What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal
As seen in the Sony Pictures 2016 film Ghostbusters, the ultimate guide to identifying, understanding, and engaging with any paranormal activity that plagues you
Years before they made headlines with the Ghostbusters, Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates published the groundbreaking study of the paranormal, Ghosts from Our Past. Once lost to history, this criminally underappreciated book is now back in print, revised and somewhat updated for the new century.
According to Gilbert and Yates, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," and whether you're a believer or a skeptic, you'll find the information you're seeking right here in this extraordinary book,
· The childhood experiences that inspired Erin and Abby's lifelong passion for the scientific study of the paranormal;
· The history of ghosts and other supernatural entities, the science that explains their existence, and profiles of the groundbreaking paranormal researchers who have investigated them;
· An illustrated guide to Class I through Class VII ghosts;
· Helpful sidebars like "A Ghost by Any Other Name" and "Ectoplasm Cleanup Tips";
· Updates including "The Ghostbusters' Arsenal" by Jillian Holtzmann and "Haunted History" by Patty Tolan;
· A new Ghostbusting Resources appendix, featuring the "Paranormal Quickstart Guide", "Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz", "A Supernatural Stakeout Journal", "The Devil's Paraterminology You Need to Know"; and more.
With this helpful--and hilarious--official Ghostbusters guide in hand, you'll be prepared for almost any spirit, spook, or spectre that comes your way. As for the rest, you know who to call.
Years before they made headlines with the Ghostbusters, Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates published the groundbreaking study of the paranormal, Ghosts from Our Past. Once lost to history, this criminally underappreciated book is now back in print, revised and somewhat updated for the new century.
According to Gilbert and Yates, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," and whether you're a believer or a skeptic, you'll find the information you're seeking right here in this extraordinary book,
· The childhood experiences that inspired Erin and Abby's lifelong passion for the scientific study of the paranormal;
· The history of ghosts and other supernatural entities, the science that explains their existence, and profiles of the groundbreaking paranormal researchers who have investigated them;
· An illustrated guide to Class I through Class VII ghosts;
· Helpful sidebars like "A Ghost by Any Other Name" and "Ectoplasm Cleanup Tips";
· Updates including "The Ghostbusters' Arsenal" by Jillian Holtzmann and "Haunted History" by Patty Tolan;
· A new Ghostbusting Resources appendix, featuring the "Paranormal Quickstart Guide", "Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz", "A Supernatural Stakeout Journal", "The Devil's Paraterminology You Need to Know"; and more.
With this helpful--and hilarious--official Ghostbusters guide in hand, you'll be prepared for almost any spirit, spook, or spectre that comes your way. As for the rest, you know who to call.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2016
45 people are currently reading
1100 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 15, 2016
What ya gonna read?
This is a media tie-in book related with the 2016 “Ghostbusters” film with the all-female main cast.
A BOOK OF A CHANCE
Prior the twentieth century, the most important trait for a young scientist to have was a set of male genitalia. Thankfully, physicist Marie Curie changed that by winning the Nobel Prize in 1903, and these days, curiosity is the most important trait for a young scientist.
This is an excellent book!
This book, Ghosts from Our Past, appears in the film, it’s supposed to be written by the characters of Dr. Erin Gilbert & Dr. Abby Yates, and it’s supposed that they wrote it in the nineties, and the “edition” that you are reading is an “update” version.
Even the expected appraisals from “critics” and “famous people” that you usually find at the first pages of any book are mocks “written” by several characters whom appeared in the movie. I found that quite funny and ingenious.
You see one stupid ghost, and suddenly everyone thinks you’re some sort of ghost whisperer.
Through the book, you’ll learn about real societies and individuals, some of them quite famous, between late 1800s and early 1900s, interested about the paranormal stuff and how they approach the subject.
That’s smartly written since the paragraphs that they’re supposed to be part of the “original” edition by Erin and Abby, you can really feel that they were written in the middle of the 90s decade.
And the “updated” paragraphs were added after the events of the movie, where you can find cool new info by Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, presenting the new Ghostbusters paratechnology used to catch ghosts. Also, additional history’s lessons about the ghosts by Patty Tolan. Even an afterword by Kevin (no kiddin’!).
So, between the made-up experiences of Erin and Abby (mainly), you’ll read about real facts about paranormal stuff.
While you can enjoy and understand the whole book without having watched the film, I can’t deny that certainly it’d help a lot to let you enjoy the references to places and stuff appearing during the movie.
The book isn’t a typical reference book per se, but it’s made to appear as it’d a real researching book about ghost lore (and certainly it is in the most part!), so even if you aren’t interested in the franchise of Ghostbusters but you want to read a really cool book about ghost hunting’s history, definitely it’s still a wonderful choice.
Maybe it’s not the best in the topic…
…but certainly it’s the funnier that you’ll find!
You’re hearing about it here first because no journal has the ovaries to print it.
And written with such witty sense of humor, that you will be learning in the same way that you were laughing.
What other better way to learn any stuff but with humor?
What are you waitin’ for?
Answer the call!
This is a media tie-in book related with the 2016 “Ghostbusters” film with the all-female main cast.
A BOOK OF A CHANCE
Prior the twentieth century, the most important trait for a young scientist to have was a set of male genitalia. Thankfully, physicist Marie Curie changed that by winning the Nobel Prize in 1903, and these days, curiosity is the most important trait for a young scientist.
This is an excellent book!
This book, Ghosts from Our Past, appears in the film, it’s supposed to be written by the characters of Dr. Erin Gilbert & Dr. Abby Yates, and it’s supposed that they wrote it in the nineties, and the “edition” that you are reading is an “update” version.
Even the expected appraisals from “critics” and “famous people” that you usually find at the first pages of any book are mocks “written” by several characters whom appeared in the movie. I found that quite funny and ingenious.
You see one stupid ghost, and suddenly everyone thinks you’re some sort of ghost whisperer.
Through the book, you’ll learn about real societies and individuals, some of them quite famous, between late 1800s and early 1900s, interested about the paranormal stuff and how they approach the subject.
That’s smartly written since the paragraphs that they’re supposed to be part of the “original” edition by Erin and Abby, you can really feel that they were written in the middle of the 90s decade.
And the “updated” paragraphs were added after the events of the movie, where you can find cool new info by Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, presenting the new Ghostbusters paratechnology used to catch ghosts. Also, additional history’s lessons about the ghosts by Patty Tolan. Even an afterword by Kevin (no kiddin’!).
So, between the made-up experiences of Erin and Abby (mainly), you’ll read about real facts about paranormal stuff.
