Ghosts: Appearances of the Dead & Cultural Transformation

Rating:
Summary: Very Thorough Accounting of Cultural Phenomenae
Review: This is perhaps the most exhaustive, scholarly account of ghosts yet written. In a meticulous (yet somewhat dry) style, Finucane makes a strong argument that ghosts - as we know them - are psychological and cultural expressions, much like our art. Finucane does not try to "debunk" the existence of ghosts; rather, he gives lucid examples of how apparitions (and our perceptions of them) have evolved as mankind has evolved.Though his writing is a bit stodgy, Finucane's book is nevertheless compelling reading for anyone with a more-than-passing interest in ghosts and other cultural phenmenon. Well worth the read.