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True Experiences with Ghosts
1968
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1968
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22 people want to read
About the author
Martin Ebon
128 books3 followersMartin Ebon was a German American author of non-fiction books from the paranormal to politics.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Ebon immigrated to the United States in 1938.
Ebon worked for twelve years as Administrative Secretary for the Parapsychology Foundation and worked closely with its founder, Eileen J. Garrett.
Ebon died in Las Vegas, Nevada.
-Wikipedia
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Ebon immigrated to the United States in 1938.
Ebon worked for twelve years as Administrative Secretary for the Parapsychology Foundation and worked closely with its founder, Eileen J. Garrett.
Ebon died in Las Vegas, Nevada.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 29, 2020
disappointingly boring.
April 25, 2023
A COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS OF PURPORTED GHOSTS/POLTERGEISTS
Editor Martin Ebon wrote in the Introduction to this 1968 book, “There certainly ARE ghosts---in the sense that thousands of people have seen them, from ancient times to the present. But what they are, whether they really are the dead coming back to talk to us, to haunt us, to haunt the places where they used to live, to aid or bedevil us---that I can’t tell you… on the following pages… are ‘true experiences’ in the sense that the people who have written them have actually experienced them; they form part of a documented record that has been painstakingly assembled. We find ghostly records I prehistoric legends, and in such biblical accounts as the story of the Witch of Endor.” (Pg. 7)
He continues, “that about … ghosts… [that] seem to ‘embody’ a physical restlessness, perhaps a fragment of a personality, a sort of ‘leftover’ entity from a previous existence… [One researcher] established four categories: experimental cases, in which the agent deliberately tried to make his apparition visible to someone else; cases in which a recognized apparition is seen, heard, or felt at a time when the person represented by a recognized apparition is seen or heard so long after the death of the person represented by the apparition of the person, can be related to the incident; and, finally, ghosts or apparitions that habitually haunt certain places.” (Pg. 11)
He adds, “Ghosts, in fiction and apparent fact, are linked either to a house or a person. It is rare that there is a combination of both… [An example of an] olfactory ghost complete the number of senses though which apparitions manifest themselves. But whether we smell them, hear them, see them, or seem to be touched by them—just how real are they, after all?.. Gustav Davidson… writes, ‘We create what we believe. I am prepared to say that if enough of us believe in angels, then angels exist.’ Perhaps the same goes for ghosts.” (Pg. 14-15)
The remainder of the book consists of brief essays, recounting psychical experiences that are interpreted as ‘ghostly.’
For example, the final essay by John C. Newhouse summarizes the evidence that Louisa B. Rhine (wife of the late parapsychologist J.B. Rhine) found:” “Dr. Rhine finds that extrasensory perception of psychokinesis. (PK) appears to play a decisive role in such apparitions. But are the dead really appearing? Or is it the living who create these figures, their words, their actions, their frequent reassurances? Mrs. Rhine says that ‘while the deceased may be interested in assuring the living that they will survive, the living are also interested in the assurance.’ And, she adds, while ‘we find no unquestionable indications that the deceased have had a part in producing these experiences,’ the ‘living person certainly shaped each experience in accordance with his capacity for ESP, and thus far we cannot tell whether the living one was the sole author of it.’ Well, as scientists always say: further research is necessary. And the raw material for such research is being furnished just abut every day, as people experience and report further contacts with the dead---even if they are not as hair-raising as in fictional ghost stories, but happen rather prosaically on Elm Street, Everytown, U.S.A.” (Pg. 128)
This book will interest some that are studying ghosts, poltergeists, etc.
Editor Martin Ebon wrote in the Introduction to this 1968 book, “There certainly ARE ghosts---in the sense that thousands of people have seen them, from ancient times to the present. But what they are, whether they really are the dead coming back to talk to us, to haunt us, to haunt the places where they used to live, to aid or bedevil us---that I can’t tell you… on the following pages… are ‘true experiences’ in the sense that the people who have written them have actually experienced them; they form part of a documented record that has been painstakingly assembled. We find ghostly records I prehistoric legends, and in such biblical accounts as the story of the Witch of Endor.” (Pg. 7)
He continues, “that about … ghosts… [that] seem to ‘embody’ a physical restlessness, perhaps a fragment of a personality, a sort of ‘leftover’ entity from a previous existence… [One researcher] established four categories: experimental cases, in which the agent deliberately tried to make his apparition visible to someone else; cases in which a recognized apparition is seen, heard, or felt at a time when the person represented by a recognized apparition is seen or heard so long after the death of the person represented by the apparition of the person, can be related to the incident; and, finally, ghosts or apparitions that habitually haunt certain places.” (Pg. 11)
He adds, “Ghosts, in fiction and apparent fact, are linked either to a house or a person. It is rare that there is a combination of both… [An example of an] olfactory ghost complete the number of senses though which apparitions manifest themselves. But whether we smell them, hear them, see them, or seem to be touched by them—just how real are they, after all?.. Gustav Davidson… writes, ‘We create what we believe. I am prepared to say that if enough of us believe in angels, then angels exist.’ Perhaps the same goes for ghosts.” (Pg. 14-15)
The remainder of the book consists of brief essays, recounting psychical experiences that are interpreted as ‘ghostly.’