While you can enjoy and understand the whole book without having watched the film, I can’t deny that certainly it’d help a lot to let you enjoy the references to places and stuff appearing during the movie.
The book isn’t a typical reference book per se, but it’s made to appear as it’d a real researching book about ghost lore (and certainly it is in the most part!), so even if you aren’t interested in the franchise of Ghostbusters but you want to read a really cool book about ghost hunting’s history, definitely it’s still a wonderful choice.
Maybe it’s not the best in the topic…
…but certainly it’s the funnier that you’ll find!
You’re hearing about it here first because no journal has the ovaries to print it.
And written with such witty sense of humor, that you will be learning in the same way that you were laughing.
What other better way to learn any stuff but with humor?
What are you waitin’ for?
Answer the call!
October 2, 2016
There just so happened to be Ghostbusters before Ghostbusting was cool.
But we really didn't hear much about them..but once yet another Ghostbusting movie is released we get this book in it's newly revised and updated edition.
The first few pages of this book was my little weirdo mind's idea of a good time.
Erin was an odd child whose parents had to pay a dollar an hour out to make sure she had friends. Said friends got paid overtime on Halloween night (holiday pay), so they wanted Erin to get her full friend time. But what do they do? They must prank the old lady next door. You know the one. (the one that acts like me and wants everyone off her lawn.) Nicknamed Cruella by the neighborhood kids she warned them what would happen if even one leaf that they were playing in ended up on her side of the fence.
The old lady passes away a few months later and she keeps her word by her ghost taunting young Erin at night.
Word gets out that Erin is seeing ghosts and that she is pretty much a weirdo. Nicknamed Ghost Girl she sits by herself at lunch until Abby the new girl sits next to her at lunch.
Thus begins a wonderful friendship.
"You know you're the first person who I've talked to about ghosts in years who hasn't called me crazy."
"Oh, you could still be crazy," I said, "but that doesn't preclude you from seeing ghosts. Crazy people see ghosts just the same as everybody else. For what it's worth, you don't seem crazy."
And a paranormal investigating club. You guys know these girls were super popular.
They did come up with a catchy jingle:
Ain't nuthin' but a ghost thang, baby
We ain't talking 'bout no Patrick Swayze
Ghosts are real, there ain't no "maybe"
Why does everyone say we crazy?
Beats me why people thought they were weird.
The book then delves into more info on the paranormaling stuff. Types of ghosts, ghost hunters from the past and the all important ghost hunting tools.
It does seem like the whole second half of the book is just filler, including pages for you to fill out in your investigating and pages for your notes. Kinda meh after that great start though.
There is one thing I totally could be best friends with these girls on...their lust-fullness for one of the greatest paranormal investigators of all time.
Booksource: Received from blogging for books in exchange for review.
But we really didn't hear much about them..but once yet another Ghostbusting movie is released we get this book in it's newly revised and updated edition.
The first few pages of this book was my little weirdo mind's idea of a good time.
Erin was an odd child whose parents had to pay a dollar an hour out to make sure she had friends. Said friends got paid overtime on Halloween night (holiday pay), so they wanted Erin to get her full friend time. But what do they do? They must prank the old lady next door. You know the one. (the one that acts like me and wants everyone off her lawn.) Nicknamed Cruella by the neighborhood kids she warned them what would happen if even one leaf that they were playing in ended up on her side of the fence.
The old lady passes away a few months later and she keeps her word by her ghost taunting young Erin at night.
Word gets out that Erin is seeing ghosts and that she is pretty much a weirdo. Nicknamed Ghost Girl she sits by herself at lunch until Abby the new girl sits next to her at lunch.
Thus begins a wonderful friendship.
"You know you're the first person who I've talked to about ghosts in years who hasn't called me crazy."
"Oh, you could still be crazy," I said, "but that doesn't preclude you from seeing ghosts. Crazy people see ghosts just the same as everybody else. For what it's worth, you don't seem crazy."
And a paranormal investigating club. You guys know these girls were super popular.
They did come up with a catchy jingle:
Ain't nuthin' but a ghost thang, baby
We ain't talking 'bout no Patrick Swayze
Ghosts are real, there ain't no "maybe"
Why does everyone say we crazy?
Beats me why people thought they were weird.
The book then delves into more info on the paranormaling stuff. Types of ghosts, ghost hunters from the past and the all important ghost hunting tools.
It does seem like the whole second half of the book is just filler, including pages for you to fill out in your investigating and pages for your notes. Kinda meh after that great start though.
There is one thing I totally could be best friends with these girls on...their lust-fullness for one of the greatest paranormal investigators of all time.
Booksource: Received from blogging for books in exchange for review.
August 8, 2016
I haven't seen thew new Ghostbusters movie yet because I don't leave the house, but I think the authors of the book are probably played to a T. Just because I watch so many Melissa McCarthy movies and I know how funny she is would sum up one of the two authors of this book.
These women have a great sense of humor and they are so smart. But I have to say some of my favorite parts of the book was in the beginning when they were younger and it led up to how they met. They are two peas in a pod, all about ghosts and science and they are hilarious! I can't say that enough!
When Abby was telling one part of her story when she was younger, it was just great. Her parents were going to move and she was begging them to stay behind to finish out her school year with her freinds. She would live with her aunt and uncle but that's not what happened.
They reminded me that I didn't have any friends at my old school.
So I lost that fight and packed my boxes. My uncle gave me some tips on adjusting to a new environment. Specifically, to avoid being bullied by other girls, I should walk up to the baddest-looking girl on the first day and casually slip a shank into her side. Perhaps it's a good thing I didn't stay behind with them
I want to know . . . the hell is this ↓
I have been watching Ghost Hunting shows for years so I recognized every instrument they were talking about using in cases. But, there is another part that was rather funny. Lets see if you can guess what it is:
Paratechnology Tool Kit: The Basics
• Audio Recorder
• Batteries
• Camera
• Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Compass
• EMF Meter
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• Ghost Trap
• Infrasound Monitoring Equiptment
• Ion Detector
• Motion Detector
• Night-vision Goggles (I really want some of these)
• Notebook
• PKE Meter
• Proton Pack
• Toilet Paper
• Walkie-Talkies
• Watch
The book actually has information on all of these things but the one that I found funny was the toilet paper.
Not Technically paratechnology, but it's better to be safe than sorry. And while we're at it, don't forget to pack an extra pair of underwear.
There are actually several lists of different things in the book. There are pictures and diagrams throughout the whole book.
I found the story about the Fox Sisters very interesting.
These sisters starting talking talk a spirit that was haunting their house in 1848. His nickname was Mr. Splintfoot and they would talk to him by asking questions and he would tap out a reply. No one could ever explain where the sound was coming from. So, you have all kinds of neat stuff like that in the book.
