Our Comprehensive Guide to the Best Nonfiction Paranormal Books

We venture into the enigmatic world of the paranormal and unexplained. This comprehensive list of the best nonfiction paranormal books is ideal for both seasoned investigators and curious minds eager to explore the unknown. Be prepared to delve into enthralling accounts of haunted abodes, perplexing alien encounters, and the bewildering realm of unexplained phenomena. These carefully selected books will ignite your curiosity and leave you questioning the boundaries of reality.

Embarking on a literary odyssey through the best paranormal nonfiction, you'll be captivated by each extraordinary tale. We've sought out the most intriguing and well-researched works on topics that span from mysterious apparitions to enigmatic extraterrestrial visitations. So, settle into your favorite reading nook, open your mind, and prepare to immerse yourself in the fascinating and intellectually stimulating world of the paranormal. Are you ready to confront the unknown?

Books About Ghosts and Poltergeists

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

by Colin Dickey

Embarking on a quest to uncover the allure of America's haunted locations, Colin Dickey delves into the nation's fascination with the ghosts that seemingly inhabit old houses, deserted prisons, and desolate hospitals. Spurred by his own experience house hunting in Los Angeles, where he encountered decrepit foreclosures and "zombie homes," Dickey traverses the United States to unravel the suppressed history hidden within these famous paranormal sites. From the notorious "most haunted mansion" to the eerie Indian burial grounds in West Virginia, he uncovers the memories our nation strives to forget.

In Ghostland, Dickey's insatiable curiosity brings the deceased to life by examining how the living grapple with ghost stories and navigate spaces deemed haunted. He scrutinizes not only the facts behind these tales, but also the changes made to them and the reasons for those alterations. In doing so, he unveils a version of American history absent from traditional textbooks, filled with unresolved deeds and unaddressed crimes. Both chilling and thought-provoking, Ghostland reveals that the past we're too frightened to mention in broad daylight is often the same past that haunts our whispered stories in the darkness.

Weird Hauntings: True Tales of Ghostly Places

by Mark Moran and Mark Scuerman

In "Weird Hauntings," Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, the authors behind the popular Weird U.S. series, present a spine-tingling collection of stories about America's most frightening haunted locales. Ranging from well-known, publicly accessible sites to private residences shrouded in mystery, these eerie tales feature firsthand accounts with a powerful sense of authenticity and spine-chilling appeal. The book takes readers on a journey through haunted houses, ghost-ridden graveyards, cursed roads, spooky eateries, and spirited saloons, all set in real locations. Be forewarned, however, as this compilation of true stories is so chilling that reading it alone at night may not be for the faint of heart.

Coast to Coast Ghosts: True Stories of Hauntings Across America

by Leslie Rule

In "Coast to Coast Ghosts," Leslie Rule delves into the captivating world of real-life hauntings, showcasing how these encounters can be even more enthralling and spine-chilling than their fictional counterparts. From a disfigured toddler mysteriously vanishing into the floor of the St. James Hotel in New Mexico to other paranormal enigmas, Rule shares these stories as a result of comprehensive interviews and research that explore the reasons behind ghost sightings across America. The book includes numerous hair-raising ghost stories and around fifty black-and-white photographs captured by Rule, some of which are believed to depict actual apparitions.

This House is Haunted: The True Story of the Enfield Poltergeist

by Guy Lyon Playfair

In "This House is Haunted," Guy Lyon Playfair recounts the astonishing story of the Enfield Poltergeist, which began on August 31st, 1977, when the Harper family's normal life in their modest council house in a quiet north London suburb was disrupted by inexplicable disturbances. Initially experiencing minor paranormal events such as unexplained knockings and abnormal furniture movements, the phenomena quickly escalated in intensity and fright.

Witnessed by at least thirty individuals, the poltergeist's activity included overturning furniture, levitating one of the girls in front of witnesses, and even defying the laws of physics. Maurice Grosse from the Society for Psychical Research and his colleague Guy Lyon Playfair extensively documented the incidents, capturing much of the bewildering and terrifying activity on tape and film. As one of the most well-documented and thoroughly witnessed cases of its kind, the Enfield poltergeist has become a classic in the annals of psychical research, garnering worldwide press coverage and featuring in various radio and television documentaries.

Ghost Hunting: True Stories of Unexplained Phenomena from The Atlantic Paranormal Society

by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

In "Ghost Hunting," Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, the founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.), share their spine-chilling paranormal investigations for the first time in print. As daytime plumbers and nighttime paranormal investigators, their unique abilities and scientific approach have made them the focus of the hit TV show, Ghost Hunters. Collaborating with veteran author Michael Jan Friedman, Jason and Grant recount some of their most unforgettable cases, using cutting-edge technology like thermal-imaging cameras, electromagnetic-field recorders, and digital thermometers to explore the supernatural. This entertaining, fascinating, and eerie collection features both cases from the Ghost Hunters TV show and previously untold T.A.P.S. adventures, challenging our perceptions of the spirit world.

Poltergeists

by Alan Gauld and A.D. Cornell

In "Poltergeists," originally published in 1979, Alan Gauld presents a comprehensive exploration of the subject, establishing the work as a groundbreaking classic in the genre. Featuring illustrative cases from around the globe, dating from the sixteenth to the late twentieth century, the book covers various types of phenomena, including destructive and fantastical cases, poltergeist assaults, and incidents attributed to witches, demons, or deceased individuals. Drawing from contemporary notes, diaries, and lesser-known yet captivating accounts, many translated from non-English sources, Gauld offers a computer analysis of the leading characteristics of hundreds of poltergeist and haunting cases, proposing tentative conclusions on the natural 'clusters' they form. For anyone interested in parapsychology and the paranormal, "Poltergeists" is an essential read.

