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Poltergeist! A Study in Destructive Haunting
Colin Wilson's interest in the occult and the paranormal has taken him into an area that can seem oddly domestic. Poltergeist seem not to do real harm and often make their presence known in quite normal surroundings. There is a sense of mischief rather than evil in their tricks. But it is the almost everyday nature of their activities that makes them both disturbing and fascinating. Detailed and wide-ranging, poltergeist! is a treasure trove of things that do, literally, go bump in the night as well as a well-though-out attempt at an explanation. It is compulsive reading.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
38 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Colin Wilson
403 books1,292 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
Colin Henry Wilson was born and raised in Leicester, England, U.K. He left school at 16, worked in factories and various occupations, and read in his spare time. When Wilson was 24, Gollancz published The Outsider (1956) which examines the role of the social 'outsider' in seminal works of various key literary and cultural figures. These include Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, William James, T. E. Lawrence, Vaslav Nijinsky and Vincent Van Gogh and Wilson discusses his perception of Social alienation in their work. The book was a best seller and helped popularize existentialism in Britain. Critical praise though, was short-lived and Wilson was soon widely criticized.
Wilson's works after The Outsider focused on positive aspects of human psychology, such as peak experiences and the narrowness of consciousness. He admired the humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow and corresponded with him. Wilson wrote The War Against Sleep: The Philosophy of Gurdjieff on the life, work and philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff and an accessible introduction to the Greek-Armenian mystic in 1980. He argues throughout his work that the existentialist focus on defeat or nausea is only a partial representation of reality and that there is no particular reason for accepting it. Wilson views normal, everyday consciousness buffeted by the moment, as "blinkered" and argues that it should not be accepted as showing us the truth about reality. This blinkering has some evolutionary advantages in that it stops us from being completely immersed in wonder, or in the huge stream of events, and hence unable to act. However, to live properly we need to access more than this everyday consciousness. Wilson believes that our peak experiences of joy and meaningfulness are as real as our experiences of angst and, since we are more fully alive at these moments, they are more real. These experiences can be cultivated through concentration, paying attention, relaxation and certain types of work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 20, 2015
Colin Wilson is too credulous for my tastes, haphazardly assembling here a wide array of poltergeist, ghost and related stories spanning the globe since biblical times. As he moves from one more or (often) less substantiated tale to the next he pauses occasionally to reflect, to propound a hypothesis, then, later, finding a counter-instance, to reject it. Naturally, all of this leads to no conclusion.
A better book would perhaps have mentioned some of the classic cases, the ones oft-repeated in the literature, but then moved on to survey the most substantiated ones, defining criteria as to what will be taken to constitute a substantial case (multiple witnesses, physical traces, photographs, film, audio recordings and the like). This being done, as many such cases as can be assembled (a daunting task!) could be coded and some statistical determinations made as regards the character of such phenomena.
Wilson does none of this, relying, apparently, on his sense of things, his intuition as it were. Thus he makes informed judgments about the association of poltergeist phenomena with pubescents (girls mostly, he claims), about how things spun tend to spin one way or the other (frankly I can't remember whether it was clockwise or counter-), about the common association of such events with underground streams etc.--all of which claims the reader must simply take on faith as there's no data, beyond the author's say-so to back them up.
Presumably this is one of Wilson's books produced to pay the bills. It certainly isn't a very serious work, though a bit of the old Colin Wilson spirit does occasionally appear.
I picked this book up at the Elgin Public Library book sale room for three reasons. First, it was cheap. Second, it was Colin Wilson. Third, it's a signed first edition. The third reason was determinative.
A better book would perhaps have mentioned some of the classic cases, the ones oft-repeated in the literature, but then moved on to survey the most substantiated ones, defining criteria as to what will be taken to constitute a substantial case (multiple witnesses, physical traces, photographs, film, audio recordings and the like). This being done, as many such cases as can be assembled (a daunting task!) could be coded and some statistical determinations made as regards the character of such phenomena.
Wilson does none of this, relying, apparently, on his sense of things, his intuition as it were. Thus he makes informed judgments about the association of poltergeist phenomena with pubescents (girls mostly, he claims), about how things spun tend to spin one way or the other (frankly I can't remember whether it was clockwise or counter-), about the common association of such events with underground streams etc.--all of which claims the reader must simply take on faith as there's no data, beyond the author's say-so to back them up.
Presumably this is one of Wilson's books produced to pay the bills. It certainly isn't a very serious work, though a bit of the old Colin Wilson spirit does occasionally appear.
I picked this book up at the Elgin Public Library book sale room for three reasons. First, it was cheap. Second, it was Colin Wilson. Third, it's a signed first edition. The third reason was determinative.