I rather enjoyed myself in this little walk through the paranormal world that I love so much. Just keep out those equations!
*I would like to thank Blogging for Books for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
These women have a great sense of humor and they are so smart. But I have to say some of my favorite parts of the book was in the beginning when they were younger and it led up to how they met. They are two peas in a pod, all about ghosts and science and they are hilarious! I can't say that enough!
When Abby was telling one part of her story when she was younger, it was just great. Her parents were going to move and she was begging them to stay behind to finish out her school year with her freinds. She would live with her aunt and uncle but that's not what happened.
They reminded me that I didn't have any friends at my old school.
So I lost that fight and packed my boxes. My uncle gave me some tips on adjusting to a new environment. Specifically, to avoid being bullied by other girls, I should walk up to the baddest-looking girl on the first day and casually slip a shank into her side. Perhaps it's a good thing I didn't stay behind with them
I want to know . . . the hell is this ↓
I have been watching Ghost Hunting shows for years so I recognized every instrument they were talking about using in cases. But, there is another part that was rather funny. Lets see if you can guess what it is:
Paratechnology Tool Kit: The Basics
• Audio Recorder
• Batteries
• Camera
• Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Compass
• EMF Meter
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• Ghost Trap
• Infrasound Monitoring Equiptment
• Ion Detector
• Motion Detector
• Night-vision Goggles (I really want some of these)
• Notebook
• PKE Meter
• Proton Pack
• Toilet Paper
• Walkie-Talkies
• Watch
The book actually has information on all of these things but the one that I found funny was the toilet paper.
Not Technically paratechnology, but it's better to be safe than sorry. And while we're at it, don't forget to pack an extra pair of underwear.
There are actually several lists of different things in the book. There are pictures and diagrams throughout the whole book.
I found the story about the Fox Sisters very interesting.
These sisters starting talking talk a spirit that was haunting their house in 1848. His nickname was Mr. Splintfoot and they would talk to him by asking questions and he would tap out a reply. No one could ever explain where the sound was coming from. So, you have all kinds of neat stuff like that in the book.
I rather enjoyed myself in this little walk through the paranormal world that I love so much. Just keep out those equations!
*I would like to thank Blogging for Books for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
June 28, 2016
Audiobook review
Being a scientist wasn’t so appealing until now!
If you could sum up Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal in three words, what would they be?
Hilarious awesome and a little scary. #IamaChicken
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laugh out loud most of the time, but there were a few times when I was scared to death! Oh. My. God. I was with my headphones working on the computer while listening to the audiobook, it was 11:30pm, almost the middle of the night, the story was pretty interesting, Erin was telling her first experience with a ghost and all of it sudden, A GHOST WAS TALKING! It was more like a scary whisper that almost gave me a heart attack! I have to warn everyone reading this review that I AM A CHICKEN! I watch horror movies with my eyes closed and when I’m reading (or listening) horror books I do it during daylight where NO SUPERNATURAL BEING WILL HARM ME! Anyway, that night I had to sleep with the lights on and I made my best not to listen to the audiobook at night.
But overall, the audiobook was so funny, with great references to iconic people from the past and of course, the experiences of the doctors Erin and Abby’s life as ghostbusters.
What about Hillary Huber , Emma Bering and Paul Boehmer ’s performance did you like?
I loved their narrations. Hillary and Emma had the majority of the time but Paul made a great impression in me. I mean, his performance about working as ghostbuster and Patrick Swayze’s ghost was hilarious! I don’t think I will ever forget about that. And the girls did it great too. What I loved the most was exactly what scared me the most: The ghosts voices. And of course, THE RAPPING! IT WAS AWESOME!
Would you consider the audio edition of Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal to be better than the print version?
I will have to wait until my paperback copy arrives to answer this question. I was interested in this book the moment Andrew Shaffer announced it, because he is hilarious, his writing is awesome and I LOVED GHOSTBUSTERS when I was a kid. I’m not going to tell you how I was called Slimer when I was a kid because that would be telling too much about my past— wait, I think I just did *face palm* —So I had to read this book. I usually buy ebooks or audiobooks but then I saw the excerpts in http://www.ghostsfromourpast.com/ and I knew I had to get it in paperback. So, when it arrives, I’ll let you all know.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
DUH!! First, there will be a movie, WOOHOO!! And secondly, this book has the 100% support of the movie makers which makes it more awesome. Listen to this podcast where Andrew talks about how this book is tie to the movie.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Being a scientist wasn’t so appealing until now!
If you could sum up Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal in three words, what would they be?
Hilarious awesome and a little scary. #IamaChicken
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laugh out loud most of the time, but there were a few times when I was scared to death! Oh. My. God. I was with my headphones working on the computer while listening to the audiobook, it was 11:30pm, almost the middle of the night, the story was pretty interesting, Erin was telling her first experience with a ghost and all of it sudden, A GHOST WAS TALKING! It was more like a scary whisper that almost gave me a heart attack! I have to warn everyone reading this review that I AM A CHICKEN! I watch horror movies with my eyes closed and when I’m reading (or listening) horror books I do it during daylight where NO SUPERNATURAL BEING WILL HARM ME! Anyway, that night I had to sleep with the lights on and I made my best not to listen to the audiobook at night.
But overall, the audiobook was so funny, with great references to iconic people from the past and of course, the experiences of the doctors Erin and Abby’s life as ghostbusters.
What about Hillary Huber , Emma Bering and Paul Boehmer ’s performance did you like?
I loved their narrations. Hillary and Emma had the majority of the time but Paul made a great impression in me. I mean, his performance about working as ghostbuster and Patrick Swayze’s ghost was hilarious! I don’t think I will ever forget about that. And the girls did it great too. What I loved the most was exactly what scared me the most: The ghosts voices. And of course, THE RAPPING! IT WAS AWESOME!
Would you consider the audio edition of Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal to be better than the print version?
I will have to wait until my paperback copy arrives to answer this question. I was interested in this book the moment Andrew Shaffer announced it, because he is hilarious, his writing is awesome and I LOVED GHOSTBUSTERS when I was a kid. I’m not going to tell you how I was called Slimer when I was a kid because that would be telling too much about my past— wait, I think I just did *face palm* —So I had to read this book. I usually buy ebooks or audiobooks but then I saw the excerpts in http://www.ghostsfromourpast.com/ and I knew I had to get it in paperback. So, when it arrives, I’ll let you all know.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
DUH!! First, there will be a movie, WOOHOO!! And secondly, this book has the 100% support of the movie makers which makes it more awesome. Listen to this podcast where Andrew talks about how this book is tie to the movie.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
YES!! To all the comedy readers and ghostbusters lovers, you all gotta listen to this audiobook, and if you are not into audiobooks, you gotta get the book or ebook and read it. It’s pretty awesome. And to all the Original Sinners Fans, Tiffany Reisz does a cameo in this book, which is a plus!