Books About UFOs and Extra-Terrestrials

Alien Encounters: True-Life Stories of UFOs and other Extra-Terrestrial Phenomena. With New Pentagon Files.

by Rupert Matthews

"Alien Encounters" by Rupert Matthews offers a captivating and insightful examination of significant episodes of alien activity on Earth, shedding light on the myriad of mysterious phenomena surrounding it. The book delves into intriguing eyewitness accounts of communication and contact with extraterrestrial beings, chilling abduction cases, and compelling evidence of government cover-ups.

Analyzing key encounters, such as a pilot's sighting of alien aircraft, the Exeter Incident, the Socorro Incident, and the abduction of Betty and Barney Hill, Matthews presents a gripping investigation into these strange events that continue to fuel intense debate. With the Pentagon's 2020 admission of its UFO division's existence, understanding the meaning behind these encounters between humans and extraterrestrials has never been more crucial.

Incident at Devils Den: A True Story

by Terry Lovelace

For four decades, Terry Lovelace kept a harrowing secret, but in 2012, the discovery of an anomalous object embedded in his thigh unleashed a torrent of uncontrollable nightmares and deteriorating health. This compelled him to finally reveal the chilling events that took place in 1977.

While on a two-day camping trip to photograph eagles and wildlife, Lovelace and his friend noticed a trio of intensely bright stars in the sky that expanded and approached their campsite. The massive, five-story building-sized object eventually hovered directly above them, motionless in the meadow. Initially, Lovelace never intended to share his story, but the traumatic events from 2012 unearthed long-forgotten memories of his abduction experience, which he had no desire to remember but ultimately felt compelled to disclose.

History of the Paranormal

The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley's Masterpiece

by Roseanne Montillo

In "The Lady and Her Monsters," Roseanne Montillo vividly portrays the enthralling era, astonishing science, and genuine horrors that shaped Mary Shelley's gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein. Montillo unveils how Victor Frankenstein, the novel's central character, was inspired by real-life scientists of the time, who thrived amid the Romantic Age and the Industrial Revolution. These audacious and unorthodox thinkers were fascinated by the human body's intricacies and the potential to revive it after death. Delving into chilling accounts of body snatchers, sinister experiments, and the pursuit of human reanimation, Montillo's work offers a captivating examination of the genesis of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's timeless horror classic.

The Best Books About Cryptozoology

Cryptozoology: The History of Attempts to Discover and Study Legendary and Mythological Creatures

by Sean McLachlan and Charles River Editors

The allure of the unknown and the fascination with the mysterious have captivated humanity throughout history, sparking tales of strange beasts, enigmatic heroes, and legendary creatures. These stories have thrived in societies across the globe, fueled by the intimate knowledge of the natural world held by our ancestors. Today, although we have lost our connection to nature, the belief in these peculiar creatures remains steadfast. Cryptozoology, often met with skepticism and labeled a pseudoscience, has nevertheless generated a following, as people recognize that our understanding of life on Earth is far from complete.

"Cryptozoology: The History of Attempts to Discover and Study Legendary and Mythological Creatures" delves into the exploration of these elusive beings and the individuals who built careers out of showcasing such oddities. The book highlights notorious figures like P.T. Barnum, who made a fortune displaying fabricated "curiosities" to the public. Despite the hoaxes and questionable practices, the interest in cryptozoology continues to thrive, as new discoveries of previously unknown species prove that the boundaries of our knowledge are still expanding. This intriguing work offers an in-depth examination of the history and ongoing quest to uncover the truth behind some of the world's most captivating legends.

The Bigfoot Book: The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti and Cryptid Primates

by Nick Redfern

Nick Redfern's "The Bigfoot Book" offers a definitive and comprehensive exploration of the mysterious world of Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, and other elusive man-primates. Delving into grainy videos, photos, and thousands of eyewitness accounts, as well as eerie audio recordings, the book uncovers 400 years of history, folklore, legends, and pop culture surrounding these enigmatic creatures. Covering everything from Native American lore to Russian expeditions, and from Florida's Myakka Skunk Ape to Australia's Yowie and Himalayas' Yeti, Redfern's work examines the phenomenon from every angle. With nearly 200 entries and 120 images, this richly researched reference is the ultimate guide to understanding, hunting, and avoiding these cryptid primates, inviting readers to think twice before embarking on their next camping adventure.

Wrapping Up Our Guide to Nonfiction Paranormal Books

As we wrap up this enthralling journey through the finest paranormal nonfiction books, we trust you've discovered tales that ignite your curiosity for the enigmatic. These expertly crafted accounts escort you to a world brimming with otherworldly beings, unidentified flying objects, mysterious creatures, eerie locales, and baffling occurrences, pushing the limits of our understanding. So, continue immersing yourself in the unknown, and let these gripping stories inspire you to contemplate the enigmas that envelop us. Bear in mind, amid the boundless and awe-inspiring canvas of existence, countless riddles lie in wait, ready to unveil the unexpected intersections of reality and imagination.

Author
Chris Beach

Hi, I'm Chris. My love of books started when I was a child visiting libraries with my Dad. The smell and feel of old pages still sparks something within me that can I can only express as an emotional attachment to books. Two decades later this evolved into a passion for collecting rare books, particularly 17th century early-English literature, and rare children's books. I believe every book has its own story and each one reveals something new about the world we live in.
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