Review: Spooky Science breaks down the paranormal with brains and bite

Where was this book when I was writing?

Of course, Spooky Science: Dissecting the Mysteries of Ghosts, Cryptids, Aliens and Other Oddities was likely already in production, with authors Meagan Ankney and Paige Miller grinding through hard edits, copy edits, proofs and final pass-throughs.

I should know — I’ve been doing the same for my own book, Eerie Whispers: Canada’s Reluctant Relationship with Its Ghostly Lore, since September 2023. And let me tell you, it’s a slow grind to the old printing press.

But regardless of the long walk from idea to bookstore shelf, I wish this had been on my reading list during the writing process. Let’s cut to the chase.

This book is exactly what I love to see: a casual debunking of the low-hanging fruit, plus a deeper dive into the bigger conversations — things like the tools of the trade, as well as explanations for supernatural goings-on: apophenia, pareidolia, inattentional blindness and carbon monoxide poisoning.

With the ease of a spirit walking through walls, Ankney — a geologist by training and chemist by trade — and Miller — a chemist turned safety professional — press their heads together to explain basic science fundamentals. For more of their exploits, take a boo at their podcast, Spooky Science Sisters.

Given their professions, it’s no surprise that carbon monoxide poisoning is mentioned multiple times in the book as an explanation for the uncanny.

Invisible vapours aside, Spooky Science is a must-read for those who like to dance with skepticism — and even for those who don’t. It offers up those inconvenient facts that true believers often rail against. But Ankney and Miller don’t dish it out maliciously. The information is simply presented matter-of-fact.

They’re also upfront about being fans of the paranormal, having been raised on 1990s fare like The X-Files. I mean, what Gen-Xer or early Millennial didn’t grow up soaking in the glut of supernatural pop culture that flooded the ’80s and early ’90s?

Beyond the social science of thinly disguised anthropology, the highlight for me is their focus on the scientific method. It’s essential reading — a clear, accessible breakdown of how modern science can (and should) be applied to paranormal investigation. Because academia has largely snubbed the pseudosciences, the field has become more democratized, with non-scientists leading the charge.

A big chunk of the book — and of the scientific method itself — is dedicated to ghosts, which suits my own proclivities just fine. Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to it. The information is served up in bite-sized pieces, forming a kind of macabre quilt, stitched together with curio-shop-inspired illustrations.

That’s another thing I loved. Quarto’s imprint, Wellfleet Press, consistently turns out vividly designed books. Creepy Campfire Stories, Tales From the Whispering Woods and Freaky Folklore all share that high-quality visual style. Props to interior design artist for Spooky Science, Maeve Bargman, for the rich, detailed illustrations within the thick paper over board format.

Now, I’m not usually one for podcasts. I’d rather listen to music — musicophile, right here — than people yammering on. But Spooky Science Sisters is going on my playlist after reading this book.

Spooky Science officially hits shelves June 24 — though oddly enough, I spotted it early at the Eaton Centre Indigo in Toronto.