April 22, 2014
Blurgh.
This is a fairly useful overview on the subject, though the examples are a bit repetitious and descriptions overlong (the book could easily be 100 pages shorter and be just as comprehensive regarding basic information) but don't expect sound reasoning or sufficient evidence to convince you Poltergeists are real. It covers a lot of familiar ground if you've read books on specific poltergeists and you'll find yourself skimming the long digressions about fairies and black magic, which are totally off topic.
As usual, the most fascinating thing regarding poltergeists is that descriptions of these destructive hauntings are remarkable similar for centuries. In a post-internet world it's easy to dismiss this, but the fact that a family in 1970's England could claim a laundry-list of paranormal events (some of them very specific and odd) that were written about in America a hundred years earlier? That's the one thing about poltergeists that really gives one pause.
Unfortunately, rather than focusing on that aspect, this book makes enormous assumptions, masquerades as a scientific study, and is mostly filler since no proper documentation of a poltergeist event has ever really happened.
This is a fairly useful overview on the subject, though the examples are a bit repetitious and descriptions overlong (the book could easily be 100 pages shorter and be just as comprehensive regarding basic information) but don't expect sound reasoning or sufficient evidence to convince you Poltergeists are real. It covers a lot of familiar ground if you've read books on specific poltergeists and you'll find yourself skimming the long digressions about fairies and black magic, which are totally off topic.
As usual, the most fascinating thing regarding poltergeists is that descriptions of these destructive hauntings are remarkable similar for centuries. In a post-internet world it's easy to dismiss this, but the fact that a family in 1970's England could claim a laundry-list of paranormal events (some of them very specific and odd) that were written about in America a hundred years earlier? That's the one thing about poltergeists that really gives one pause.
Unfortunately, rather than focusing on that aspect, this book makes enormous assumptions, masquerades as a scientific study, and is mostly filler since no proper documentation of a poltergeist event has ever really happened.
March 3, 2013
I cannot discredit this book as not being well researched and thorough--it was thorough almost to a fault. This thick volume might be of more use to scholars and researchers in the field of paranormal research than for the average, curious "ghost enthusiast." There are definitely some scary stories in here, reportedly true, highly detailed accounts of poltergeist activity--often violent and therefore chilling. But they are not meant to entertain so much as to educate. This volume contains several chapters on things that could go way over the head of the novice paranormal fan; lots of info on PSK and psychic explanations for poltergeist activity, and maybe a little too much info on the "fanciful" such as faeries and sprites (which I almost found out of place and still don't quite understand the poltergeist connection--like I said, just a little over my head, sometimes yawn-inducing). However I must appreciate the thoroughness of this large volume. If you are looking for sheer thrills a la the movie 'Poltergeist,' however, this is not the book. But if you ever take up the pseudo-science of parapsychology, this should be one of your first textbooks.
June 27, 2020
Fun and spooky stories, but for as much as the author touts the scientific nature of these findings, there are no sources, and he makes a lot of assumptions & logic jumps. Still entertaining if you really love the paranormal, but ultimately outdated and dry for the casual reader.
April 8, 2008
Now that Colin Wilson is (no longer) dead, (I mistakenly started writing this review thinking that he was, until a kind reader pointed out that, in this space-time universe, I was sorrily mistaken), I feel safe saying that though I enjoyed reading his books I would hesitate to recommend him (as a writer in general) to others for two reasons, the first of which is that he doesn't seem to like women. This comes across in odd comments he makes,, which I will attempt to find and cite. Aside from that idiosycnracy, he is fun to read if you enjoy a quirky writer who digresses, inserts unsupported opinions liberally and at random, and makes flagrant allusions to events, people, and books or citations that he never lists or explains-- which I do. He writes like a maiden aunt or blustery uncle who waves a hand at you and says, "oh you know mr. so-and-so, that time he embarrassed himself in front of everyone", which, of course, you have no idea who, or what, Wilson is referring to. The strange part is that he does cite some of his references, but it's definitely of sponge-cake consistency. (Something I myself am guilty of, so I find myself fond of the same in Wilson.)
And see, above I said there were two things that would cause me not to recommend him but I only really hit on one, so there's another failure of mine. The kettle calling the sheep furry and all.
That said in general about Mr. Wilson, I am re-reading "Poltergeists"-- so I may have something more compelling to say about it in the future. But don't hold your breath.
