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Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures | 
 enlarge | Author: Loren Coleman
Publisher: Paraview Pocket Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
Buy New: $8.17
You Save: $5.83 (42%)
New (25) Used (11) from $7.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 94094
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 1416527362
Dewey Decimal Number: 001
EAN: 9781416527367
ASIN: 1416527362
Publication Date: April 24, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
Bestselling author and noted cryptozoologist Loren Coleman set out on the ultimate mission: to uncover the fun and intriguing phenomena that exist right here in the United States. In Mysterious America, a fun and compulsively readable guidebook to America's most popular local legends, he prepares readers for their own adventure -- where to find the unbelievable spectacles on their journey, including: - Phantom panthers haunting eastern North America
- Bay State ghosts and spirits
- Mad gassers in Illinois
- Champ, the famous Lake Champlain monster
- The Minnesota Iceman
- The Missouri Momo and the infamous Eastern Bigfoot
- And many more!
Coleman's witty insight and astonishing experiences will captivate followers of Charles Fort and just-plain-curious readers alike. For, as Coleman frankly reveals, these strange creatures and unimaginable wonders may lie just beyond your own backyard....
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Clearly written, atmospheric... but not necessarily persuasive November 12, 2008
I'll confess I love reading purportedly true stories of cryptozoology and the paranormal, despite the fact I generally doubt the claims being set forth. Loren Coleman, the author of "Mysterious America," has a gift for presenting his case histories clearly and with a certain atmosphere that makes for entertaining reading, whether or not you give credence to his claims. The one thing you can believe without reservation is that "Mysterious America" is a fun book, sure to please those looking for a shiver and a taste of the mysterious.
 It ISN'T a collection of accounts August 25, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Not a collection of UFO/Bigfoot sightings & accounts, as suggested in its summaries.
Actually, a kind of travalogue, of allegedly paranormal sites.
The concept seems to be: "if you're on vacation, go visit Bigfoot!"
Problem is, most of the events in the book allegedly took place 20-30 years ago. It's more like: "go visit a place where Bigfoot may or may not have taken a dump years before your birth." And others are paved over. Or have a subdivision built on top of them (so sayth Google Maps). Go stare at a parking lot...great way to spend your vacation. NOT!
BTW-- I looked on Google Maps. One of the alleged paranormal event areas now has a fried chicken stand on it. Maybe the Colonel is part of a conspiracy.... :D
 Not what I expected August 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
When buying this book I was in the mind frame that this would be the ultimate guide to North American cryptid animals but upon finishing it found it a bit disappointing. While it is an entertaining book it is mostly just a compilation of strange stories and encounters. The book never goes deeply into any hard evidence; something that for myself is very important. For example; I would rather see a hard look at the Patterson/Gimlin sasquatch footage of 1967 than read about encounters people claim to have had with the creature. Also with 80% of the book devoted to cryptozoology I was surprised to see chapters on subjects such as "Springheel Jack" and "Phantom Clowns", they just didn't seem to fit into the general theme of the book and honestly I would have rather seen those chapters devoted to more cryptid animals instead. A couple positive things about the book is that it does touch on the possible origins of some of these creatures, though still not as much as I would have liked. It also has a great appendix section in the back with lists regarding various encounters around the country. Its certainly not a bad book, just not what I was looking for. If what I just described piques your interest by all means check it out. If you're looking for a deeper scientific look at the subject then move on to something else.
 It's a lively, fun read a wide audience will find compelling. January 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
MYSTERIOUS AMERICA: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE NATION'S WEIRDEST WONDERS, STRANGEST SPOTS, AND CREEPIEST CREATURES recommended for both general-interest and American history libraries. It focuses on the unexpected in American history, covering such stuff of legends as the Minnesota Iceman, Lake Champlain monster, phantom panthers in eastern North America, and more. It's a lively, fun read a wide audience will find compelling.
terrible "research" September 13, 2007
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
I read just one chapter: "The Dover Demon"! Loren's credulity in light of an obvious childish prank points to the problem with human nature---one of extreme gullability. Remember when an expert zoologist (Ivan T. Sanderson whom this author holds in high esteem) believed he had seen huge prints of a as-yet-undiscovered giant penguin? Who felt like the penguin then, when the hoax was uncovered and the media had a field day. Wouldn't a properly educated zoologist have questioned these findings just on account of avian evolutionary theory? Loren's book is aweful for the same reason. The gullability meter really gets stretched here; The "giant" bird that lifted up Marlon Lowe? Obviously by the description of the bird by the parents and child, with the "white-furred ring" around the "naked" neck(which obviously describes a condor or African vulture)and the "curved beak", the only interpretation is that our common culture has repeatedly used this vision of what a giant bird should look like. That this isn't obvious to the investigator who should be a little more skeptical, bodes poorly for "Fortean" studies. If Loren Coleman wanted to write a "tongue-in-cheek" guide, then I would've appreciated the sarcasm and humor in it, probably ranking the book four stars. As it stands, the book poses as a serious study of mysteries surrounding North America, most of which have already been debunked by more enlightened researchers. The fact that it was not catalogued under the "Humor" section of my local bookstore disappoints me.
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