For example, the final essay by John C. Newhouse summarizes the evidence that Louisa B. Rhine (wife of the late parapsychologist J.B. Rhine) found:” “Dr. Rhine finds that extrasensory perception of psychokinesis. (PK) appears to play a decisive role in such apparitions. But are the dead really appearing? Or is it the living who create these figures, their words, their actions, their frequent reassurances? Mrs. Rhine says that ‘while the deceased may be interested in assuring the living that they will survive, the living are also interested in the assurance.’ And, she adds, while ‘we find no unquestionable indications that the deceased have had a part in producing these experiences,’ the ‘living person certainly shaped each experience in accordance with his capacity for ESP, and thus far we cannot tell whether the living one was the sole author of it.’ Well, as scientists always say: further research is necessary. And the raw material for such research is being furnished just abut every day, as people experience and report further contacts with the dead---even if they are not as hair-raising as in fictional ghost stories, but happen rather prosaically on Elm Street, Everytown, U.S.A.” (Pg. 128)
This book will interest some that are studying ghosts, poltergeists, etc.
June 24, 2017
"True?" Hmm, well.
This is pretty standard '50s-'60s fare, when psi and ESP research were at their peak and acceptance of what is "true" was not up to current standards (except in politics). The worst problem here is that, despite a bouncy, jolly introduction, there is almost no indication of how these stories were collected or who the authors are outside their names: "A. X. Elfir"? Aw, c'mon.
Some of the tales seem to reflect an honest belief by their authors that what happened was as presented. Others feel more like massaged local superstitions. It's an interesting window into the times – which oddly look like an update on 1890s spiritualism – but not much use for anyone who might be seriously investigating the possibility of post-death emanations.
This is pretty standard '50s-'60s fare, when psi and ESP research were at their peak and acceptance of what is "true" was not up to current standards (except in politics). The worst problem here is that, despite a bouncy, jolly introduction, there is almost no indication of how these stories were collected or who the authors are outside their names: "A. X. Elfir"? Aw, c'mon.
Some of the tales seem to reflect an honest belief by their authors that what happened was as presented. Others feel more like massaged local superstitions. It's an interesting window into the times – which oddly look like an update on 1890s spiritualism – but not much use for anyone who might be seriously investigating the possibility of post-death emanations.
February 23, 2016
1st Read: October 5, 2014 - October 17, 2014
The ten, in order of appearance, that were more of a positive reading experience for me were:
I) Introduction from Martin Ebon
II) "IN AN IRISH MANOR HOUSE" - Maurice Quinton
- I found it was just okay, nothing more than that.
III) "THE SCRATCHED CHEEK" - American Society for Psychical Research
- This one was good.
IV) "VISIONS AT DEATH" - Wainwright Evans
- The most interesting so far!
V) "DANIEL DAFOE'S APPARITION" - Richard Leland
- It was alright.
VI) "A HOUSE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE" - Louis. M. A. Roy
- This one was quite good.
VII) "THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS IN A SHIRT" - George Mavros
- Very good. Another one of the better ones.
VIII) "CALIFORNIA'S HAUNTED HOUSE" - Miriam Allen De Ford
- I have it marked as good, although I don't remember it.
IX) "OUTSIDE MODERN LONDON" - Chester Butterworth
- It was just alright, nothing more.
X) "THE SCOTTISH GIRL WHO CAME BACK" - A.X. Elfir
- Another which was just alright.
As for the remaining stories in this book, I had critiqued them as, "blah!" or "nothing special". I suppose I did so, as a result of what we know today of the paranormal. The electronics which are on hand today to detect activity is light years from what was available in 1956, when this book was originally written.
Had I been around back then, my critique of this book would have been more along the lines of terrifying or frightening. It was a new field of science back then and not many ventured into it, I assume. Interesting, but also primitive, as progress tends to open more doors, while closing others.
Chances are good that I will not be keeping this book.
September 21, 2014
Another ghost book I've had since I was a kid. The only story I remembered from reading it back then was the one about the Ocean Born Mary house, because hey, pirates. The one about the young woman who died rock climbing and haunted her friend was the creepiest. Several of the stories were excellent proof of ghosts: the ghost with the scar, the dad who told his daughter about the money sown in his shirt, and the random appearance of the Finnish president.
October 22, 2011
True or not? I found this gem in a bargain bin and laughed at its campy 60s cover, but delving into it I was surprised by the excellent quality of these tales. If you entertain the possibility that perhaps- just perhaps- they really happened you'll find them fascinatingly creepy. Otherwise, just enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews