Book Reviews
& Thesis Papers
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 It's finally here! And thanks to the NDErs who made this possible, the book you've all been waiting for! Dr. Jeff Long and Paul Perry have teamed up to write this blockbuster book headed for number one! Click here for more information! "Evidence of the Afterlife" presents evidence of an afterlife and shares firsthand accounts of those people who have died and lived to tell about it. Through their work at the Near Death Experience Research Foundation, radiation oncologist Jeffrey Long and his wife Jody have gathered thousands of accounts of near death experiences (NDE) from all over the world. In addition to sharing the personal narrative of their experience, visitors to the website are asked to fill out a 100 item questionnaire designed to isolate specific elements of the experience and to red flag counterfeit accounts. Currently the database contains over 2000 legitimate NDE accounts, far more than any other NDE research database in the world. The people whose stories are captured in the database span all age groups, races, and religious affiliations and come from all over the world, yet the similarities in their stories are as awe-inspiring as they are inexplicable. |
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Dr. KENNETH RING
Dear
Web site friends, I've just written a little article called "The Greatest Gift" intended for hospice-oriented
publications. However, if any of you would like to put it up on
your Web site, you certainly have my permission, which I am giving here on a
non-exclusive basis. The only request I would make is that if you do decide to make use of it, that you let me know. Thank you, and all the best.
Article follows below.
Ken
Ring
 Life at Death
by Dr. Kenneth Ring. A Study on Suicide Click here for Article.
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 The
Bartholomew Effect
Author Larry Vorwerk
writes about his personal awakening, “Oneness develops more through
spiritual maturity and a sincere readiness to explore a deeper
purpose...” More than a book of experiences, The
Bartholomew Effect: Awakening to Oneness becomes a foundation
for “Oneness in Action.” Not only will you discover your purpose and
how you are connected in love to all living things, you will want to
share your newfound awareness with others. The simple, yet profound
act of sharing lets you see Oneness even more clearly and deepens
your relationship with the Divine.
I have had other multidimensional
experiences that would probably be somewhat similar to NDEs. These
include experiences of Oneness, and life after life, (meaning life
after being in the cycle of being human.) I describe them in my new
book: "The Bartholomew Effect: Awakening to Oneness" where you can
read more about them at my website:
www.awakeningtooneness.com.
Life After Death: A Study of the Afterlife in World Religions - By Farnaz Masumian, a professor who teaches about World Religions at the University of Texas at Austin. One of the most important features of the book is that, in discussing afterlife, she quotes "chapter and verse" from the sacred texts of each religion. Each chapter focusing on a religion includes the major writings of the religion, the primary concepts that relate to afterlife, the influence and/or similarities of that religion in relationship to other religions.
Near Death Experiences, the Unsolved Mystery, by Lisa McCormick. 1/8/09 Now on sale at Amazon.com Click here. This is a children's NDE book that does a very good job of taking a complex subject and explaining it so that a child can understand it. 22 Books from India, with Indian perspectives on life, death, death with dignity, reincarnation, and many that are scientific presentations.
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 Courageous
Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?
by Robert Schwartz.
The serene cover
of Courageous Souls belies the punch with which Robert Schwartz
communicates the results of his research into pre-birth planning.
Working with four experienced channelers, he asked 10 people, each
facing different challenges . . . to delve into the reasons why they
agreed, before birth, to put themselves in such difficult
situations. Each entry begins with an interview in which the person
s story is told from his or her point-of-view. Information via a
medium is used to provide insight and sometimes actual pre-birth
conversations about the goals or life lessons desired, contributing
past-life factors, and the people who contracted to play major roles
in the person s present incarnation. Moving us away from the idea of
karma as punishment, Schwartz introduces the idea of learning
through contrast, for instance, a soul wishing to fully experience
her or his compassionate side might choose to be born into a family
that lacks compassion. In addition to the considerable wisdom
provided from the spirit side, Schwartz writes a summary at the end
of each chapter in which he adds some of his own insight garnered
during years of metaphysical study. Overall, it is one of the best
books of this kind I have come across. --Anna Jedrziewski, New Age
Retailer Magazine Go to Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Souls-Challenges-Before-Birth/dp/0977679454/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210430296&sr=8-1
Life after Death by Alan Bryson. A reader made me aware of your amazing website and suggested I contact you. In 1993 I wrote a book entitled, "Light After Death" that explores the uncanny similarities of the NDE and the teachings of the Baha'i Faith on life after death. The hardcover was reprinted and two revised paperback editions were published in 1997 and 2003. All my royalties are donated to charity, so this isn't about commerce. In fact, I have a free online version of the book http://home.arcor.de/unity9/LightAfterDeath.html I noticed on your site that you have some quotations from the Baha'i Writings and also mention the Baha'i book, "Thief in the Night". Click here to go to Amazon.com
Love Lives On: Learning from the Extraordinary Encounters of the Bereaved,
by Lou E. LaGrand
Almost everyone who has lost
a loved one has had the inexplicable feeling that the deceased
was somehow present. This is normal for grieving individuals-and
a sign that our loved ones never truly leave us.
 BEYOND
THE TUNNEL: A DEATH EXPERIENCE by Suzanne Boehm.
It is my sincere
hope to be able to help strengthen others' spirituality by
expanding their knowledge of the Creator's Divine Love.
LOVE IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING!
The Gift: ESP--The Extraordinary Experiences of Ordinary People, Michael Schmicker, the author of the book
Best Evidence has teamed up with with clinical psychologist Dr. Sally Rhine Feather of the Rhine Research Center. You may have heard of Dr. Feather who is a member of the Parapsychological Association. Her father, Dr. J.B. Rhine, pioneered the testing of ESP in the laboratory back in the 1930s, and founded the
Journal of
Parapsychology.
KNOWING IS BETTER THAN WONDERING, by J. Steve Dawson The new e book "KNOWING IS BETTER THAN WONDERING" is a personal account of the Author's wife's unusual experience. The book describes in vivid detail the "visitation" by three spirits to Debra Dawson. She had planned on spending a quiet evening at home in front of the television with her husband, the author, when the most remarkable event of her life took place. She was visited by three spirits. The spirit of her grandmother, grandfather and father-in-law came to visit her. Mrs. Dawson was not having a near death experience. Yet, she saw the "light" and the witnessed the hidden properties of the "light." Many people have reported seeing the "light." However, what has been previously unknown to the world about the "light" was revealed to her that evening and now you can share her extraordinary experience.
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| 1. Beyond the Light What Isn’t Being Said About Near-Death Experience, by PMH Atwater. In this book, Ms. Atwater reveals that she herself is a survivor of three near-death experiences where she almost died but then was resuscitated. She presents the typical scenario of a near-death experience, which is of a pleasant nature. She presents the hellish near-death experience. In addition, she also presents information on how a person who has experienced a near-death experience can better facilitate their recovery. She presents information on how to get in contact with others who have had the same experiences, what types of foods and medicines to look into for health care issues of near-death experiencers, and who to contact to talk about the puzzling issues that face survivors of near-death experiences. | 2. Closer to the Light, by Melvin Morse, MD and Paul Perry Dr. Morse reports on the experiences of near-death experiences. He also reports on his own experiences of having dreamed that his father had something to tell him, calling his mother, and finding out his father had just died. Other things presented in this book are: an explanation of what got him interested in studying near-death phenomena, his first experience with near-death experience with a patient of his in Seattle, reports of patient’s families that experienced their children telling them of their death and of the happiness that they were experiencing in heaven, how near-death experiences differ from drug reaction or reactions to lack of oxygen in the blood, and first hand accounts of patients experiences that lead the researcher to come up with a commonly reported phenomena of near-death experience. |
| 3. Where God Lives by Melvin Morse, MD and Paul Perry Dr. Morse had a young patient who asked him, “what are near death experiences good for anyway?” This was the catalyst for this book. He covers many topics related to the near death experience. He looks at the children that he has treated over the years and finds commonalities among those that have had near-death experiences. He looks at healing and the different avenues patients take in curing themselves of terminal diseases. He looks at spirituality and identifies belief in a master source of goodness in the universe. He looks at what the skeptics are saying about near-death experience and give his scientific views on how the skeptics are missing the boat. Brain research is presented in terms of what areas of the brain are involved in experiencing the near-death experience and how are they changed as a result of the experience. | 4. Parting Visions Uses and Meanings of Pre-Death, Psychic, and Spiritual Experiences by Melvin Morse M.D. and Paul Perry In this book, Dr. Morse reports on experiences considered by some to be “mystical” in nature. He reports on dreams that patients have had that have foretold their deaths to themselves and family. He tells of near-death experiences where the experiencer actually meets long-ago-deceased family members and then come back with verifiable detail to support their case. He also reports on cases of SIDS and how, often, the mother or father will have a “feeling” or “dream” that tells them that the infant is going to die even before it happens. Most importantly, Dr. Morse presents ways to make the end of a loved-ones life full of dignity and love rather than full of doubt and shame. |
