the hair on my neck stand up, yet too much of it was disconnected from close accounts like that- and was too much about science and debunking naysayers. Too dry for my taste. I would like to read more about this subject- only i will be more selective next time. I recommend you do the same.

[Amber the vintage girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting especially if you are a coast to coast am listener or a fan of the paranormal.

[Samira Elytess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) in this book. It's an electronic box which Others (Beings, dead people,ETs, parallel universe,and etc.) talk through.
The Others helped inventors in building this device in the form of dream,inspiration,idea,or clairaudience. This tells me that the credit for inventions and discoveries should not go to human beings as humans are just a vessel to channel information. Therefore, all the noble prizes have to awarded to the non-humans.

As to how the box works remains a mystery... I think it has to do with ether since there is a quartz crystal wrapped in copper wire.
In one part of the book, the inventor Ricketts says:" When the mini-box is turned on,it is born with the seed number 377". He further postulates that the machine works with numerology or the "vibrational energy of numbers". "Numbers are not quantities. Each has it own vibration,character, and attributes, which in turn influence the physical world by attracting certain energies".
"377 brings powerful spiritual forces into the programming and operation of the box".

After a while, some people hear the messages directly in their head instead of coming out of the EVP box. This shows a telepathic bridge is established by tuning into the energy the box provides.

Other concepts I learned: Tesla's communication with ETs (very briefly) ,Edison's quest for inventing a Spirit Telephone (we don't know if he ever achieved it) and his theory on "life units",Fox Sisters, Koons Spirit room,The Coffee Pot Ghost, Alois Benjamin Saligerand's psycho-phone (subliminal programming during sleep using the unconscious mind),and Project Sothis (space-time portals).

I was fascinated that in some of the stories people contacted their past-self (such as Misty Dawn), different time such as world war 2, or parallel universe. Another one is Jacques Blanc-Garin's research with sleeping people. Their sleeping consciousness was able to talk to him using EVP when he asked them questions. He came to the conclusion that EVP could be useful for poeple who suffer from mental disorders.
Also I was blown away when an ET (Technician) advised users to use the ESB devise when he instructed--else they would wake up in a parallel world.

According to the authors, to contact the Others:
1) You must be grounded
2) Never do this for entertainment and thrills or you will attract negative dark ones.

The biggest challenge that the authors raise in the book numerous time is knowing the true identity of the communicators.
I'm concern about entities or a powerful A.I. masquerading as the others. What is their true agenda and motive for reaching out to humanity via ITC?


The book is great for newbies in spirituality or would like to know the history of Instrumental Trans Communication (ITC).
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A sentence I liked:
"The titans of telecommunication,energy, and industry did more than unite human beings--they touched infinity."

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For fun read:
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/tes...
http://www.iisis.net/index.php%3Fpage...

[Sreedevi Viswambaran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Few months ago I have read a book on afterlife - The Laws of The Spirit World. The book was not as impressive as I thought and I gave a 3 rating for that.(https://hazydreamsandreflections.word...). While reading this book, I was constantly reminded of that one. Many a things described in the book about afterlife and the 'other world' seem very similar to that one of the book. There is little chance of plagiarism and the similarities surprised me to say the least. May be the 'other' world is indeed the same as described in these books . We never know!
Spoilers ahead-->
Now back to this one, The moment I started reading the first chapter there was one and only one question in my mind. They talk about the 'Phone call from the dead' in the first chapter. Why no one has ever verified with the telephone operator where the call was from? or may be Was there a call in the first place or Were they illusions of grieving minds? I never got the answer! Since this question was in the back of my mind, I never connected with the book. So Talking to the dead gets a 2 from me.

[Natajia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh.
While it did have a lot of information about the technology and instruments used to 'talk to the dead,' it wasn't any different than the 34837 other books on the subject.
So informative? yes.
New and exciting? not in the least.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like reading anecdotal accounts of talking to the dead using technology then this is the book for you. While this book had some interesting technical information, it really didn't spark my interest at all. Pretty sad since I do like to read about paranormal.

[Lauren Shockley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge George Noory fan and was expecting a lot from this book. Clearly I am disappointed. The book is heavy on the history of spirit communications - I was looking for more current information and more personal experience stories. Still love George and Coast to Coast

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the flow of the book but after awhile I was bored with all the talk of the various electronic devices that have been built/used. I thought it would expand into more areas. I do enjoy George when I see him interviewed on tv.

[Cobaltdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in the paranormal and in particular communication with spirits, this book is an excellent resource. The work is easy to read and well written. It covers the development of spirit communication and various tools, as well as examples of use.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It seemed to concentrate more on th Electronic Vioce Phenomena and the boxes used. There were parts of this book that seemed a little far fetched and confusing.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was about 10% interesting and 90% about refuted "breakthroughs" that happened decades ago. Really disappointed.