I am Haunted: Living Life Through the Dead

by Zak Bagans, Kelly Crigger

I've been all over the world embracing the mysteries that others shun because I've always felt the need to run toward the scary parts of life instead of away from them. I've been inducted into the Sabertooth Vampire Clan in Paris, journeyed on an epic quest to find the real Dracula that ended in a Romanian forest, and bought a demon house that frightens me to the bone. But sometimes it’s the encounters with people that affect me the most from crackheads in Reno to gangbangers in St. Louis and crazed fans in West Virginia. During my travels I've learned more about this world and the one that awaits all of us far more than anyone should. I've been given a spiritual key that unlocks unknown doorways and what I experience when I open them seems to be letting me know that I shouldn't. Come along for the ride.

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Ghosts, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Supernatural

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2015

About the author

Zachary Alexander Bagans is the lead investigator and co-founder of the "Ghost Adventures Crew", one of the largest worldwide networks of professional paranormal investigators and is known as the host and lead investigator for The Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures".

His passion for investigating the paranormal resulted from an encounter with the spirit of a suicidal woman in his apartment building in Trenton, MI, in 2002.

Bagans is also a New York Times bestselling author, has his own clothing brand “Reaper” and has been in two music collaborations. He was also the Executive Producer of the feature film, "Sympathy Said the Shark". He currently lives in Las Vegas, NV.

Reviews

[Theresa]

Welp. It's definitely a book. A book that has almost no discernible plot or flow of thought that I can find. And there's LOTS of pictures of Zak Bagans looking like Zak Bagans so it's got that going for it. Plus, it talks a lot about how sensitive Zak Bagans is in terms of paranormal ability and personality.

::nods:: It does definitely do that. A lot.

I read the whole thing in about three hours. It was like when I watch the show. I shook my head a lot, mumbled to myself, and then was too afraid to get out of bed and go turn the light off on the off chance something really *was* just outside my field of vision.

Glad I got this from the library and didn't buy it myself.

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this was a neat trip into his life and a lot of the behind the scene stuff that makes his show successful. Zak memoir's give various stories, incidences, and paranormal activity stories throughout his life and the life of the show. Zak even goes into the dangers involved when he does his "lock-downs" and being possessed while on the show. This book was a gift and I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it if you like the show Ghost Adventures. Thanks!

[Stephanie Sanders-Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, here I am. Did you know that I wanted to read Ulysses this winter? This is a departure from my normal choice of reading material. I am Haunted: Living Life Through the Dead is the second memoir from Zak Bagans, paranormal investigator from the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures. Celebrity memoirs are not my thing, neither are paranormal investigators, but, for some strange reason, I have a soft spot for Bagans. It might be his dramatic persona, the extreme height of his hair, or that cryptic stick tattoo that peeks out of the sleeves of his myriad of too-tight TapouT shirts, but, I just like him. He won’t respond to me on Twitter, but I like him.

I bought this ironically, to give me fodder for my increasingly insecure and lackluster Tweets, but I found I was genuinely interested in Bagans’s thought process and the inside look at episodes of the show. Even if you’re skeptical about Bagans’s area of expertise, the glimpses into television production and his thoughts on fame are insightful and honest. He's a knowledgeable member of the production and editing team of Ghost Adventures and has participated in other films and documentaries. If nothing else, he's a talented and experienced documentary maker.

I am Haunted reminded me that Zak is a mostly normal, very real man. I might, in all of my calloused virtual glory, repeatedly tweet him suggestions for investigation locations (the Cracker Barrel), but I’m still saddened to hear about the creepy lady who insisted on telling him about where he’d die, or the fans who sent him death threats. I also appreciated Zak’s level of introspection. On his show, he comes off as confrontational and shallow, but this book offers us another view... almost. While Zak readily admits his tendency for emotional outbursts, the ease with which he cries, his migraines (which I can definitely sympathize with), parts of this memoir still seem very guarded. It seemed that large portions of this memoir exist solely to give Bagans a chance to explain and defend himself. This might seem to be more of the dude-bro caricature, but I think the things Zak worries about and feels the need to publish reveal that he's actually a pretty insecure, sensitive guy. I felt that story about the airplane bathroom was written in the hope that the flight attendant read it - that the story about the crackhead fight was a veiled apology for his hotheadedness.