| 5. The Burning Within, by Ranelle Wallace and Curtis Taylor This book presents the story of Ms. Wallace who was in an airplane accident. She died while on the way to the hospital as the result of terrible burns over a substantial amount of her body. She was then resuscitated by medical personnel and against high odds against her survival, survived her injuries. This book describes her accident, recovery and life after the accident in terms of dealing with disfiguring injuries and the aftermath of a near-death experience. She tells this story in terms of her own reactions, her family’s reactions and the general community around her. | 6. Embraced by the light by Betty Eadie Ms. Eadie strives to present accounts of her life before, during and after her near-death experience. The account of Ms. Eadie’s experience of what life is like after death is particularly vivid and involved. She seems to have come back to life with much detail about the after-life. What her experiences endeavor to teach the reader is that there is an afterlife and a reason why Ms. Eadie was resuscitated: to share the word of the beings in the afterlife about the love that connects all in this physical existence and the afterlife. |
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7. After the Light by Kimberly Clark Sharp Ms. Clark Sharp had an extraordinary near-death experience that lead her whole life in another direction. In addition to all of the personal effects of the near-death experience, Ms. Clark Sharp has also had professional triumphs. She has developed educational materials for medical professionals who deal with people who have near-death experiences. She describes in detail some of the patients she personally has encountered and how they have dealt with the after math of their near-death experience. |
8. NDE in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest (Study Published in The Lancet) by Pim van Lommel A longitudinal study that met and interviewed willing patients at as immediately after the near-death experience as possible (this varied with the health issues of each patient being slightly different), 2 years after their near-death experience, and 8 years after their near-death experience. Patients were administered questionnaires that assessed how their lives had changed as a result of the near-death experience. This was called the Life-Change Inventory. They were also classified as to whether their near-death experience had been superficial (core) or deep by having the patient’s rate on a likert scale how much they remembered about the near-death experience and this denoted for the researchers how “deep” the near-death experience was for the experiencer. |
| 9. Supporting NDE in the Health Care Setting by Pam Kircher MD Eight million Americans have experienced near-death as the result of medical emergencies. This is due in part to medical technology that is becoming more able to resuscitate patients after a clinical death. Doctors and nurses are becoming more aware of this phenomenon because people are becoming more and more willing to share their experiences. Near-death experiences are not gender-related or age related. The purpose of this presentation is to educate medical professionals about how to deal with patients who experience near-death to make it easier for the patient and his support system to deal with the information. |
10. Helping patients who've had near-death by Diane Corcoran RN, PhD Dr. Corcoran presents ways in which medical professionals can help near-death experiencers deal with the aftermath of this experience as well as information about the commonalities of near-death experiences. Common questions are answered in this journal article on the near-death experience phenomenon. |
| 11. Supporting your patient after a near-death experience by Wimbus, Frances B., R.N., PhD. Hardie, Thomas, R.N., EdD, & Hayes, Evelyn, R.N., PhD. The researchers of this journal article present ways in which medical professionals can help near-death experiencers deal with the aftermath of this experience as well as information about the commonalities of near-death experiences. They present valuable information about how to support the patient during the medical crisis and after as well as first-hand reports of the patients that they have encountered that have had near-death experiences. The major suggestions of the article for professionals contained in the article are numerous. Suggestions of how to talk to the patient without pushing are presented. Documenting the experience in some way is suggested for the medical professional as this helps all involved with the patient to better understand what they are going through. All of these suggestions come together to impart better care for the patient in a holistic sense. | 12. Our tiniest near-death experiencers: startling evidence suggestive of a brain shift by PMH Atwater Ms. Atwater reviewed the experiences that children have as the result of near-death experiences. She had previously found that children did not experience unpleasant near-death experiences. In this group, she found that although uncommon, some of these children had experienced unpleasant near-death experiences. The children had experienced their near-death experience prior to the age of six in most cases. Gender did not seem to influence the experience of near-death. All of the children seemed to experience intellect enhancement as a result of the near-death experience. It seems that it took the children studies on average seven years to be able to integrate their near-death experience fully into every day life and attitudes. Very few of the children required psychological help in dealing with their near-death experiences. |
| 12. Near-death experiences in children by PMH Atwater Ms. Atwater describes near-death experiences of children and adults of different races and identities. She then compares and contrasts this data. She also mentions some other studies that are good descriptions of the phenomena of near-death experience. She presents a case study of a woman who had a near-death experience at the age of nine days. |
12 alternative explanations by J. Isamu Yamoto Exploration of the near-death phenomena is presented as an event that needs further study. Medical explanations are presented along with explanations that believers in near-death phenomena have explained. Medical professionals see the drugs as the cause of these effects. Near-death experiencers see the event of near-death as the cause of the experience and not the drugs. The article concludes that the near-death reports can only be accepted as much as they agree with the Bible. |
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Summary on the inside page, "A soldier's story of his near-death experience in Vietnam and the insights and lessons learned from his excursion into a dimension of enlightenment." One day about a year and a half ago, I met Bill in person. I was astounded by the warmth in his handshake and the spirit in his eyes. For a moment, time stopped; so I could truly appreciate what a gift Bill was to the human race. Spirit told him to speak, to tell the story. Remarkably, despite having no vocal chords, Bill does tell his story. This book truly an inspirational story from a "living, breathing, miracle." - Jody
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Bernard Lewis is Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of dozens of books on the Middle East, including "What Went Wrong?" and his latest book, "The Crisis of Islam," published in 2003, delves deeper into the frustration and anger in some Islamic minds against the West and its modern ways. |
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Oh
Sane and Sacred Death,
by
Louise Ireland-Frey, M.D.,
Book review by
Edward Salisbury, IANDS, 7/3/02 |
Blessings
in Disguise: Another Side of the Near-Death Experience
by Barbara Rommer, M.D.
An outstanding book devoted to
understanding experiences that are frightening. Please click above link
& read more about this important new book. |
Nothing
Better Than Death, by
Kevin R. Williams, provides a
comprehensive look at sixty-two profound near-death experiences (NDEs).
Insights from these NDEs are divided into fourteen categories: Life
before birth, Life, Humanity, Religion, Spirituality, Future, Science,
Death, Life after death, God, Heaven, Hell, Reincarnation and Suicide.
Fifteen interesting questions concerning the NDE are thoroughly
answered such as: “Aren’t NDEs merely the product of a dying brain?”
and “Doesn’t the fact that NDEs are different suggest they are not
true?” A defense of the NDE from a Biblical standpoint is provided
proving the following: NDEs are scriptural; NDEs are not of the devil;
NDEs and the Bible affirm God is unconditional love; NDEs and the
Bible affirm universal salvation; NDEs and the Bible affirm
reincarnation. The Appendix provides quotes from famous people
concerning life and death. Also provided are resources where more
information concerning NDEs can be found. The
Texas Book Of The Dead Life After Death
By Dick Browning
offers insight into several questions that most of us have asked
ourselves throughout the course of our life. Questions like: Does
the soul live on after bodily death? If so, what is the nature of
the afterlife? If heaven is so nice, why do we fight so hard to stay
in our earthly body? And, what evidence supports the answers to
these questions? Man
has always pondered what the afterlife is like. The ancient
Egyptians wrote what has come down to us as the EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE
DEAD. The Tibetans wrote THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD. Now author
Dick Browning has compiled a consensus of modern reports from the
other side and titled it, THE TEXAS BOOK OF THE DEAD.
Certain people among us have the gift of automatic writing, sometimes known as channeling. They hold a pen over a tablet and allow a discarnate spirit to do the writing through them. Sometimes it is done with a typewriter or orally when the spirit speaks trough the channel. British author, Elsa Barker had the gift. One evening she was inspired to channel a message from her friend, Judge David Patterson Hatch. Unbeknown to Ms Barker, Judge Hatch had died six thousand miles away in California. Thus began a series of letters from the other side describing Judge Hatch’s adventures in the afterlife. The letters were compiled and published in a book, LETTERS FROM A LIVING DEAD MAN in 1914.
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Best
Evidence ,
by Michael Schmicker
A focused review looking
at how science and skeptics view the paranormal world.
A book review by Jody, NDERF
3/5/02 |
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Jody's
Nutshell Review of: Near
Death Experience In Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A Prospective Study in the
Netherlands, Pim
van Lommel, et al, THE
LANCET • Vol 358 • |
On
the Other Side of Life; Exploring the Phenomenon of the Near-Death
Experience.
By Evelyn Elsaesser
Valarino. |
Borderlands
of Science: Where Sense Meets Nonsense,
by
Michael Shermer. A Column by Jim Richardson and Allen Richardson. Review
of skeptic 's book. 3/6/02 |
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A
LAWYER PRESENTS THE CASE FOR THE AFTERLIFE,
by Victor Zammit,
4/16/03 In this matter, the
lawyer presents his case in 27 chapters. Each chapter deals with a special
concept that may be important to the final
judgment. These presentations range from an Opening
Statement to a presentation of What Happens When we Die?
Concepts that are presented to you include a wide range of so-
called "psychic phenomena" and include the scientific
observation of mediums, materialization, electronic
voice phenomena, out of body experiences, near-death
experiences, death-bed visions, and many more.
Not only a hard back book but also a
Free e-book! |
God at the Speed of Light:
The Melding of Science and Spirituality
by T. Lee Baumann, M.D.
1/12/02
Quantum physicists study the nature of light.
The Bible speaks of light when talking about God. Near-death experiences
describe going to a light that is welcoming, intelligent, and loving. Strangest
of all, however, is the similarity of all these descriptions of the nature,
presence, and behavior of light to descriptions of God. Could it be that light
and God are one and the same? Physician Lee Baumann makes a case for exactly
that. From many sources, Dr. Baumann has synthesized a compelling picture of
what may be the true nature of our universe at all levels - physical, mental,
and spiritual. |
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The
Division of Consciousness
by Peter Novak A Special Book
Review by Dr. Bill Lanning |
Children
of the New Millennium
by
PMH Atwater Another outstanding and important book by Dr. Atwater. Discusses
children NDEs and a finding that the Millennial
Generation (those born between 1982 and about |
The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Near-Death Experiences by
PMH Atwater & David Morgan
This excellent book is an outstanding detailed resource for NDE. CLICK
ABOVE for more information. |
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THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
IN
WESTERN CULTURAL TRADITIONS Master's
Thesis by Alan Pew
NDERF thanks Alan Pew for sharing this thoughtful review of NDE as a motif in
books, visual arts and movies.
8/12/01 |
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Copyright
1999 by Dr. Jeff and Jody Long
e-mail:
nderf@nderf.org
Webmaster: Jody A. Long
Jody A. Long Professional Websites
Jody A. Long's Family Law web site:
www.attyfamilylaw.com;
Jewelry by Jody
www.jewelrybyjody.com
(From
10/22/02)
Hypnotic
Use of Waking Dreams: Exploring Near Death Experiences Without the
Flatlines by Paul W. Schenk.
People who undergo near
death experiences often have profound and life changing experiences.
It is as if the whole of their life has been put into focus and they
can see relationships, experiences, and their hopes and dreams in a
completely new light. Now Paul Schenk shows you how you can help
clients experience some of the life-changing benefits of a near
death experience without the life-threatening cardiovascular crisis.
With full length annotated case transcripts, you will learn how to
do this and explore the many other things you can do with
hypnotically facilitated waking dreams. The therapeutic
usefulness of dream interpretation is deeply rooted in
psychotherapy. The Hypnotic Use of Waking Dreams bypasses the
controversy associated with past life therapy, i.e that if
reincarnation doesn’t exist, neither can past life therapy. It
provides a much more traditional approach to understanding and
utilizing the kinds of chemical experiences that occur with this
interactive approach to hypnotically facilitated dream-like imagery.
Dr. Shenk integrates classic teachings on dream interpretation and
trauma treatment with decades of published work on near death
experiences. The resulting applications to a variety of presenting
clinical problems are demonstrated with extensive case transcripts.
The therapeutic use of waking dreams is independent of both the
clinician’s and the client’s beliefs about reincarnation because the
dream content can be understood as being just good fiction as it is
in classical dream analysis.
