Summary

In "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife," Mary Roach embarks on a humorous and inquisitive journey to explore the scientific evidence for the existence of the soul and the possibility of life after death. Roach delves into a wide array of topics, from reincarnation and the search for the soul's location within the human body to the peculiar history of ectoplasm and attempts to communicate with the dead through mediums and technology. Her approach is both skeptical and open-minded, as she investigates various claims and experiments, often with amusing and self-deprecating commentary.

The book begins with an exploration of reincarnation, including visits to India to investigate claims of children remembering past lives. Roach examines the methodologies used by researchers like Ian Stevenson and Kirti Rawat, while also acknowledging the challenges and potential biases in this field of study. She delves into the historical and cultural context of reincarnation beliefs, particularly in Hindu traditions, and questions the criteria for validating such claims.

Roach then delves into the history of scientific attempts to locate the soul, from early anatomists dissecting cadavers to the phrenological theories of Franz Joseph Gall. She explores the bizarre world of ectoplasm and the spiritualist movement, as well as the efforts of scientists like Duncan Macdougall to weigh the soul at the moment of death. The author attends a mediumship course at Arthur Findlay College in England and explores electronic voice phenomena, questioning the validity and interpretation of these alleged communications from the dead.

In later chapters, Roach investigates the potential role of electromagnetic fields in hauntings, visiting a laboratory where researchers attempt to induce paranormal experiences in volunteers. She examines various experiments and theories related to infrasound and its effects on the human brain, as well as legal cases where ghosts have played a role. The author shares her experiences with these various paranormal explorations, maintaining a blend of skepticism and curiosity throughout the book. Her journey ultimately leads her to question the boundaries of scientific inquiry and the enduring human fascination with the mysteries of death and the afterlife.