The tone of this volume is set in the foreword, where Tony Taylor, of the American Ghost Society, announces that proof of ghosts can consist solely of accumulated testimonies: "Scientific debunking be damned have just historically proven that a house is haunted and that ghosts do exist!" Guiley in her introduction says, "Can I prove ghosts exist? No. But skeptics cannot disprove ghosts either." This is a book by believers for believers, and when this is understood, the work can be useful. The book is in dictionary format, with good use of white space and illustrations. The quality of the photographs is not good, but quality reproduction of old photographs is neither easy nor cheap. More than 600 entries (up from more than 500 in the second edition, published in 2000) range from a few paragraphs to a couple of pages, and although there is no bibliography, each article indicates further reading. There are extensive see and see also references and a detailed index. Unlike some of Guiley's other works, this one indexes some hoaxes, including the Cottingley fairies, which deceived and embarrassed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; but there is no separate article on fraud. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal has a brief, dismissive entry. Believers and skeptics alike seeking information on various phenomena will find this book useful, and there are some fascinating biographies of individuals ranging from Harry Houdini to various mediums. Academic and public libraries with folklore and popular culture collections will want to consider this, as will larger public libraries with demand for materials on the supernatural.

Gr 5 Up-This riveting volume provides a much-needed expansion and update of one of the best references on the subject. Well researched and engagingly written, the comprehensive work provides more than 600 alphabetically arranged articles, with appended bibliographies, on the history of ghosts and spirits from the ancient world to contemporary times. Coverage includes entries on paranormal investigators, infamous haunted places (the Borley Rectory, the Antietam Battlefield, Alcatraz), objective and well-balanced investigations of hauntings (such as the Amityville case), descriptions of types of ghosts and spirits, and of communication with the spirit world. Additional pieces include discussions of out-of-body experiences, phantom ships, possession, reincarnation, mediums, and electronic voice phenomena. The two well-spaced columns of clear type per page are interspersed with relevant and instructive black-and-white photographs. A thorough index adds to the usefulness of the work. This is an outstanding tool for serious researchers and laypeople alike. It complements and supplements Hans Holzer's less-balanced Ghosts: True Encounters with the World Beyond (Black Dog & Leventhal, 1997).-Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.