I did, however, get a lot of the cheap thrills I expected from I am Haunted. Every time I turned a page to find a moody picture of Bagans, I cackled a little. Every time Bagans insisted that he hated modern society, then immediately made a reference to The Matrix or said he was “happier than Pharrell,” I screamed with joy. I made so many beautiful SnapChats of me panning the pages. My friends truly experienced this book along with me; I am sure they are glad.

It’s not well written. Kelly Crigger ghost wrote this memoir, but I’m pretty sure much of Zak’s original dictation remains unchanged. The writing sounds like Zak Bagans, which I guess will please some, but I don't think Zak is the most eloquent of paranormal investigators. It feels like it is written in classic grade school format (topic sentence, supporting sentences, summary sentence, repeat). This book is also intensely unorganized and random, but I'm not sure I could have made it through an entire book that was purely Bagans's paranormal theories or his stories about poop on airplanes.

Dedicated fans of Bagans, however, will look past the weird inconsistencies and weak writing and will truly love this book. It’s unexpectedly revealing and sensitive. It will make you laugh because it's absurd, but also because there are some truly funny anecdotes.

Three Stars: Puking ironically into a waded-up TapouT t-shirt only to find that it's made of a pleasantly absorbent material.

www.bookpuke.com

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have watched Ghost Adventures since it first premiered. I'm a big fan and never miss an episode when a new season is airing. I read Zak's first book, Dark World, and liked it. However, I was disappointed with it because he wasn't very open and didn't discuss his life much. I was excited about this new book because it sounded like it would be more about his life and experiences. It was, and he did open up much more. Now I'm not sure if that is such a good thing.

I have always liked Zak and respected him. He does do things that are dangerous and says so. He has always seemed professional and not the type of person to bash others.

The book started fine. I was enjoying it until I got maybe halfway through chapter one. Zak says he is not putting other tv shows or paranormal investigators down, but he really is.

I'm a paranormal investigator and have been since I was 14. All my life, I have seen ghosts. All paranormal investigators have their own way of doing investigations, and that's fine. Even Ghost Adventures has their own of doing things. But, to say he views other investigators as "relic hunters" since they don't investigate the way Ghost Adventures does isn't right. On another page, he says he thinks it is necessary to do rituals, like the ones he's done on the show, to see the secrets of the spirit world.

No matter how experienced one is in investigating the paranormal, there will always be something new to learn. However, knowledge is gained with each experience.

In my years of experience, I have learned it is not necessary to do any rituals to communicate with those who have passed on. If the spirits are active and want to communicate you'll get evidence. Whether it's EVPs, pictures, feeling things, or even seeing something with your own eyes.

He says that you need to have passion to go further in this field - the study of the paranormal - and sure, you do need passion. In my opinion, doing voodoo and other rituals isn't needed to prove your passion for the paranormal.

You can be passionate about the paranormal and investigate it without doing what Ghost Adventures does.

I know Zak says differently, but you don't need to do rituals or even have all the equipment Ghost Adventures has to get evidence. When I'm investigating, I'm armed with a digital camera and recorder for EVPs. I still get evidence and I still have a connection with the spirit world - as do other investigators - without doing all the rituals Zak has done.

My point is, you don't need to do what Zak does to get evidence or be connected to the spirit world. For him to say otherwise is just wrong.

And as far as Zak saying they are the only group on tv to ever do rituals: not true. Back in 2009, there was the show Extreme Paranormal and they only lasted two or three episodes. They did voodoo and other rituals on that show, which is actually why it was canceled so quickly.

I'm not trying to be negative in my review, but there were a lot of things Zak said that just weren't right. I don't know a nicer way to put this, but it seems this book was written by his ego. There was a lot of building himself and the show up. There was an elitist attitude and though he accused other paranormal investigators of trying to push their way of investigating on people, he does it as well. And he repeats many times that he is a sensitive and an empath.

Also, being possessed is never a good thing. Some people do remember it and are also never the same after being possessed. They do not go on to live great, normal lives like he says. Being possessed is a traumatizing thing.

There are also many times that he contradicts himself.

I have been a fan for as long as the show has been on and I was very excited to read this book. But, I am very disappointed and now have a very different view of Zak.

