With a well-written and clear narrative delivered in layperson’s terms, this book chronicles Dr. Greyson’s incredible quest to learn all he could about near-death experiences, or NDEs...A must read.”
—Library Journal
“Dr. Greyson offers a highly knowledgeable, well-contextualized inquiry. He is not here to convert but to present his findings along with a variety of insights and themes...A bright, passionate journey through murky waters.”
—Kirkus
“From a less authoritative source, these stories could seem mawkish or flaky. Told here with calm precision, and with a conversational flair, they are both absorbing and convincing. With so much evidence available for further investigation, the most vexing question now is not whether life continues in some form after we die, but why mainstream science is so resistant to the idea.”
—The Daily Mail
"Captivating…a major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies."
—Raymond Moody, M.D., Ph.D., bestselling author of Life After Life
"Dr. Greyson’s work has the potential to completely change our fractured and confused world, offering insights that may lead to an explanation of the nature of consciousness."
—Eben Alexander, M.D., bestselling author of Proof of Heaven
"Dr. Greyson brings to near-death experiences what the Kinsey report established for human sexuality."
—Lisa Miller, Ph.D., professor of Psychology and Education, Columbia University, author of The Spiritual Child
"A medical detective story that will grab your heart…We all owe Dr. Greyson thunderous applause."
—P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., author of Near-Death Experiences
"A major international book of lasting value."
—Alexander Batthyány, Ph.D., professor of Philosophy and Psychology, International Academy of Philosophy, Liechtenstein Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute, author of Mind and Its Place in the World
"How can you live NOW without knowing what comes AFTER? You need to read this book."
—Carl Becker, Ph.D., D.Psych., professor of Medical Ethics and Policy Science, Kyoto University, author of Breaking the Circle
"Bridges the gap between science and spirituality with elegance."
—Anita Moorjani, bestselling author of Dying to Be Me
"Provides hope to the dying and comfort to those left behind."
—Mary Neal, M.D., former Director of Spinal Surgery, University of Southern California, bestselling author of To Heaven and Back
"This book will define near-death research. It will change the way we live our lives."
—Barbara Bradley Hagerty, M.L.S., NPR Religion Correspondent, author of Fingerprints of God
"Loaded with fresh, exciting, and enormously valuable new understandings."
—Jeffrey Long, M.D., bestselling author of Evidence of the Afterlife
"Both inspiring and deeply personal...a book to savor."
—Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Psychology, University of Connecticut, author of Life at Death
"Engaging, appealing, and thoroughly informative…an absolute must-read."
—Sam Parnia, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine and Director of Critical Care & Resuscitation Research, New York University Langone Medical Center, author of What Happens When We Die?
"This book will change the consciousness of many readers in a very positive way."
—Pim van Lommel, M.D., author of Consciousness Beyond Life
"Dr. Greyson’s masterful intellect and laser-sharp focus on scientific rigor make his research recorded in this book virtually irreplaceable."
—Michael B. Sabom, M.D., author of Recollections of Death
"Dr. Greyson takes us on a fabulous tour of near-death experiences in a completely new and engaging way…A must-read for anyone regardless of their religious, spiritual, or scientific background."
—Andrew Newberg, M.D., professor of Emergency Medicine and Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, author of The Mystical Mind
"Dr. Greyson is both a scientific and medical expert on NDEs and the nature of the mind, and a practicing healer, a psychiatrist who knows how to help people understand and learn from unusual experiences rather than dismissing them as ‘crazy.’"
—Charles Tart, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Psychology, University of California, Davis, author of States of Consciousness
01/01/2021
With a well-written and clear narrative delivered in layperson's terms, this book chronicles Dr. Greyson's incredible quest to learn all he could about near-death experiences, or NDEs. He begins by telling readers of his pragmatic upbringing and how his skepticism fueled his need to study all he could. He presents many firsthand examples of his "Experiencers" episodes, telling his audience how these NDEs were transformative for every Experiencer and how the event not only affected how they felt about dying but also changed their view on living. He also states that 10 percent of people will have an NDE so there is no way to tell who will or won't have one, and that NDEs have become much more socially acceptable and an Experiencer today would be much less likely to be offered counseling as in the past. He also tells readers how his title reflects the mixed focus of not only life after death but also life after an NDE. VERDICT This book is educational and informative. Both professional and fans of nonfiction books on NDEs will find this important work a must read.—Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City-Cty. Lib. Dist., St. Peters, MO
2020-12-31
A renowned psychiatrist chronicles decades of scientific study of near-death experiences.
Greyson, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, draws on a lifetime of direct, evidence-based investigation into NDEs. As such, he offers a highly knowledgeable, well-contextualized inquiry. He is not here to convert but to present his findings along with a variety of insights and themes. He recounts his earliest introduction to NDEs and how he assembled the raw data into hypotheses and discusses the tricky application of practical research questions and protocols to such an amorphous, slippery concept. Greyson presents dozens of illustrative stories—much of the book’s pleasure derives from the author’s concise yet descriptive storytelling—and then tallies a number of distinctive qualities. For example, NDEs are common, typically lead to profound aftereffects (their transformative power is mostly, but not always, positive), reduce fear of death, and amplify one’s focus on living in the moment. Of paramount interest to Greyson is the information that NDEs provide regarding the mind-body problem and “the question of whether our consciousness might be able to continue beyond death.” Ever the scientist, the author is quick to situate his findings as “repeated assessments by experiencers and other researchers” aided by “statistical analyses.” Greyson’s enthusiasm is palpable, but he is always grounded in scientific observation, making conclusions based on where the research leads. “NDEs may be triggered by electrical or chemical changes in the brain that permit the mind to experience separating from the body at the moment of death,” he writes. “There is no inherent conflict between a physical and nonphysical understanding of NDEs….It’s like saying my desk is mahogany—a physical description—and that my desk is a legacy from my grandfather—a nonphysical one. They are both correct, but neither by itself gives a complete description of the desk.”
A bright, passionate journey through murky waters.