September 4, 2016
So how well can you make an in-character book on the Ghostbusters? As in all things, it's good to start with Cthulhu.
First off, the author is informed enough to know of Cthulhu and convert him into the classic Ghostbusters scheme. Also, that "Cathulhu" thing isn't a mistake. He's using a misspelling as a nod to J. Michael Straczynski's classic Real Ghostbuster's episode "The Call of Cathulhu," where one of the production staff added an "a" because they thought "Cthulhu" was a misspelling. We're dealing with a person who knows Ghostbusters. Really . . .
. . . really, . . .
. . . knows Ghostbusters.
You notice this level of research applied to all things pretty early on, considering James Randi and Carl Sagan get name-dropped in the first two pages. In fact, the history of spiritualism chapter is one of the most accessible overviews of paranormal research I've read. Still research cred is one thing. Is it fun?
Those who've seen the new movie know that the protagonist had a spectral encounter in her youth. That's the first chapter, and it was told in a creepy, misfit-kid kind of way with humor sprinkled throughout. I liked it, and I was rolling through the following chapters pretty fast, smiling all the way.
The thing that I was most scared of was it becoming another Tobin's Spirit Guide. Some writers see the humor in the original Ghostbusters and respond by writing pure 90's Cracked slapstick material. The West End Games version of Tobin's dipped down into very, very silly areas that worked for a goofy RPG session but don't hold up as reading material.
As a kid, I loved the books like this. . .
. . . which was written from an in-universe view. It kicked off a love of books like that, from the wonderful The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island to the lackluster Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora. Ghost From Our Past is a great entry in that, being humorous, surprisingly deep, and genuinely respectful of the source material.
My only quibble? Holtzmann comes across, in her few pages, as a bit of a straight man. I'm betting Erin and Abby heavily edited her stuff.
Seriously, it's a Ghostbusters book by the author of How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters: Fight Back When Monsters and Mother Nature Attack. If that won;t convince you, nothing will.
First off, the author is informed enough to know of Cthulhu and convert him into the classic Ghostbusters scheme. Also, that "Cathulhu" thing isn't a mistake. He's using a misspelling as a nod to J. Michael Straczynski's classic Real Ghostbuster's episode "The Call of Cathulhu," where one of the production staff added an "a" because they thought "Cthulhu" was a misspelling. We're dealing with a person who knows Ghostbusters. Really . . .
. . . really, . . .
. . . knows Ghostbusters.
You notice this level of research applied to all things pretty early on, considering James Randi and Carl Sagan get name-dropped in the first two pages. In fact, the history of spiritualism chapter is one of the most accessible overviews of paranormal research I've read. Still research cred is one thing. Is it fun?
Those who've seen the new movie know that the protagonist had a spectral encounter in her youth. That's the first chapter, and it was told in a creepy, misfit-kid kind of way with humor sprinkled throughout. I liked it, and I was rolling through the following chapters pretty fast, smiling all the way.
The thing that I was most scared of was it becoming another Tobin's Spirit Guide. Some writers see the humor in the original Ghostbusters and respond by writing pure 90's Cracked slapstick material. The West End Games version of Tobin's dipped down into very, very silly areas that worked for a goofy RPG session but don't hold up as reading material.
As a kid, I loved the books like this. . .
. . . which was written from an in-universe view. It kicked off a love of books like that, from the wonderful The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island to the lackluster Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora. Ghost From Our Past is a great entry in that, being humorous, surprisingly deep, and genuinely respectful of the source material.
My only quibble? Holtzmann comes across, in her few pages, as a bit of a straight man. I'm betting Erin and Abby heavily edited her stuff.
Seriously, it's a Ghostbusters book by the author of How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters: Fight Back When Monsters and Mother Nature Attack. If that won;t convince you, nothing will.
August 14, 2016
The in-universe book written by Ghostbusters before they were Ghostbusting, Ghosts from Our Past tries for levity and fails at its one purpose: adding anything of value to the Ghostbusters universe.
The premise is this: Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates wrote a mountain of a book on ghost-hunting while undergrads and are now republishing it in light of their recent paranormal success. They've 'reordered' the book into 3 parts: History, Research, and Methods; other than that, the text is 'intact'.
I really didn't like this. The conceit is complicated and convoluted and doesn't hold up under any scrutiny. The tone is try-hard casual college kid and carries none of the 'scientific weight' that the universe would suggest. And the humor. Is a disaster. It's flat and forced and awkward.
If they would have scrubbed the entire thing--let it be a completely rewritten volume by all of the Ghostbusters--I could see this thing being an interesting character study. Instead it's a naval-gazing autobiography that summarizes sources and reads like a bad term paper. See the movie; avoid the tie-in novel.
The premise is this: Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates wrote a mountain of a book on ghost-hunting while undergrads and are now republishing it in light of their recent paranormal success. They've 'reordered' the book into 3 parts: History, Research, and Methods; other than that, the text is 'intact'.
I really didn't like this. The conceit is complicated and convoluted and doesn't hold up under any scrutiny. The tone is try-hard casual college kid and carries none of the 'scientific weight' that the universe would suggest. And the humor. Is a disaster. It's flat and forced and awkward.
If they would have scrubbed the entire thing--let it be a completely rewritten volume by all of the Ghostbusters--I could see this thing being an interesting character study. Instead it's a naval-gazing autobiography that summarizes sources and reads like a bad term paper. See the movie; avoid the tie-in novel.
January 25, 2023
I love this book. I love the idea that this book is available to read in the real world. I loved the movie and was so happy when I found out.
June 13, 2019
Leprechauns. If you are interested try reading . Agrippa,Heinrich Cornelius.Trans. by James Freake. Edited and annotated by Donald Tyson.
August 8, 2018
Genuinely confused as to how much of this book is fact, but diverting enough.
August 22, 2016
I really liked this book at first, but as it progressed I became bored.
First off, I should say I wasn't expecting much from this book at all. I knew it was a tie in with the movie, so I figured I'd read it because I loved the movie and was curious to see what the author would do with this.
Well, I was disappointed in the end, because I feel like this book was trying to be taken as a (partially) serious book when it shouldn't have. I started out well. I liked the little banter that happened between Abby and Erin. It was funny and light-hearted, and enough to remind you not to take this book to seriously. As it went on though, there was none of the fun banter, and only one segment for Patty and one segment for Jillian. And by segment, I mean one page. Thrown in as an add-on piece because this was a "revised" edition. So the book took a serious turn that I did not expect or want.