[Alexus · Rating 1 out of 5]

This memoir is exactly like Zak Bagans. Self-absorbed, cliche, and annoying 90% of the time. It literally sounds like he’s talking straight into the book. It seems like much of his diction and ideas remain unchanged by the ghostwriter. It seems like he likes to do a lot of bashing of others — he mentions, the unnecessary popularity of Justin Bieber and the Kardashians, and calls out other paranormal investigators as a whole for not putting in as much effort as him and the GAC (Ghost Adventures Crew). It seems that Bagans thinks that other investigators are not as serious about the paranormal and are only in it for the money — even when he mentions MULTIPLE throughout the book, that two of his shows are number one rated and he is very much financially secure because of them.

It’s pretty repetitive. In my opinion, the book could have been half of its original size, if he hadn’t said the same things about himself or others 50 times. I don’t want it to seem that I hate Zak Bagans in any way. Do I find him self-centered and highly annoying? Absolutely. However, there were moments in the book where I could see that he was compassionate and understanding. Those were the best parts of the book! In general, I find the show great and intriguing. I’ve been there since the beginning. I just wish this book was less repetitive and more flushed out, idea-wise.

UPDATE: After reading even more of the book, it’s still very evident that Zak Bagans thinks the show (and the universe, I’m convinced) revolve around him. Throughout the entire book, he constantly talks about his importance to the show, the investigations, the crew, the Travel Channel, etc. I understand that he does do a great deal of the investigations and that he is the host, but it was really hard reading just how much he values himself. He talked about how just because he was ill, a certain episode of Ghost Adventures was doomed, and that everyone was counting on him and him alone to deliver their usual amazing quality. I’m sorry, but someone just needs to knock his ego down a notch. I just really felt like he didn’t give enough appreciation or credit to the rest of the production crew and GAC and all of their hard work. And when he did, it always tied back to himself and the fact that he’s a “perfectionist” and pushes his team to strive to commit to the same level of perfection.

I also think that it's really unprofessional and overall in bad taste, how Zak Bagans continually bashes other individuals in his book. He not only calls out Teresa Caputo for giving a bad performance but also calls Sylvia Browne a fake — telling those who read the book that she can’t be trusted. He also does this for another paranormal investigator — calling him a fraud for throwing something across the hall during an investigation, just for results. While I get that Bagans was upset that Bess (the investigator) lied and put the credibility of the GAC at stake, I don’t think that he should have called him out by name, for what he did. Especially when Bagans has a huge fan base that will probably read this. Speaking of fans, Zak, Zak, Zak. Buddy… you are feeling yourself wayyyy too much! Bagans dedicates an entire chapter of his book to crazy fan encounters. While I get that sometimes that appears in memoirs, some of these encounters, I feel, are in the book for Bagans to show off just how obsessed (his word, not mine) his fans are with HIM (and not the show). And don’t even get me started on the chapter dedicated to his ex-girlfriends and the ghost that is obsessed with him (insert eye roll). I won’t say much on that chapter, but I will say that I am disappointed with how little Bagans did to ensure their safety and find the possible solution for their hauntings. Their lives were at stake. At this point, the only reason that I’m still reading this book is that I've already spent too much time on it. And because I really like the parts where he talked about things that have embarrassed him (like the poop on the airplane). The whole thing was just a big sloppy self-absorbed mess.

[Kelly Crigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book, but I may be biased.

[Kat Montemayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have already read Zak's Dark World and when I recently learned he had another book, I knew I had to read it.

Overall, I did enjoy Dark World more. Maybe it was because Dark World really focused on some of the more wild investigations. (I'm telling you, after reading this, I wouldn't go anywhere near Bobby Mackey's Music World)

This book seemed more personal and explored a lot more of his thoughts and emotions as well as the physical effects of being a paranormal investigator.
The thing I found most interesting was how long it takes the crew to recover from Lockdown. Zak calls it a Lockdown hangover and from the things he says, that seems like a fairly apt description.

A significant portion of the book also touched on his music and other projects not related to GA.

I have to admit that after reading this I am quite concerned for Zak and the crew. Opening himself up to these supernatural beings is definitely hazardous to your health.

I hope Aaron writes a book. I would love to read that one too.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

From watching Ghost Adventures, I know Zak is a bit of a diva, so my expectations that this would turn out to be a quality book were pretty low. Yet somehow, Zak still succeeded in not meeting my expectations. The best thing I can say about this book is that it was entertainingly bad. Zak's attempts to write deep, edgy things occasionally made me laugh. Or at least exhale loudly through my nose.

