A Brief Guide to the Supernatural

From the world of ancient myth to modern pop culture, A Brief Guide to the Supernatural: Ghosts, Vampires and the Paranormal (ISBN 9781849016759) by Leo Ruickbie takes you beyond the veil of the unknown.

What drives humanity’s timeless fascination with the unearthly? Why do ghosts linger in legends and houses, and vampires haunt our imaginations? Drawing together history, psychology, science, religion, and gothic lore, Ruickbie explores how societies across time have conceived of the supernatural. From folklore and mythological creatures, through attempts to record and explain ghostly phenomena, to the modern paranormal investigation, this book examines both belief and scepticism.

Rich in storytelling and critical insight, A Brief Guide to the Supernatural also considers our cultural obsession with the paranormal: TV shows, film, literature, and why we keep looking for shadows in the dark. A thoughtful read for anyone curious about what we believe — and why.