I had read on the author's goodreads page that he wrote this book with kids in mind. If that's the case, I feel like kids will become bored and quit halfway through. They may be expecting a really funny book because they found the movie funny, and then get bored with this book being too serious.
I wouldn't recommend this book, and I certainly hope the author does not write the sequel (as is implied at the end of this book).
First off, I should say I wasn't expecting much from this book at all. I knew it was a tie in with the movie, so I figured I'd read it because I loved the movie and was curious to see what the author would do with this.
Well, I was disappointed in the end, because I feel like this book was trying to be taken as a (partially) serious book when it shouldn't have. I started out well. I liked the little banter that happened between Abby and Erin. It was funny and light-hearted, and enough to remind you not to take this book to seriously. As it went on though, there was none of the fun banter, and only one segment for Patty and one segment for Jillian. And by segment, I mean one page. Thrown in as an add-on piece because this was a "revised" edition. So the book took a serious turn that I did not expect or want.
I had read on the author's goodreads page that he wrote this book with kids in mind. If that's the case, I feel like kids will become bored and quit halfway through. They may be expecting a really funny book because they found the movie funny, and then get bored with this book being too serious.
I wouldn't recommend this book, and I certainly hope the author does not write the sequel (as is implied at the end of this book).
August 7, 2016
Most of the time I get a chance to read a book with ties to a movie, it’s because I’m reading the actual book that the film is being adapted from. Which is why Ghosts from Our Past is such a welcome addition to my library. Ghosts from Our Past is what one would call an in-universe book as it is the published edition of the book that appears in the newest Ghostbusters. “Written” by Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, with Andrew Shaffer, the book explores many of the ideas presented in the movie. It was cool to get more of a backstory about Erin’s encounter with the ghost that haunted her and detail about the types of ghosts that the movie couldn’t go into. But not just the movie, the book stands pretty well on its own as a piece of comedy and actual science and paranormal exploration.
Disclosure: I received this book from Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for this review.
Disclosure: I received this book from Bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for this review.
January 15, 2017
Must-have for GB2016 completists (and, dare I say it, fanfic writers). It's entertaining, and the online extras are delightful. Andrew Shaffer put more love into this than any other dozen tie-in books combined. In fact, for...reasons...I have this in paperback, hardback, and Kindle formats..
If I had my way, we'd also get Shaffer to do A Journey into a Portal: Catching Sight of the Other Dimension: Discovering the Undiscoverable: A Curiosity Piqued and Peaked, and/or anything with lots more contributions from Holtzmann and Patty.
If I had my way, we'd also get Shaffer to do A Journey into a Portal: Catching Sight of the Other Dimension: Discovering the Undiscoverable: A Curiosity Piqued and Peaked, and/or anything with lots more contributions from Holtzmann and Patty.
July 25, 2016
Of course I would want to read this book, I was curious the second it appeared in the movie I questioned "is this a real thing?" That being said, the book with its update was a enjoyable easy read. Anyone who enjoyed the movie or has a sense of humor could enjoy this book. It's quirky and anyone who is picking it up can probably guess just about everything in between the pages, but that still doesn't deter the fun.
August 1, 2016
Fun, funny, and gives backstory to Wiig and McCarthy characters in the movie. The book is a "republishing and updated" version of a book the characters published in their early 20s. Great to listen to before watching the movie. I do wish it had been narrated by the actresses but the narrators were great and funny.
July 25, 2016
We went see Ghostbusters last Friday and it was a blast with the all female cast. This was a book that was in the movie so I purchased for my 14 year old daughter. It was a hoot. It was somewhat wordy but there were many hilarious comments and anecdotes. All in all it was a lot of fun to read and I think my daughter is going to have a blast reading it.
July 14, 2016
This book was fun, well thought out, and entertaining. It read like I'd imagine a real guide to investigating ghosts would. And it's very funny in the moments it's so incredibly self-aware.
July 16, 2016
Not bad additional read for a great flick!
August 4, 2016
tdyrtddytdryyddytytytytdytyttyd
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2020
This is a real oddity, which is what drew me to it in the first place, but that's what makes it so hard to form an opinion on. Have you ever watched a movie and seen a newspaper article in the background and thought it must be fun to write one of those? Well, this is an entire book that appeared in the 2016 Ghostbusters movie "written" by Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig's characters.
The first third chronicles their backstories, how they met and became interested in ghosts, which is standard fare for a movie tie-in book. It's the second part, a research book giving a history of paranormal sightings and famous ghost stories in their/our world where things get tricky.
At first I assumed everything I was reading was fictional, until I started spot checking things and learned they weren't making this up. Except not everything is 100% non fiction and there are several references to characters and locations from the film so, because I didn't independently verify everything in the book, which seamlessly weaves fiction and non fiction together I felt like I learned things (comma nothing). At one point I spot checked a book referenced about people who had reported sexual encounters with ghosts to learn that the only mention of it online was someone who added it to read on Goodreads. Which brings me to the other weird part of this book, the humor.
The whole book is one big joke, except that in order to work as something two scientists would have written, the humor can't be blatant so it's hard to describe the book as funny. Instead, it's peppered with light "unintentional" humor. So you're reading something that is intended to be funny that can't, by design, really be as funny as it wants to be.
The final third gives advice for real world ghost hunts, the dos and don'ts, equipment you should bring, what to leave at home and how you should document your findings. Padding the page count are a number of liability waiver forms for you to distribute to home and property owners.
At the end of the day, this was an entertaining oddity. It's funny and informative while simultaneously not being funny or informative. Recommended to fans?
The first third chronicles their backstories, how they met and became interested in ghosts, which is standard fare for a movie tie-in book. It's the second part, a research book giving a history of paranormal sightings and famous ghost stories in their/our world where things get tricky.
At first I assumed everything I was reading was fictional, until I started spot checking things and learned they weren't making this up. Except not everything is 100% non fiction and there are several references to characters and locations from the film so, because I didn't independently verify everything in the book, which seamlessly weaves fiction and non fiction together I felt like I learned things (comma nothing). At one point I spot checked a book referenced about people who had reported sexual encounters with ghosts to learn that the only mention of it online was someone who added it to read on Goodreads. Which brings me to the other weird part of this book, the humor.
The whole book is one big joke, except that in order to work as something two scientists would have written, the humor can't be blatant so it's hard to describe the book as funny. Instead, it's peppered with light "unintentional" humor. So you're reading something that is intended to be funny that can't, by design, really be as funny as it wants to be.