Overall, it's clumsily written, and honestly just reads like stream of consciousness more than a well-thought out book. Like Zak just sat down and droned on about whatever happened to pop into his mind at the time, not all of it even remotely relevant to ghost hunting, and decided for some reason that would be worth turning into a book. I'm honestly stunned that this book was co-authored. The disjointed and awkward writing coming from Zak, who is not a professional writer, I can understand and somewhat look past. But the fact that he had a co-author who actually is a writer... yikes.

If you're looking for a book that will provide behind the scenes insight into the show Ghost Adventures, you might as well put this book down right now, because you're really not going to get it.

Zak spends a frustratingly large portion of the book addressing his haters, which he repeatedly tells us he has learned not to be bothered by. But the fact that he address them so often, and even dedicates a chapter to them, tells me that he is most definitely bothered. A lot. And it's annoying that he spends so much of his book trying to justify himself to them when he could have used those pages to talk about more interesting things. Newsflash to Zak: Your book is not that great. I doubt very many of your haters would really take the time to suffer through it, so maybe try to focus more on what you think your fans would want to read about. And for as much as Zak likes to complain about haters, and how being a hater is a massive waste of time and energy, he has absolutely no problem turning around and dishing out the hate towards other paranormal investigators, who he criticizes multiple times throughout the book.

And when Zak isn't addressing his haters, he's talking about how great and awesome he is. Empath. Empath. Empath. Empath. You'll definitely get sick of that word by the time you're finished reading this. Zak will remind you that he is an empath and a sensitive every few chapters (or sometimes multiple times in a single chapter), like he's worried you'll forget. Zak thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and is not afraid to tell you in detail. Which I guess shouldn't be surprising to anyone that has watched his show.

"I am Haunted: Living Life Through the Dead" is definitely classic Zak, but a good or interesting book it is not.

[Gawelleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'est plus 3.5
Il est frappé ça c'est certain! Toutefois, je me suis retrouvée dans ce qu'il dit sur la société actuelle et son besoin de déconnecter (bon lui habite le Nevada, c'est plus facile pour lui que pour moi, il n'y a pas de désert ici).
Ensuite, c' est un livre pour les fans de l'émission puisqu'il donne un éclairage sur certains épisodes (que j'ai furieusement envie de revoir maintenant !)
Bref, au tour de son acolyte !!

[catrina reichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every moment shared

I read Zak's first book Dark World and I enjoyed it, but this book was even better! Insightful, emotional, and at times comical. He really gave us a deep look into a very amazing and rare career/life path. You can see how much he has grown as an investigator and as a person since beginning ghost adventures. Great read if you love the GAC!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two months ago, I’d never even heard of Zak Bagans and I’d never seen Ghost Adventures. Then a throwaway comment from my brother asked “if I was going to watch that ghost programme tonight” as it was in my hometown. It was Friday night, I was doing nothing else so I watched it. That was Help! My House is Haunted. Well, I was a sceptic and I was rolling my eyes but then I saw that portal in the mirror and started to have (tiny) doubts about my skepticism.

I branched out and watched an episode of GA. and then another and another. Now, am I coming around to being a believer? I don’t know but I do find GA, HMHIH and Paranormal Lockdown UK compelling.

So I decided to read this book. I find Zak and the boys entertaining but appreciate the seriousness of their investigations and I was interested to read more about what goes into these.

I did enjoy the book. I did not read this as written by an arrogant man (as some have said) but by a man who takes pride in his work and what’s wrong with that?

I’ve seen comments saying that it’s not written well but I found it fine. Yes, chapters were short but, for me, sometimes this is better in non-fiction as long chapters can start to bore me as I find they become dry.

Yes, there were a couple of times my eyeballs started rolling and the “empath” thing, well I suppose when you do a job long enough, you do get a feel for things???

What have I taken away from this? Maybe I need to be more open minded about the unknown and I’m certainly going to read his other book and Nick Groff’s as well.

[~Dani~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not reviewing because it would just be one incredibly long rant but the short version is this:

Zak Bagans is a bigger douchebag than I had anticipated.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zak Bagans became famous for hunting ghosts on the Travel Channel. His Ghost Adventures will hit it's 10 year anniversary next year. I've been watching it since the first two hour premiere. I have to admit that I enjoyed things more during the first years of the show compared to now. In this book you can see how much Bagans has changed from the start of the show, and his first book. I think the book explains the differences in who he is an what the TV show has become. He's very different, much more goth and caught up in the Vampire culture. None of which are bad, but seem to completely changed him as a person. If you're a fan of the show or were a fan of the show but are having issues with how things have changed, definitely pick up this book. It will explain many things.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is the lead explorer in the show Ghost Adventures. I found this book at a sale for .50. It was snowing yesterday, and I picked up the first book on the top of a pile.

