About the author
Joe Nickell is an American investigator and writer long associated with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and its magazine Skeptical Inquirer, where he has worked as a senior research fellow examining paranormal, supernatural, and pseudoscientific claims. Earlier in his career he worked as a stage magician, private investigator, and document examiner, experience he draws on in his investigative writing. His catalogue titles, including The Science of Ghosts, Adventures in Paranormal Investigation, Real-Life X-Files, Entities, and two editions of Secrets of the Supernatural, span several decades of applying forensic and historical methods to reports of ghosts, hauntings, and other unexplained phenomena. Rather than simply affirming or dismissing such claims, Nickell's books typically investigate specific cases and lay out the evidence he finds for mundane or psychological explanations. He is one of the more prominent skeptical investigators writing for a popular audience on these subjects.
📖 Where to start with Joe Nickell
💬 What our editors say about Joe Nickell's books
“Nickell delivers a compelling, no-nonsense examination of ghostly phenomena, effectively stripping away romanticized layers to reveal the underlying psychology and potential for fraud. The systematic approach to scrutinizing…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead
“Nickell delivers a compelling, evidence-based dissection of invisible entities, stripping away mystique to reveal psychological and environmental causes. However, this rigorous skepticism may frustrate readers who seek validation…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Entities
“This text offers a compelling dissection of phenomena often attributed to unseen forces, applying sharp intellect to claims of the inexplicable. While its empirical scrutiny is refreshing for skeptics, it may frustrate readers…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Secrets of the Supernatural
📋 Editions by Joe Nickell in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead | 2012 | Prometheus Books | 416 | 9781616145859 |
| Entities | 1995 | Prometheus Books | 297 | 9780879759612 |
| Secrets of the Supernatural | 1988 | Prometheus Books | 199 | 9780879754617 |
| Secrets of the Supernatural (Revised) | 1991 | Prometheus Books | 199 | 9780879756857 |
| Adventures in Paranormal Investigation | 2007 | University Press of Kentuc | 320 | 9780813124674 |
| Real-Life X-Files | 2001 | University Press of Kentuc | 336 | 9780813122106 |
| American Hauntings: The True Stories behind Hollywood's Scariest | 2015 | Praeger | 192 | 9781440839689 |