For now I will say that I have read many books on the subject of poltergeists, it being a favorite subject of mine, and Wilson's should be read. He approaches the book in a scholarly way, detailing many of the classic cases of poltergeist cases throughout history and offering his own theories about what poltergeists may and may not be. (The current interpretation among psychical researchers is that Poltergeists are not ghosts-- as in conscious spirits of the deceased-- but are actually psychokinetic in nature-- that is a living human is the unconscious cause.)
If you really like this stuff I suggest you also read Sacheverell Sitwell's (yes the brother of Edith) "Poltergeist- Fact of Fancy", as well as William Roll's book, also titled "Poltergeists".
And see, above I said there were two things that would cause me not to recommend him but I only really hit on one, so there's another failure of mine. The kettle calling the sheep furry and all.
That said in general about Mr. Wilson, I am re-reading "Poltergeists"-- so I may have something more compelling to say about it in the future. But don't hold your breath.
For now I will say that I have read many books on the subject of poltergeists, it being a favorite subject of mine, and Wilson's should be read. He approaches the book in a scholarly way, detailing many of the classic cases of poltergeist cases throughout history and offering his own theories about what poltergeists may and may not be. (The current interpretation among psychical researchers is that Poltergeists are not ghosts-- as in conscious spirits of the deceased-- but are actually psychokinetic in nature-- that is a living human is the unconscious cause.)
If you really like this stuff I suggest you also read Sacheverell Sitwell's (yes the brother of Edith) "Poltergeist- Fact of Fancy", as well as William Roll's book, also titled "Poltergeists".
July 3, 2014
I'd actually give this 2.5 stars if allowed. This book is thorough and well-written, if not a bit dry. I understand that Wilson has a theory that he is building to throughout, but i feel like maybe he's too willing to believe the facts of every case he reports on. He also includes a chapter on fairies and other beings that seems out of place or, maybe more accurately, shoehorned to build his "case."
I'm not bashing him for having a specific thesis, but that means he's very quick to accept the words of everyone saying what he likes. Psychics, mediums, and small children are all taken at face value over and over again, even when the researcher involved in the case suspects hoaxing. It's not like psychics have ever been proven to be less than they claimed, right? In one case, The Phillip Experiment, scientists approach the phenomenon from a controlled environment. It's clear that their findings don't fit with Colin's theories, because he basically ends the section with "but they ARE scientists and you know how THEY can be. Pfffft...scientists...amiright?" Perhaps that's not the best way to do a study on anything.
I'm not bashing him for having a specific thesis, but that means he's very quick to accept the words of everyone saying what he likes. Psychics, mediums, and small children are all taken at face value over and over again, even when the researcher involved in the case suspects hoaxing. It's not like psychics have ever been proven to be less than they claimed, right? In one case, The Phillip Experiment, scientists approach the phenomenon from a controlled environment. It's clear that their findings don't fit with Colin's theories, because he basically ends the section with "but they ARE scientists and you know how THEY can be. Pfffft...scientists...amiright?" Perhaps that's not the best way to do a study on anything.
January 19, 2023
This reminded me of a poltergeist where I lived growing up. I was 14 and my younger brother was five. He used to look at our plate glass window and talk. He used to say that boy wants me to play. His electronic toys kept turning on. He used to save candy for ' that boy'. My helium birthday balloons used to move, and one looked like held by a small kid. One followed me in the house. know I was at that young age, but I can tell you I still can't stand balloons.
October 31, 2019
In this fascinating book Colin Wilson looks at dozens of cases of poltergeist phenomena as well as related paranormal occurrences and attempts to develop a theory for why such things occur. What he puts forth is a complex picture of reality that does not seem entirely implausible.
January 31, 2020
Excellent read!
Most comprehensive and enjoyable read. Gives a broad view of the poltergeist phenomenon and the views from around the world.
Most comprehensive and enjoyable read. Gives a broad view of the poltergeist phenomenon and the views from around the world.
January 25, 2018
I came to this book while on a completely different reading kick (that started, believe it or not, with the Decemberish news stories about Congress' funding of a UFO research program). I found myself enjoying it not so much for the content itself but for how Wilson's mind worked. So now I'm on a Colin Wilson kick :)
Recommended for anyone interested in how a very bright mind tried to make sense of very peculiar paranormal phenomena.
Recommended for anyone interested in how a very bright mind tried to make sense of very peculiar paranormal phenomena.
January 19, 2020
Agree with reviewers who said this had a lot of research going for it, though not always well-sourced to the facts. Wilson is far too credulous for me to take this seriously but the book is a showcase of all the colors and flavors of poltergeists and the ideas about them. Still, worth a read if this is your interest.
November 13, 2016
In this book the author uses a number of sources documenting poltergeist phenomena, addresses other author's interpretations/speculations of these events, and works to establish his own unified theory of poltergeist phenomena.