It was a quick read into some creepy places. It was written way over the top. I could not relate to the goth and chapters about vampires. Bagans admits he likes to de stress in a dark cave-like environment.

I think it takes a very strong person to place himself in harm's way. This is something I would not do, so he deserves a lot of credit.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no clue what the point of any of this was ?????

Also his ghost writer should be ashamed of themselves

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the TV show Ghost Adventures, you'll love this. If you love Zak Bagans, then again, you'll love this. What I love most about this book is how reading it feel just like Zak is talking to you. Makes it so easy to get into, it's like he's just telling the things he's learned to the reader. It'd engaging and so easy to lose yourself in this book.

I like seeing through his eyes, his views on the world of the living and the dead. I enjoy learning how far he has come. Overall, this book is a great peek into Zak's life and seeing how the spirit world has changed him, for the better... and the worse.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I was loaned this book along with his first one, I figured I might as well read it too, but I honestly didn't enjoy it as much as Dark World. I think you'd have to be a huge fan of Zak Bagans to like this book, as it's more about him and his feelings then actual ghost hunting. Now if Aaron were to write as book, I'd be all over that one!!👍

[Marilyn Vicari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good insight into who Zak Bagans is..

I enjoyed the book. Learned more about why Zak does what he does, why he loves it so much. Interesting as to what goes on behind the episodes, a little about those that he works with. You get a sense of the family that they seem to be. I just really learned something of what makes him tick.

[Kimberley doruyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't think that a book written by a "ghost hunter" could be kinda boring.

[Hannah G · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the paranormal, then you will like this book. I Am Haunted by Zak Bagans is a nonfiction book. In this book, Zak talks about his own experiences with the paranormal and what it is like to be a paranormal investigator. He talks about his crew, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley and Jay and Ashley Wasley and how they are like family to him. He bought a house in Indiana that is supposedly infested with demons, he has done countless interviews at the house and has not let any of the reporters inside because the energy is so strong in the house. He made a documentary film about it called The Demon House, and it is said to come out sometime this year. I have always been interested in the paranormal, I have been watching Zak’s show Ghost Adventures since I was six, I believe. I already know a lot about the paranormal but I would like to learn more about Zak himself.
This amazing book told me what Zak’s life is like and how he experiences things in the spirit world, what he feels on an investigation and how he knows that a spirit is present, he is not a psychic or anything. He is a sensitive, which means that he can detect when a spirit is present, like myself. He states in the book that when he is not even near a location its like he can go back in time to the time period when the spirits were still alive and he thinks that's their way of contacting him, “ Recently I was driving home from my mom's house through Las Vegas, and I was suddenly transported back to La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, California... It had been the site of some pretty barbaric events, energy was so strong there that it stayed with me, but I never knew that it would someday take hold of my mind. While in my car, stopped at a red light, I was back in the 18th century, sitting around a campfire with the women and children of the Chumash Indians. Everyone was laughing and happy. I was there, really there it was as if I had gone back in time at a Vegas stoplight, of all the places…”(p.49-50)
I am highly interested in the paranormal, I wanna be a paranormal investigator when I am older and I am interested in learning more about Zak Bagans because he has not only inspired me to work in the paranormal field, but he has helped me throughout the years. When I first started watching his show, I was thinking “Oh that looks fun, I wanna try.” I was like six or seven then so, I didn’t really know the dangers of paranormal investigation. As I got older, I realized that spirits can affect you, weather they are good or evil. By reading his book and my own knowledge of the paranormal, I know how dangerous it can be, yet I’m still intrigued by it, I always have been and I always will be. Like I said earlier, I am a sensitive just like Zak is, I can feel things, I can tell if they are good or evil. Some people think that sensitives and psychics are the same thing, they are not. Psychics intuitively perceive information from their Client, who is a Spirit inside a human body, while, a sensitive has the ability to detect spirit energy with more awareness than the average person through some or all of their senses. As you can see they are two different things.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I am very interested to learn about Zak before he started work in the paranormal field and what it is like to be on investigations. I have been this way for years, I love being interested in this because it gives me something to look forward to in the future. I am very intrigued by the paranormal and I thank Zak and his crew for that.

