I Am Haunted, Living Life Through the Dead (Book)
Written by Kelly Crigger and Zak Bagans
Published by Victory Belt Publishing
272 Pages
For the last seven years Zak Bagans has both terrified and entertained viewers with his television show “Ghost Adventures” on Travel Channel. Over the years Bagans and company have evolved in their methods of presenting proof of the paranormal. In Season One Zak was brash and bold, tempting whatever lurked in the darkness to come out and show itself. Since then he’s become a lot more respectful of the things in this world that simply cannot be explained away by conventional means. One may say he’s been both tortured and humbled, but one thing remains the same… he’s curious. And so he shall remain.
In 2007 he penned his first book along with co-author Kelly Crigger, Dark World: Into the Shadows with the Lead Investigator of the Ghost Adventures Crew. The book was a tell-all of sorts regarding how this craziness has translated into his life and then onto the screen. Now, years later, he and Crigger are back with I Am Haunted, Living Life Through the Dead, a very different book from a very different Zak Bagans.
Much like many celebs, there are two sides to Bagans: one that’s presented to the public and one that’s very human, personal and vulnerable. I Am Haunted focuses on the latter and the chaos Bagans has invited into his life doing what he does for a living. No matter what your opinion of Bagans is, or whether you believe in the paranormal or not, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Here’s a guy who constantly goes into some of the scariest places on the planet to poke around in the dark. Places you, me, or any rational person wouldn’t dare to visit no matter how much our bravado and hubris bitches to the contrary. For that reason alone you know that this is a guy with many tales to tell, and that makes for a compelling read that’s over before you know it.
Fans of the show will get a chance to know the more intimate side of Zak and who he is as a person as well as his relationship with his crew, especially Aaron Goodwin, whom he states is like a brother to him. You’ll also learn how he came to work with new show regulars Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley, who have each brought their own unique skill sets to “Ghost Adventures,” thereby keeping the investigations fresh and the tone of the show interesting.
I Am Haunted takes a good hard look at what goes into the “Ghost Adventures” investigations, the tools which are needed, as well as the sensibilities behind dealing with the paranormal. It’s also a very personal account of celebrity and religion that asks way more questions than it does provide answers… questions that Bagans is actively seeking the answers to and the frustrations that grow out of never really knowing or finding what he’s looking for.
The book is packed with lots of candid and not-so-candid shots, many of which have never been seen before, an account of his decision to purchase the famed “Demon House,” and an exploration of many of the truly psychotic places he and his crew have visited over the years including The St. James Hotel, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, and much more. There’s also a chapter on dolls. Zak just loves dolls.
Bagans is a man who has literally found his way in life by exploring death and the lessons he’s learned, some the extremely hard way, while doing so. Spending so much time in the darkness can have a profound effect on a person, and with I Am Haunted, Living Life Through the Dead, Zak is not afraid to shed some light on that side of himself.
This is a gift for fans, but whether you are one or not, there’s no denying that this book is a cover-to-cover page-turner that’s funny, frightening, and at times deeply touching. I Am Haunted is not to be missed.
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