Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Reading books as a ghost hunter or paranormal investigator is so important if you want to grow. There are so many resources out there! It’s important to know what other people are talking about and what their experiences are.
The listed books are a mix of “how-to”, personal ghost stories, legends, history, and more. This is just the start of a massive list! If you have a book that you would like to recommend, let me know!
The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting – Alex Matsuo
Yes, I’m going to plug in my own book. The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting is all about how to be a paranormal investigator. In this book, I cover a multitude of topics. I cover historical research, evidence review, best practices on the field, as well as paranormal history from a cultural standpoint. If you are new to the world of paranormal investigating, this book is for you!
The Ghost Studies: New Perspectives on the Origins of Paranormal Experiences – Brandon Massullo
This is one of the best books to read as a paranormal investigator. For example, it dives deep into the psyche of paranormal experiences as well as the latest research in hauntings. It was written by Brandon Massullo, who is a clinical therapist and a parapsychologist. He has been cited in numerous journals and is a go-to resource on the topic. It’s safe to say he knows what he is talking about!
Guide to Psychic Protection – Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Rosemary Ellen Guiley was such a wealth of knowledge and expertise on the paranormal. While she has since passed, she has left us a treasure trove of books and resources. One of my favorites is Guide to Psychic Protection. One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “How do you protect yourself during an investigation?” Rosemary has answered that question. It will not only help you on a ghost hunt but also in your daily life.
Haunted Land: Ghosts, Witches, and Divination in the 18th Century – Michelle Hamilton
It is important to learn where the world of ghost hunting and paranormal research came from. Michelle Hamilton has written several books on the historical context of our belief in ghosts. She knocks Haunted Land out of the park. You get to read actual historical documentation of ghosts, witches, and divination in the 18th century. You might also notice that some of these beliefs are still prevalent today. Civil War Ghosts is another favorite of mine from here.
The Victorian Ghost Hunter’s Casebook – Tim Prasil
If you’re ghost hunting without the fancy tech, are you even ghost hunting? The answer is a resounding YES! Back in the Victorian era, people were absolutely fascinated by ghosts and the supernatural. It’s important to know why Victorians were ghost hunting. This is because it gives us so much context as to why we do what we do today. Tim Prasil also includes a few notes from female ghost hunters from the Victorian era. Did I mention that Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are included in this book? They were truly captivated by the supernatural! I’m thrilled this book includes their notes.
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife – Mary Roach
This book is truly a classic for any ghost hunter’s library. Mary Roach writes about the subject in a funny and entertaining way to keep you engaged. She includes a lot of articles from CSICOP’s Skeptical Inquirer Magazine. Also, she discusses how folks have been trying to debunk elements of the paranormal using science. Her perspective is objective, and a “must-read” for any paranormal investigator or ghost hunter.
The Good Death and the Civil War: The Haunting of an American Battlefield – John G. Sabol
John G. Sabol is the creator of the Ghost Excavation method, which takes an anthropological and archaeological approach to paranormal investigating. Instead of dressing in jeans, sneakers, and sweatshirts, and asking questions in the dark, Sabol and his team are in period clothing and engaging in scenarios to interact with the spirits. He’s also written dozens of books with his research, and his historical knowledge is invaluable. In the book, Sabol discusses why American Civil War battlefields are haunted, and how the Civil War violated “The Good Death”. I think if you truly want to understand Civil War hauntings, you have to understand what The Good Death was.
Ghost Hunter’s Handbook: Supernatural Explorations for Kids – Liza Gardner Walsh
We can’t forget the kids! There’s some controversy as to whether kids should be in the world of ghost hunting. But they still have paranormal experiences. Often, they don’t have the context or knowledge to understand what they experienced. Liza Gardner Walsh covers the history of ghosts, how to ghost hunt, how to tell a good ghost story, and more. It’s all in a kid-friendly manner that’s engaging and educational.
Where the Footprints End: High Strangeness and the Bigfoot Phenomenon, Volume I: Folklore – Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner
I had the pleasure of sitting alongside Joshua Cutchin for ConCarolinas 2019. He is a wealth of knowledge on theories and folklore, and his resources are astounding. If you’re interested in Bigfoot, aliens/UFOs, and the history behind the beliefs we have about them today, this book is for you. Truly, it is really interesting to read about some of the data and theories being ignored by modern-day Bigfoot hunters. It also discusses how the significance of Bigfoot has impacted our society from a cultural standpoint. This is a great resource for any cryptid lover or researcher.
Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death – Deborah Blum
The American Society for Psychical Research, and the Society for Psychical Research are big names in the paranormal field. Deborah Blum dives deep into the research of William James. She also includes the experiments he performed on the mediums of the Spiritualism movement. What is truly wonderful about this book is while James did find there were many frauds in the movement, there were also those that defied logic and left him scratching his head.
Nice overview of the books – great resource for folks!
Thank you!