The final third gives advice for real world ghost hunts, the dos and don'ts, equipment you should bring, what to leave at home and how you should document your findings. Padding the page count are a number of liability waiver forms for you to distribute to home and property owners.
At the end of the day, this was an entertaining oddity. It's funny and informative while simultaneously not being funny or informative. Recommended to fans?
March 21, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Well, this was a lot of fun.
Although this is a media tie-in to the new Ghostbusters film, there has clearly been a great deal of effort put in to this book to provide as thorough a read as possible. In fact, there were often times I had to remind myself that this was satire (though if I didn't remind myself I would come upon something that made it pretty clear that this was humor). The book is featured in the film and is supposedly written by characters Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates.
The attention to detail really makes this book. I'm not 'up' on my paranormal knowledge but some of the history in here appears to come from the history books (Eleanor Sidgwick, for instance) and others seem to be completely fictitious (Maureen Kemp). Not knowing what's 'real' and what's completely made up for the book (or the film) really keeps the read on his/her toes.
There are plenty of little gems in this book. One of my favorites is in regards to technology for ghost hunting - it's a great time they say, because of scientific advancement: "some of the tools available are so advanced, they are outpacing our knowledge of how to use them." I laughed out loud as I read this because there is so much truth behind the sentiment, and yet, at the same time, it suggests the authors don't know how to use their own equipment.
It's pretty hard to find humor/satire that can span two hundred pages and manage to stay interesting all the way through, but this book does it. I enjoyed this read and would suggest it for anyone interested in media tie-ins, paranormal, or humor.
Looking for a good book? Ghosts From Our Past by Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates is a quirky spoof of paranormal researchers that reads quite real but is downright funny.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.
Well, this was a lot of fun.
Although this is a media tie-in to the new Ghostbusters film, there has clearly been a great deal of effort put in to this book to provide as thorough a read as possible. In fact, there were often times I had to remind myself that this was satire (though if I didn't remind myself I would come upon something that made it pretty clear that this was humor). The book is featured in the film and is supposedly written by characters Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates.
The attention to detail really makes this book. I'm not 'up' on my paranormal knowledge but some of the history in here appears to come from the history books (Eleanor Sidgwick, for instance) and others seem to be completely fictitious (Maureen Kemp). Not knowing what's 'real' and what's completely made up for the book (or the film) really keeps the read on his/her toes.
There are plenty of little gems in this book. One of my favorites is in regards to technology for ghost hunting - it's a great time they say, because of scientific advancement: "some of the tools available are so advanced, they are outpacing our knowledge of how to use them." I laughed out loud as I read this because there is so much truth behind the sentiment, and yet, at the same time, it suggests the authors don't know how to use their own equipment.
It's pretty hard to find humor/satire that can span two hundred pages and manage to stay interesting all the way through, but this book does it. I enjoyed this read and would suggest it for anyone interested in media tie-ins, paranormal, or humor.
Looking for a good book? Ghosts From Our Past by Erin Gilbert and Abby L. Yates is a quirky spoof of paranormal researchers that reads quite real but is downright funny.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2023
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. For me the 2016 Ghostbusters film was fine, not great but not as bad as others make it seem. My only major complaint was that the characters didn’t know when to stop riffing and joking and when I saw this book was meant to be in Erin’s and Abby’s “voice” I was worried this would have the same problem. It does have some moments in the text where it feel like Melissa McCarthy is improvising but I feel that Andrew Shaffer somehow managed to make that tolerable.
And when it came to the majority of the book, I expected it to be a fake history of ghosts and ghost hunting in the movies universe. Yet the books mentioned are real books, at least for the ones I actually typed into Google with the expectation of the results leading immediately back to this book, so that surprised me. So it at least became more interesting when it explained the history of Ghost hunting. Honestly there are times it felt like a Horrible Histories book due to the writing style.
I even enjoyed the short stories at the start that explained why the characters ended up becoming ghost hunters. Erin’s story was easily the best of the three, in my opinion anyway, as it felt the most complete due to having been part of her motivation and backstory in the film.
The book falls flat in the second half though when it becomes the science side of Ghostbusting and how the equipment is used to help them. If I was a bigger fan of the movie it might have been better.
And when it came to the majority of the book, I expected it to be a fake history of ghosts and ghost hunting in the movies universe. Yet the books mentioned are real books, at least for the ones I actually typed into Google with the expectation of the results leading immediately back to this book, so that surprised me. So it at least became more interesting when it explained the history of Ghost hunting. Honestly there are times it felt like a Horrible Histories book due to the writing style.
I even enjoyed the short stories at the start that explained why the characters ended up becoming ghost hunters. Erin’s story was easily the best of the three, in my opinion anyway, as it felt the most complete due to having been part of her motivation and backstory in the film.
The book falls flat in the second half though when it becomes the science side of Ghostbusting and how the equipment is used to help them. If I was a bigger fan of the movie it might have been better.
February 27, 2017
Let me start out by saying that I have not seen this movie yet but I do intend on watching it even though I have had a few people tell me they didn't like it. It's probably just because it's hard to improve on the classic film. However, if the film is anything like this book I know I will enjoy it. I laughed quite a bit while reading this story. It didn't take much imagining to be able to hear and picture Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig in my mind while reading about their childhood and research of the paranormal in later years. Andrew Shaffer did an amazing job capturing their personas.
I am told Ghosts From Our Past makes an actual appearance in the film which is always cool. The illustrations drawn by Abby and Erin to go along with their research are a nice little add-on. This book mixes what would be real topics from a paranormal guide with humor and tie-ins from the movie to make it a fun and enjoyable read for anyone who is a fan or interested in all things supernatural.
If your looking for something lightweight that you can just kick back and relax with for a few laughs, you should pick this book up and read it now. Recommended!
Received a copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review
I am told Ghosts From Our Past makes an actual appearance in the film which is always cool. The illustrations drawn by Abby and Erin to go along with their research are a nice little add-on. This book mixes what would be real topics from a paranormal guide with humor and tie-ins from the movie to make it a fun and enjoyable read for anyone who is a fan or interested in all things supernatural.
If your looking for something lightweight that you can just kick back and relax with for a few laughs, you should pick this book up and read it now. Recommended!