September 12, 2011
It was a bit dry, like a textbook.
April 4, 2021
I checked the Kindle version out from my local library hoping for some inspiration for a horror-themed short story I am working on. Too dry for me to read at least on my Kindle. I might try an actual paper copy to see if flipping through it I can get some ideas. Definitely not one that I am going to add to the reference book shelf.
November 19, 2025
DNF - not what I wanted at all. Lots of examples of hauntings or dowsing or elemental beings that can’t be back led up, but has the author’s opinions on the cases instead. I guess I wanted newer cases with substantial evidence and not 3rd or 4th hand information from 200 years ago.
June 14, 2020
Very well researched and thought through, full of intriguing and interesting information. Throughly enjoyable a must for lovers of the paranormal.
May 9, 2021
Brilliant read
A well rewarded Five Stars, well worth the read, couldn't put the book down, very well researched, excellent read, thank you.
A well rewarded Five Stars, well worth the read, couldn't put the book down, very well researched, excellent read, thank you.
June 23, 2022
While a bit dry, this book overall offers a robust survey of cases involving destructive hauntings and offers up a theory as to how they operate
May 4, 2021
The best of its kind.
A nice compendium of poltergeist cases. Goo u. e of historical references and theoretical conjecture. I've spent a lot more to be bitterly disappointed. Best deal in Kindle in the paranormal or occult categories.
A nice compendium of poltergeist cases. Goo u. e of historical references and theoretical conjecture. I've spent a lot more to be bitterly disappointed. Best deal in Kindle in the paranormal or occult categories.
August 15, 2012
[This review also appears on Andi's Book Reviews.]
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.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2010
An interesting theory surrounding what the 'noisy ghost' is. I had fun with this one and have had with one or two of this text's brothers in the intervening years.
Wilson isn't an analytical thinker, but, then, that isn't why people come to such books as this. Those that do come to them are looking for comfort or a larger would view than is available today or they come, as I do, for the entertainment value.
As entertainment this is a very valuable book. As an examination of the paranormal it is much the same as all his other books...deeply, deeply speculative and very, very poorly referenced.
Take this for what it is and you will enjoy yourself.
Wilson isn't an analytical thinker, but, then, that isn't why people come to such books as this. Those that do come to them are looking for comfort or a larger would view than is available today or they come, as I do, for the entertainment value.
As entertainment this is a very valuable book. As an examination of the paranormal it is much the same as all his other books...deeply, deeply speculative and very, very poorly referenced.
Take this for what it is and you will enjoy yourself.
October 26, 2013
Colin does an admirable job exploring the cases and many theories behind the poltergeist and the agent which is the focal point of the phenomena. You might disagree with some of the ideas or theories brought forth here, but that comes with the territory. Colin is definately dedicated to the subject and will give you a lot of cases and incidents to read through and enjoy. A good addition to my library for background on poltergeists.
June 24, 2015
Usually I love Colin Wilson books particularly ones regarding serial killers.
However this was just so dull. he tried to explain away some incidents which I can understand but it became monotonous. The incidents he could not explain.....errr he could not explain. It was as black and white as that.
OK to read as part of a course at college or university but for enjoyment zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
However this was just so dull. he tried to explain away some incidents which I can understand but it became monotonous. The incidents he could not explain.....errr he could not explain. It was as black and white as that.
OK to read as part of a course at college or university but for enjoyment zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
March 5, 2011
This was a great book with an unfortunate title (I expected it to be a musical starring Craig T. Nelson).
If you can put aside your skepticism and read this book as if each real-world case study presented is a fact, the correlations between the cases and the inferences drawn by comparing them are really interesting.
May 21, 2018
Reads very much like a writer-for-hire piece that was hashed out quickly to capitalize off of the film of the same name. A great resource but too dry and casually academic. Cut about 80 pages and write this for entertainment value rather than educational purposes and it would have been SO much better.
July 16, 2012
Colin Wilson has compiled both a listing of intriguing investigative reports of poltergeists and reasonable speculations and conclusions regarding the hauntings. If you love chilling tales, you'll love this. Colin has an impressive resume regarding the supernatural.
September 8, 2012
This classic book should be required reading for the aspiring paranormal investigator, though it will appeal less to the casual reader. An in-depth and thought-provoking study of an age-old phenomenon, best read as a companion piece to Playfair's book on the Enfield case.
May 4, 2014
Very interesting
August 12, 2018
An interesting subject but found the writing style a little dry for my taste.
On reading this for the second time I found it less dry and completely engrossing.
On reading this for the second time I found it less dry and completely engrossing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews