Pennsylvania

by Douglas L. Root, Jerry Irwin (Photographer)

Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Compass Pennsylvania covers everything there is to see and do -- plus gorgeous full-color photographs; a wealth of archival images; topical essays and literary extracts; detailed color maps; and capsule reviews of hotels and restaurants. These insider guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of Pennsylvania.

Genres: Travel, Reference

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2000

Reviews

[NoScreenName · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a lovely autistic bender I fell down the rabbit hole of exorcisms after watching the movie 'Nefarious' , a stellar movie that I very much recommend to kick start your All Things Exorcist reading.

Malachi Martin was an erudite Jesuit and an experienced exorcist. Check out his interviews on YouTube for more stories they're full of fascinating information. Father Martin died years ago but left behind a quite a legacy. Even if you aren't facing spiritual issues (and really the likelihood you will be possessed is technically low) a lot of people face spiritual oppression and don't even realize it. All of the people profiled are otherwise unremarkable, yet they became possessed. Martin detailed the things that the people did that put them in spiritual peril and it's riveting.

As always, the case studies he included were thorough. Per the Vatican's strict rules, anyone seeking an exorcism undergoes a thorough psychological evaluation by doctors. Physical screenings are next, ruling out any physiological causes of ailments. Finally, the exorcism can begin. And no, it's not exactly like the famous William Friedkin directed movie. That's what makes these case studies so compelling. Several of the people were 'perfectly possessed'; they were virtually undetectable to most people. Really spooky but I love that- an excellent read. Definitely recommend this book. It's about 500 pages and I still finished it in a few days.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well documented but weird. I definitely believe in the demonic, have had encounters with it, and know very trusted people who have also experienced it. But this book felt like it was popularizing and mythologizing - embellishing certain aspects. That said, if the accounts are recorded as said in the book, maybe I’m wrong.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and artwork with a nice emphasis on history. Precious little detail on operating hours and fees for attractions, though, and an extreme reluctance to use websites, preferring telephone numbers instead.

Worth it for the history and pictures but not useful as the sole source for trip planning.