3 out of 4 stars
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Man has always been fascinated by the things that he couldn’t understand. Ghosts, spirits, life-after-death, and near-death experiences are some of the things that are still shrouded in mystery. There are staunch believers who, sometimes, claim to have witnessed such a thing; there are people who adamantly refuse to believe in this stuff because they think it is unscientific; and then, there are sceptics, the ones who don’t want to be superstitious but are ready to keep an open mind. No matter what category you belong to, Anatomy of a Ghost will resonate with you, one way or another.
Written by Robin M. Strom-Mackey, this book is the product of her about-a-decade-long career as a paranormal investigator. It is an account of the things she has seen, stories she has heard, theories she has read, and all the experiences that she has accumulated over the years. In Anatomy of a Ghost, Strom-Mackey gives the first-hand account of what it is like to study the paranormal. Owing to movies and TV shows, people have formed their own, rather wrong, concepts about supernatural phenomena. Trying to rectify these misgivings, this book presents paranormal investigation in a whole new light.
It tells the readers about different types of ghost stories in different cultures. It explores and compares the traditions of different societies; and discusses the origins of certain myths and folklore and how they fit into the popular culture. It provides an insight into the inception and the history of paranormal investigation and, also, tells us about a bunch of scientists who were a part of this community. What adds to its authenticity is that the author has used science to explain everything. So, even if you are someone who doesn’t believe in the paranormal, you can’t disagree with the science that explains it.
There were some good stories in this book. The way they were told is what made them better. The writing style felt welcoming and friendly. It’s like the author was inviting me into her world, giving a sneak-peak of how things work down the rabbit-hole. Anatomy of a Ghost might not frighten you out of your wits, but you can’t go to sleep with this book. It is scary that way. What makes it eerier is that it is not fiction, the author is not making it all up. It is the result of a thorough research by an unbiased mind. If not for the scare, you can read it to simply understand the traditions and beliefs that circulate certain parts of the world. In this sense, this book can be quite educational. It employs a balanced mix of science and spirituality to explain the concepts that otherwise seem extraordinary. The smart explanations will compel you to think about these things, even if you’re not a believer.
My rating for Anatomy of a Ghost is 3 out of 4 stars. As much as I enjoyed reading this book, there were a handful of grammatical mistakes that prevented me from giving it a perfect rating. If you like watching scary movies or reading ghost stories, or you are someone who wants to find a meaning behind all these mysteries, then you should definitely read this book. The logical and scientific approach of the writer makes this book stand out of the horde of other books available on the same subject. As a student of science, it was refreshing for me to read about the things that I had read in school, but in a completely different context.
This book will quickly hook you to itself with scary stories, and then, slowly, it'll transport you to a zone where you begin to understand everything, especially when the science kicks in. The air of mystery hovers throughout the book, and you'll find yourself more and more interested in the thoughts that the author wants to convey through it.
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Anatomy of a Ghost;
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Like ReviewerDiksha's review? Post a comment saying so!
I especially like that there's diversity in the stories--death and the paranormal/world beyond are a big part of any culture, so i think it's a really interesting lens through which to learn about different cultures. Thank you for your insightful review!