[Jena Stillwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a book I read for shits and giggles around Halloween, it was pretty funny. It has the same silly, trying to be serious vibes that the show does. I just had this as an ebook, so it was kind of my waiting room/in the hot tub kind of book and I enjoyed it, although be warned, it’s a very niche/lame kind of funny. I love Zak.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars is closer to what I'd really give this book. I think I prefer his first book over this one tbh. This one felt like it repeated a lot of the same things every so many chapters. Though at the same time there was also some new information which was nice to read about.

[Ash Mustard · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this and Dark World I wanna do some ghost investigating even tho I'll still be scared

[Catharine Mull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! My favorite one of the 2 he released. If you want to know a little about Zak and why he does this, this is the book for you! It also explains more about what he does and how things work, very smart, man!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked learning more about Zak and getting some behind the scenes stuff from Ghost Adventures.

[Marlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read from a very interesting guy. I really enjoyed chapter 34, it's always interesting getting people's take on spirituality and religion.

[Ally · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was worse than 1 star but this app doesn't let me give partial.

[Jessica Sinn (Books and Trouble) · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading his first book, I was craving more behind-the-scenes stories about haunted buildings and the many backwoods weirdos he interviews. Sadly my thirst for inside knowledge was left unquenched as Zak continuted to regale his readers with stories about his impeccible work ethic, his psychic skills, his avante garde ghost-hunting techniques, etcetera, etcetera. Being the loyal fangirl that I am, I forged through the ego-pumping chapters and was rewarded by a few gems. Oh how I loved reading his stories about the ghoulish people who reside in some of the world’s creepiest murder houses. I especially enjoyed the juicy tidbits about the weirdos who live in Fox Hollow Farms. Yikes! I should also give him props for donating thousands of dollars to animal shelters. Anyone who supports homeless animals can’t be all that douchey, right?

The ghost stories I can do without, however, are the ones that involve his ex-GFs who claim to be taunted by his paranormal baggage. Come on, Zak, you know they’re just trying to bring you back into their lair. To say that I’m dubious of those alleged demonic attacks would be an understatement. Albeit he is super hot and I may be just a tad envious of his lady friends. Don’t mock me! I find his refusal to let go of the Backstreat Boys fashions to be quite endearing, OK! The spiked hair, the baggy FUBU pants, the Ed Hardy-esque attire—it all works for me. Read my full review on Chick Lit Café: https://loonachicklit.wordpress.com/2...

[Laura (laurasbookhaven) · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a big fan of Ghost Adventures I was excited to read this book and get some further insights into some of Zak's personal experiences working within the paranormal field. If you are looking for insight into the overall process of what it takes to investigate a haunted location, this is not the book you are looking for. This is more of an in depth look into spirituality and the dangers that can occur in the pursuit of the paranormal. Unfortunately I don't feel that Zak or his co author fully succeeded in translating his experiences to the page. While his quirky persona works well on screen, I found that it came across as quite distracting and somewhat pretentious in this book.

The pacing of this book also hindered my overall reading experience, for example he includes a particularly embarrassing story on a plane in which he found himself caught short while needing to use the bathroom. This chapter didn't add to the book, while it was quite funny, it slowed everything down. The paranormal stories and lockdown stories were the ones I was mainly interested in reading here and can't help feeling that this was a wasted chapter that maybe should have been edited out.

Super fans of Zak will love this book for sure, but for anybody looking for a more insightful read on the paranormal field will probably be better seeking out Nick Groff's book Chasing Spirits.

[William Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of Zak and his work on GA for years. I think he is very interesting and I really appreciated this book for providing a glimpse at his world view and concept of self, however I was disappointed in the experience of reading it. I thought the flow of the book was very disjointed and read like an angry rant in a blog. I found Zak's tone very off-putting; he seemed angry, haughty, and really defensive, as if he was addressing his more vocal critics rather than his loyal fan base throughout the duration of this book. My recurring thought while reading "I am Haunted" was: "Dude, I bought your book and am reading it; why are you talking like that?"

That being said, I'm glad to have read the book - it has provided insight into what I see/have seen on GA and I now know a little more about Zak. I didn't know he identified as a sensitive and an empath (and I'll never forget, as he mentions it in almost every chapter). I still consider myself a huge fan of Bagans and his work and although disappointing, this book will not deter me from continuing to watch his shows and films religiously, or from picking up and reading his first book.