Received a copy of this book through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review
September 7, 2018
Ghosts from Our Past; Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal by Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates is a difficult book to put into a category. If you choose it as an informational book on the Paranormal, you will probably be disappointed; while it does give loads of material on the paranormal, and on those who believe in the phenomon, if you think this is going to be a scientific tome on the Paranormal the book will probably leave you shaking your head and asking, "What the hell did I just read." The "Literally and Figuratively" of the title is quite apt. This is a humorous and often hilarious look into ghosts and those who believe, or don't believe in them; it really doesn't matter. While I have never seen a ghost, unlike Erin, I have never discounted the existence of the paranormal. The book uses sarcasm in the extreme, and if you are a lover of sarcasm, as I am, you will love this book. I loved the personal insights of both Erin and Abby, who are not afraid of making fun at themselves. If you like oddballs, quirkiness, off the wall viewpoints, and rebels, you will love this book.
August 23, 2016
Now ruining your childhood in print format.
(Full disclosure: I received a free book for review through Blogging for Books.)
The great Carl Sagan said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Who are we to argue with him (or his ghost)? We are unquestionably proposing some extraordinary concepts here. At the same time, it's one friggin extraordinary book.
###
Humanoids, vapors, several dozen more
Free-roaming, anchored, are you keeping score?
Possessing, repeating, alone or in swarms
Powerful metaspecters changing forms
###
The author photos from the original (left) and revised editions.
-- 3.5 stars --
If you've seen the Ghostbusters reboot, then you know that Erin (Kristen Wiig) and Abby (Melissa McCarthy) co-wrote a book on the paranormal while in college - and that, years later, Abby's decision to resell all those extra copies, unceremoniously crammed into storage, is what brought the estranged friends back together. In the vein of Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America by Leslie Knope and John Winchester's Journal - fictional books pulled from screens both large and small and manifested right here, in the real world - Three Rivers Press brings us Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal. Revised and updated, with bonus content from Jillian Holtzmann, Patty Tolan, and Kevin the secretary.
Ghosts from Our Past is a cute little book; Shaffer captures the characters' voices reasonably well, and the contributions from the other members of the team are a nice touch. The book's divided into three parts: Our Stories (Erin, Abby, and the Metaphysical Examination Society; membership: 2); Our Research (basically the history of paranormal investigation, Erin and Abby's spectral field theory, and supernatural taxonomies and case studies); and Our Methods (how to study the paranormal your own bad self).
It's this last section in particular that makes Ghosts from Our Past a nice gift idea for kids who are either fans of the franchise, or interested in the paranormal more generally. The book's got a participatory bent, and budding (pseudo)scientists can play at being a Ghostbuster: included in the back matter are liability waivers, interview forms, even a stakeout journal. I can just picture some adorable little geek girl making her own EMF Meter using a needle compass and asking the neighbors if she can check their homes for spectral activity. All the feels!
While the book doesn't offer a whole ton of new background information beyond that found in the movie, I enjoyed Erin and Abby's stories, as well as that of the genesis of the Metaphysical Examination Society. I skimmed the other sections, off and on; the case studies are surprisingly interesting, and I devoured the bios of paranormal investigators as well. There's a bit of crushing on The X-Files - which debuted during Erin and Abby's freshman year of high school - which is fun, and a sketch of "Spooky" Mulder, which isn't as awful as you'd think.
The book's pretty heavy on photos, diagrams, and illustrations - even after they lost the 200 pages of photos of "spectral orbs" that turned out to be nothing but dust on Erin's lens - so it's a fairly quick read. Like I said, this would be a fun "activity" book for younger fans of the film.
Or adults. No judgments here, Ed Begley Jr.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
New Forward by Martin Hess * 11
Introduction to Revised Edition * 15
PART 1: OUR STORIES * 19
Part 1 - At a Glance * 21
Chapter 1: Ghost Girl: That One Time I Saw a Ghost (For Real) - Erin's Story * 22
Chapter 2: Curious Georgina: Portrait of a Young Supernatural Scientist - Abby's Story * 32
Chapter 3: The Metaphysical Examination Society - Our Story * 42
PART 2: OUR RESEARCH * 55
Part 2 - At a Glance * 57
Chapter 4: Ghosts Throughout History: Pondering the Preponderance of Paranormal Activity * 58
Chapter 5: Paranormal Investigators: A Look Back * 70
Chapter 6: A Scientific Exploration: Introducing the Spectral Field Theory * 84
Chapter 7: Unnatural Anthropology: The Evolution of Supernatural Taxonomy * 96
Chapter 8: Vengeful Spirits and the Dangers of Their Return to Our World: Case Studies of Malevolent Entities * 104
PART 3: OUR METHODS * 123
Part 3 - At a Glance * 125
Chapter 9: Paratechnology: A Primer * 126
THE GHOSTBUSTERS' ARSENAL: AN UPDATE BY JILLIAN HOLTZMANN * 135
Chapter 10: Preparing for the Metaphysical Examination: Choosing a Location * 140
HAUNTED HISTORY: CASE STUDIES BY PATTY TOLAN * 145
Chapter 11: Conducting the Metaphysical Examination: A Methodical Examination * 148
Chapter 12: Attracting the Paranormal: Luring Spirits from the Other Side * 158
New Afterward: Anyone Can Be a Scientist * 169
Epitaph to the Revised Edition by Kevin * 173
Ghostbusting Resources * 175
Paranormal Quickstarter Guide * 177
Sample Waiver of Liability for Metaphysical Examinations * 178
Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz * 179
Kemp's Spectral Classification Table * 182
Parapercipient Interview Form * 185
Supernatural Stakeout Journal * 188
The Devil's Dictionary: Paraterminology You Need to Know * 191
Bibliography * 211
Acknowledgements * 215
Photography Credits * 217
About the Authors * 219
Excerpt from Erin and Abby's Forthcoming Book, A Glimpse into the Unknown * 221
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/09/01/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free book for review through Blogging for Books.)
The great Carl Sagan said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Who are we to argue with him (or his ghost)? We are unquestionably proposing some extraordinary concepts here. At the same time, it's one friggin extraordinary book.
###
Humanoids, vapors, several dozen more
Free-roaming, anchored, are you keeping score?
Possessing, repeating, alone or in swarms
Powerful metaspecters changing forms
###
The author photos from the original (left) and revised editions.
-- 3.5 stars --
If you've seen the Ghostbusters reboot, then you know that Erin (Kristen Wiig) and Abby (Melissa McCarthy) co-wrote a book on the paranormal while in college - and that, years later, Abby's decision to resell all those extra copies, unceremoniously crammed into storage, is what brought the estranged friends back together. In the vein of Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America by Leslie Knope and John Winchester's Journal - fictional books pulled from screens both large and small and manifested right here, in the real world - Three Rivers Press brings us Ghosts from Our Past: Both Literally and Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal. Revised and updated, with bonus content from Jillian Holtzmann, Patty Tolan, and Kevin the secretary.
