You may like or loathe this review just as you may like or loathe the subject matter of this review.
Even before there was 'controversy' over that book, Ghost Writing for Dummies, I had a sneaky suspicion it wasn't entirely 'written' by Zak Bagans. It wasn't his 'style' of writing and am glad I made reference to this in my circle of friends and also some DMs.
On the book itself, it wasn't really at all what I expected. Most of it read like the info had just been gathered online and it wasn't as if you couldn't really research for yourself online, or in libraries which hold far greater and more diverse material. Okay it was revealed that Troy Taylor wrote the background parts, such as most of the introductory, early parts/chapters etc but what was wrong with mentioning that to begin with, even if he said he wanted to remain anonymous. That was like taking credit for everything and duping others. All that was required was an acknowledgement stating he had help in those sections but the writer/author wished to remain anonymous. Then there were the sections where reference was made to certain important or significant conjunctures in the paranormal world, such as the Fox sisters. Man I thought if they're mentioned over and over to strive to bring a point home it was too much repetition. Then in other sections/chapters what went before wasn't alluded to or necessary and included were quite a few contradictions too. I wasn't purposely nitpicking but I found a number of holes. Oh hell who am I kidding, of course I was, the entire purpose for a review.
Having said do 'this, that and the other' if you want to become a paranormal investigator, it then turned all this around on its head and stated things like not arriving at locations with preconceived ideas (done all the time on TV - otherwise they wouldn't even enter the place). Prima facie they're not there to debunk, but attempting to draw conclusions, including asking leading questions which can put a person on the spot and get them to agree to what is being questioned in the interview. 'Most important thing an investigator can possess is common sense and not to contradict oneself over what is found or what is being investigated'. (My words.)
He says you can call on "qualified paranormal investigators" if you feel your home is haunted, what makes them 'qualified' since there are no qualifications to become an investigator and experience isn't everything.
Charles Dickens was mentioned but the Victorians and their ghostly beliefs were barely touched upon seeing as they had so many different explanations and their fascination with spooky goings-on. Is it any wonder so many Victorian mansions/houses are haunted or exhibit paranormal activity of some form or another.. Culminating in their love of ghost stories but more importantly in how the mood of the era created such interests. No mention of djinns and mesmerism. The onset of science and new developments in technology went hand in hand with the onslaught of the supernatural and the ability for people to believe this wasn't just magic or a trick of the light but a genuine inroad into the occult. There was a period between the onset of science and peoples' beliefs called mesmerism, one propogated by Charles Dickens who was a firmly of the belief that he was a Mesmerist. Mesmerists believed they could cure physical ailments by putting their subject into a trance and passing energy into their body.
Proposed by Franz Anton Mesmer in Paris, it was discredited by scientists. [A Key To Physic and the Occult Sciences by Ebenezer Sibly, circa 1800's.]
Other proponents of Pyschical research was Henry James in his works and also since his brother was William Jams; a part of this Society. Author Robert Louis Stevenson was a member of this society too. Then there was Madame Blavatsky who was associated with the doctrination of the Mahatmas underlying her Theophysical Society. Their 'Hermetic Secrets' could be pursued by those who joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Those who vigorously fought over initiation rites included William Butler Yeats, and Aleister Crowley - would've thought Crowley would have been mentioned considering the number of times reference has been made to him in Ghost Adventures eps. Okay I'm not here writing my own discourse.
Typos, omitted words, some basic sentence formation, indicates a rush job. As for contradictions how can scientists not understand and relate to scientific principles. It's their subject matter and an investigator he won't be up on science at all. Maybe just some parts of it.
As for the chapter on research, 15, I always said they don't research enough for GA. There is a wealth of information about certain locations that is left out, not found, or no one is overtly concerned with, which can shed light on another aspect of their location that can be investigated. Thorough research can provide a vast amount of knowledge. P120 Ghostbusters is riddled with misinformation not only whose idea the script was and penned by Dan Ackroyd, but other aspects of this too.
P139 it is well known fact by now how and why ghosts are thought to remain on Earth without delving into this. Traumatic events, violent deaths etc. Something holding them here. Or as my mother always says, briefly, they are the souls of people who have been wronged and aren't at rest. A little simplistic but it sounds so much better in her native English which is lost in translation.
There is plenty in the book which is familiar and having a memory that retains everything, certain sections gave me a sense of deja vu and having read them before elsewhere on other sites.
There was nothing on some Ghost Adventures investigations whereas others were mentioned which didn't have that much of a significance. Would've been interesting to know about the past ones, such as Preston Castle and why Zak has never returned there after having such an 'experience' there in his encounter with Anna. One question that wasn't ever answered when asked several times. That's just one of the places not revisited. But the sections where these investigations were alluded to made the book much more interesting. Then again Ghost Adventures and taking complete credit for the show wasn't very much appreciated especially since others (one other nameless investigator ) was involved in the concept and getting it off the ground. Fine if you don't want to mention him and if I was him, I wouldn't want to be mentioned either, but don't make out it was "all you."
Typos, yes there were typos and sentences that didn't quite make sense. To be traditionally published this could've and should've been more professionally produced. Also the publishers adding references to the next edition comes too late since people have already bought and paid for one version. How could this have been omitted to begin with, without references pertaining to relevant chapters doesn't make for a complete book or ? reading. This book isn't the be all and end all for anyone interested in becoming a paranormal investigator as there are many other good ones out there that take a more realistic pragmatic look at starting out. Or should I say it's not the be all and end all.
This is all my opinion and thoughts but don't all go jumping on the criticism bandwagon, it'll just show your insecurities and not being able to take criticism of your fanboy in doing the same thing.
Was written in January, edited April and left festering in the drafts as I thought I could come up with something different to include but thus far haven't. I enjoyed his other two books more than this one! Go figure or not!
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