Ghosts I've Met

by Hans Holzer

Hans Holzer's probing investigative techniques and expertise in the paranormal have earned him the reputation the world over as the Ghost Hunter. Here we follow him around the globe on the trail of the Uncanny and in pursuit of unexplained footsteps, apparitions, and other psychic phenomena.

Along the way, he introduces us to the ghosts who still inhabit homes, cling to castle walls, and lurk at lonely country crossroads. These are just a few of the ghosts we meet: Grandma Thurston, whose ghost still works the loom, tugged at the Ghost Hunter's elbow in an eighteenth-century farmhouse. The Ghost at the Altar is that of a pastor whose wooden church burned down, destroying many years of work and many dreams. The specter of railroad man Joe Baldwin, who lost his head while trying to forestall a collision, still patrols a section of track in Wilmington, North Carolina. A haunted house in Los Angeles is the site of a nightly party where invisible guests celebrate as the horrified inhabitants listen on.

We watch from a front-row seat as Holzer establishes a connection to the spirits behind these and other hauntings in deep-trance sessions conducted with renowned psychics. In these sessions, he eases the spirits' transition from this world to the next-and brings the reader face to face with haunted places and people around the world.

Hans Holzer, Ph.D., author, investigator, parapsychologist, and expert on extrasensory perception, is known throughout the world as the Ghost Hunter. The author of more than 100 books, including True Ghost Stories, he is regarded as a leading authority on the paranormal, ranging from hauntings and ghosts to telepathy, clairvoyance, and other psychic experiences of the human mind. Educated at the University of Vienna and at Columbia University, Dr. Holzer has written, produced, and appeared in numerous television documentaries.

Genres: Paranormal, Nonfiction, Ghosts

307 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Hans Holzer, whose investigations into the paranormal took him to haunted houses and other sites all over the world, wrote more than 140 books on ghosts, the afterlife, witchcraft, extraterrestrial beings, and other phenomena associated with the realm he called “the other side.” Among his famous subjects was the Long Island house that inspired The Amityville Horror book and film adaptations. Holzer studied at the University of Vienna, Austria, and at Columbia University, New York, earning a master’s degree in comparative religion. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology. Holzer died in 2009.

Reviews

[Valerie Stocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall, though it does seem that ghosts tend to behave in a similar fashion to each other. While Holzer creates some colorful locales and his descriptions of people in his book are vivid, one hears so many footsteps, doors opening and closing, knocking, that I wondered if perhaps the same ghost was traveling from site to site, following Holzer. Clearly, he has a passion for his subject, and is eager to share his knowledge and expertise with anyone who is interested.

This book came out originally in the mid-60's, so certain references are dated. I didn't find the book to be particularly scary; but spirits don't usually scare me anyway. In general, it was a fun, light read.

[Evelyn Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hans Holzer is well-known as the 'Ghost Hunter.' He is the author of more than 100 books and considered a leading authority in psychic and paranormal experiences. In this book he takes the reader on many locations around the world and introduces us to the ghosts associated with these locations. Once there, he tries to ease the spirit's transition from this world to the next.

While the book is an interesting read, I was rather disappointed. I felt that many of the stories left the reader hanging and waiting to hear (as Paul Harvey would say) "...the rest of the story. . . ."

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the 1960s it is amazing how much parapsychology has changed. I enjoyed reading about all the places across the United States and then across the pond to other countries.

Some great stories that are even more fun since I believe some of my ancestors lived in some of the old manor houses.

[Jaime · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible! A terrible, terrible book! I’ll admit, the subject doesn’t really strike me as that interesting anyway, but this guy’s writing is TERRIBLE. I don’t even know what else to say about it.

[Kim Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crappy to say the least.