The Ghost Lab - by Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In 2010, in a small New Hampshire town, next door to a copy center and framing shop, a ghost lab opened. The Kitt Research Initiative's mission was to use the scientific method to document the existence of spirits. Founder Andy Kitt was known as a straight-shooter and was unafraid--perhaps eager--to offend other paranormal investigators by exposing the fraudulence of their less advanced techniques. But when KRI started to lose money, Kitt began to seek funding from the paranormal community, attracting flocks of psychics, alien abductees, witches, mediums, ghost hunters, UFOlogists, cryptozoologists, and warlocks from all over New England--and the world. And there were plenty of them around. The Ghost Lab tells the astonishing story of the wild ecosystem of paranormal profiteers and consumers through the astonishing story of what happened in this one small town. But it also maps the trends of declining scientific literacy, trust in institutions, and the diffusion of a culture that has created space for armies of pseudoscientists to step into the minds of an increasingly credulous public. With his distinct voice, eye for a story, and ability to show how one community's experience reflects that of a society, Matt Hongoltz-Hetling crafts a powerful narrative about just how fragmented our understanding of what is real and what is not has become"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A surprising and compelling journey into the business of paranormal investigation, and the state of scientific literacy in America.

In 2010, a sleepy small-town business plaza in rural New Hampshire rented space to an unusual tenant: a ghost laboratory. The Kitt Research Initiative's mission was to use the scientific method to document the existence of spirits. Founder Andy Kitt was known as a straight-shooter; and was unafraid -- perhaps eager -- to offend other paranormal investigators by exposing the fraudulence of their less advanced techniques. Kitt's efforts attracted flocks of psychics, alien abductees, witches, mediums, ghost hunters, UFOlogists, cryptozoologists and warlocks from all over New England, and the world. And there were plenty of them around.

The Ghost Lab tells the astonishing story of the wild ecosystem of paranormal profiteers and consumers. But it also reveals how the twin scourges of declining scientific literacy and eroding trust in institutions have created space for armies of pseudoscientists to step into the minds of an increasingly credulous public.

With his distinct voice, eye for a story and ability to show how one community's experience reflects that of a society, Matt Hongoltz-Hetling crafts a powerful narrative about just how fragmented our understanding of what is real--and what is not--has become.

Review Quotes

"Fascinating." --Booklist

"Hongoltz-Hetling [writes] with a dry and wry sense of humor reminiscent of Mark Twain... But under this gentle rib-poking, he has a serious purpose, namely, to investigate why, in the 21st century, in the wealthiest, most developed country in the history of the world, so many ordinary folk are so utterly lost to science that they devote tremendous energy to readily debunked and debunkable nonsense."

--Kirkus

About the Author

Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling is a freelance journalist specializing in narrative features and investigative reporting. He has been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, won a George Polk Award, and been voted Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press association, among numerous other honors. His work has appeared in Foreign Policy, USA Today, Popular Science, Atavist Magazine, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the Associated Press, and elsewhere. He is the author of two prior books, A Libertarian Walks into a Bear and It Sounds Like a Quack.