Almanac of the Uncanny

by Hilary Evans

Ghosts, witches, monsters and miracles - for centuries people have wondered at so many unexplained phenomena in the world around us. How did early humans view life after death? Is the concept of mind over matter a real possibility? Have UFOs visited our planet? In the Almanac of the Uncanny more than 500 illustrated stories take you back in time to be entertained and intrigued by mysteries from the earliest recorded time to the present. Thoroughly researched by experts, and including the latest findings, this unique volume gives a compelling account of realms as yet not fully explained.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Supernatural, Paranormal

464 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jigar Brahmbhatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the finest on parapsychology. Well researched and with awesome pics. Used to read it with a few friends (who are lazy enough to be on goodreads) a night before exams, on our hostel terrace, under the cover of moonlit nights. It has myths, legends, supernatural tales, unexplained mysteries! This is the kind of book that grows on you at a certain age, fuels your imagination, and later you find it unreal.

I own a well-cared-for hardcover copy, with lovely binding, that waits in the bookcase of my good old bedroom in my parents' house. I like to skim through it every time I visit my people back home; just to get the thrill of bygone days. It makes me realize how much I've changed - as a reader and otherwise.

[Solaris Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The almanac that started it all, my passion for the occult, my love for the morbid, my connection with death, and my journey in witchcraft, i used to read this book as a child with my sister, growing up in a Christian household it was considered "satanic" so I hid it under my pillow and read it at night, with every little story and documentation pulling me more and more into the love I have for all things uncanny

Its a great book, it helped me alot, i could always escape to my world of magic, rituals and mythical creatures i loved this book
Everyone should read it once in their lives

[Arthur Cravan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shaped my childhood. I don't know if it would have anywhere near the same impact if I were to find it today, but I read this every time I visited my grandparents house from ages of, say, 8-13. The tales & pictures are all burned into my subconscious to this day, & whether or not it's all true (lol no really, some of the stuff in there IS true. Obviously the less creepy numbers), it gives so much food for horror-fantasy thought that I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good scary story. That MAY be true.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting read in Portuguese ( English version is almanac of the uncanny) published by reader,'s digest about strange things like the pyramids, monoliths, werewolves, UFO, wizards and other strange things. pretty good but not to read in one go. with a lot of pictures and drawings.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como ya he mencionado varias veces, soy una junkie de las cosas de miedo (obviamente tengo mis criterios de selección sobre que me gusta y que no pero eso es otra historia). Cuando mi madre me consiguió este libro, primero lo vi con escepticismo porque en mi pequeña y cerrada mente de niña-adolescente, me parecía un libro “demasiado científico” y que trataba de desmitificar todo aquello que tanto me emocionaba. Quiero aclarar que en ese momento ni siquiera lo había abierto. No pude estar más equivocada.

Aunque el libro en si no es una antología de historias de miedo, es una recopilación de misterios inexplicables de diferentes épocas (casi desde el origen de la humanidad) y de muchos muchísimos temas diferentes que van desde lo más “común” como brujas, vampiros y fantasmas hasta cosas no tan típicas como nubes que desaparecen o dopplegangers. Con este libro me enteré de historias/notas misterios que yo no conocía y que hicieron que se me pusiera la piel de gallina. Cabe aclarar que no necesariamente todos los misterios son de miedo, simplemente son cosas inexplicables. Está lleno de ilustraciones que complementan muy bien el texto.

No lo recomiendo como una lectura de corrido (aunque lo pueden hacer así si quieren) porque son muchíiiiisimos misterios; yo solía leer uno o dos docenas entre un libro y otro o cuando era víctima de la brutal e implacable crisis del lector y me ayudaba a salir del trance.

Es un libro entretenido que te lleva de la mano por todo cuanto nos es desconocido y lo que resulta inexplicable en el mundo (a veces hasta en el universo) y la historia.

[Tania Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love any kind of anthology on the unexplained.
Does anything fire the imagination more than pondering the mysteries of the supernatural, or strange events from history? Reader's Digest's "Almanac of the Uncanny" really ticks all the boxes, offering scintillating snippets on a bewilderingly large variety of mysteries from all periods of history and diverse parts of the world.
Sure the usual suspects are covered (The Mary Celeste, Kaspar Hauser, Stonehenge, etc), but the "Almanac of the Uncanny" also ventures into some fascinating areas I hadn't heard about before. Did you know that some people who reach 100 years of age grow a third set of teeth and may find their white hair returning to its original colour (p.211) ? Or that Abraham Lincoln predicted his own death? What's wonderful about this book is that it is just so crammed full of fascinating tidbits. It's the kind of book that's delightful to dip into when you don't feel like reading anything too long and involved. It is also not afraid to debunk or take a sceptical view to some of the more outlandish stories it presents.
My only complaint? The entries are so brief you are often left wanting more information. Still as a starting point for thinking, researching or just dreaming up your own mysterious stories, it's pretty good value.

[Maik Civeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepárense para un shock. Se trata de la enciclopedia más completa de asuntos paranormales y esotéricos: ufología, criptozoología, hadas, brujería, monstruos, leyendas, demonios, fantasmas, extrañas coincidencias, misterios sin resolver... todo desde la época de las cavernas hasta nuestros días. El libro agudizó mi problema de terrores nocturnos, pero no podía dejar de leer y releer algunos pasajes. Tales historias me impactaron tanto, que aún las uso para mi creación literaria. Desde luego, hoy ya no creo en tales magufadas, pero en ese entonces el librejo me ayudó a desarrollar la imaginación.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collective about mythology, magic, folklore, religion and the supernatural throughout history. I loved so many parts of this book, especially about exorcism, the fae, vampires, omens, and curses.
These pages are dense but the illustrations and pictures are so beautiful. Definitely not portable though, those 464 pages are HEAVY heavy. The index at the back is also very handy to return to sections. It took me from 14th July to the 6th September to finish this book!

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's wonderful look into belief systems around the globe and also looks into the supernatural, the occult, the unexplained phenomenons, the unknown.

[Zuza Fabijańska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every little article of it!

[Cursed Herondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a long time ago when I was still in 5th grade. One of those books that made me love reading, my interest in the supernatural and love for Fantasy, myths, and folkore started here.

[Riza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this before from cover to cover because i was able to borrow it from someone and i wanted to read it again. ^_^

[Deaniece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining. Some things you just can't explain.

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. It has legends, myths, historic facts and mysteries. Always the mysteries! Liked it.

[Jazelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book with lots of spooky pictures and good write-ups on creepy happenings/events/people.

A definite must-read for people interested in horror or the occult.