Ghosts from Our Past is a cute little book; Shaffer captures the characters' voices reasonably well, and the contributions from the other members of the team are a nice touch. The book's divided into three parts: Our Stories (Erin, Abby, and the Metaphysical Examination Society; membership: 2); Our Research (basically the history of paranormal investigation, Erin and Abby's spectral field theory, and supernatural taxonomies and case studies); and Our Methods (how to study the paranormal your own bad self).
It's this last section in particular that makes Ghosts from Our Past a nice gift idea for kids who are either fans of the franchise, or interested in the paranormal more generally. The book's got a participatory bent, and budding (pseudo)scientists can play at being a Ghostbuster: included in the back matter are liability waivers, interview forms, even a stakeout journal. I can just picture some adorable little geek girl making her own EMF Meter using a needle compass and asking the neighbors if she can check their homes for spectral activity. All the feels!
While the book doesn't offer a whole ton of new background information beyond that found in the movie, I enjoyed Erin and Abby's stories, as well as that of the genesis of the Metaphysical Examination Society. I skimmed the other sections, off and on; the case studies are surprisingly interesting, and I devoured the bios of paranormal investigators as well. There's a bit of crushing on The X-Files - which debuted during Erin and Abby's freshman year of high school - which is fun, and a sketch of "Spooky" Mulder, which isn't as awful as you'd think.
The book's pretty heavy on photos, diagrams, and illustrations - even after they lost the 200 pages of photos of "spectral orbs" that turned out to be nothing but dust on Erin's lens - so it's a fairly quick read. Like I said, this would be a fun "activity" book for younger fans of the film.
Or adults. No judgments here, Ed Begley Jr.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
New Forward by Martin Hess * 11
Introduction to Revised Edition * 15
PART 1: OUR STORIES * 19
Part 1 - At a Glance * 21
Chapter 1: Ghost Girl: That One Time I Saw a Ghost (For Real) - Erin's Story * 22
Chapter 2: Curious Georgina: Portrait of a Young Supernatural Scientist - Abby's Story * 32
Chapter 3: The Metaphysical Examination Society - Our Story * 42
PART 2: OUR RESEARCH * 55
Part 2 - At a Glance * 57
Chapter 4: Ghosts Throughout History: Pondering the Preponderance of Paranormal Activity * 58
Chapter 5: Paranormal Investigators: A Look Back * 70
Chapter 6: A Scientific Exploration: Introducing the Spectral Field Theory * 84
Chapter 7: Unnatural Anthropology: The Evolution of Supernatural Taxonomy * 96
Chapter 8: Vengeful Spirits and the Dangers of Their Return to Our World: Case Studies of Malevolent Entities * 104
PART 3: OUR METHODS * 123
Part 3 - At a Glance * 125
Chapter 9: Paratechnology: A Primer * 126
THE GHOSTBUSTERS' ARSENAL: AN UPDATE BY JILLIAN HOLTZMANN * 135
Chapter 10: Preparing for the Metaphysical Examination: Choosing a Location * 140
HAUNTED HISTORY: CASE STUDIES BY PATTY TOLAN * 145
Chapter 11: Conducting the Metaphysical Examination: A Methodical Examination * 148
Chapter 12: Attracting the Paranormal: Luring Spirits from the Other Side * 158
New Afterward: Anyone Can Be a Scientist * 169
Epitaph to the Revised Edition by Kevin * 173
Ghostbusting Resources * 175
Paranormal Quickstarter Guide * 177
Sample Waiver of Liability for Metaphysical Examinations * 178
Is It a Ghost? A Handy Quiz * 179
Kemp's Spectral Classification Table * 182
Parapercipient Interview Form * 185
Supernatural Stakeout Journal * 188
The Devil's Dictionary: Paraterminology You Need to Know * 191
Bibliography * 211
Acknowledgements * 215
Photography Credits * 217
About the Authors * 219
Excerpt from Erin and Abby's Forthcoming Book, A Glimpse into the Unknown * 221
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/09/01/...
July 15, 2022
I’m so glad I saved this book for a time I wanted a light hearted easy read. Just what I needed to get me out of my slump.
This is a movie parody tie in written by Kristen Wigg’s and Melissa McCarthy’s ghostbuster characters. It’s written from their perspective at exploring their first ghost encounter to making observations in general. These are my favourite parts. However the later bit of the book which explores more real cases and real people in ghost history was also really interesting. I learnt some new information too. The illustrations made it fun alongside too with funny keynotes. We even got an excerpt from Kevin their handsome receptionist which was a nice add on. All in all a great tie in to the hilarious characters from the movie which yea I love and wish there wasn’t so much hate for!
What about you, did you enjoy this film? Who you gonna call?
7.5 out of 10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a movie parody tie in written by Kristen Wigg’s and Melissa McCarthy’s ghostbuster characters. It’s written from their perspective at exploring their first ghost encounter to making observations in general. These are my favourite parts. However the later bit of the book which explores more real cases and real people in ghost history was also really interesting. I learnt some new information too. The illustrations made it fun alongside too with funny keynotes. We even got an excerpt from Kevin their handsome receptionist which was a nice add on. All in all a great tie in to the hilarious characters from the movie which yea I love and wish there wasn’t so much hate for!
What about you, did you enjoy this film? Who you gonna call?
7.5 out of 10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 30, 2021
As a companion to the movie, this book is fantastic. Its hilarious and very in line with the characters' personalities. However, I do wish that there was more interjection from the "present" characters, as in them responding to things they had previously written. I also wish that the book started with the line "this is not a joke" like they mention in the movie.
While reading it I was curious how much of the historical data and stories actually happened in real life. The author did a great job of remaining in character until the very end, but I do wish there was a quick guide that explained what was real and what was fiction (outside of the obvious stuff). Overall, it was a fun read.
While reading it I was curious how much of the historical data and stories actually happened in real life. The author did a great job of remaining in character until the very end, but I do wish there was a quick guide that explained what was real and what was fiction (outside of the obvious stuff). Overall, it was a fun read.
September 12, 2017
There was some actually pretty interesting stuff in this book. I don't really believe in ghosts but the information on paranormal investigation throughout history was actually really interesting to read about!
October 22, 2018
When downloaded this book, I had hoped for humorous anecdotes. Unfortunately, they are few and far between. There are some witty one-liners, but nothing that could stop this from feeling like a textbook.
June 25, 2021
I enjoyed this book alongside so many jokes that kept reading fresh. I am surprised on the details that went into this book. I hate the extended cut of the movie however, this extension is well worth reading.
February 16, 2017
I'm just tickled that this actually exists. Foreword by Martin Heiss' ghost and epigraph by Kevin. As it should be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews