It’s natural to wonder about the afterlife, more so if you’re grieving the death of a loved one. Many religions across the globe preach that there is indeed life beyond death, but the well-documented phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) provides the closest scientific evidence that there might actually be an afterlife.
Plenty of people who’ve survived traumatic accidents or been resuscitated following cardiac arrest have reported out-of-body experiences (OBEs), venturing across a dark tunnel into a world of light, or encountering family members or angelic beings.
While skeptics may dismiss such accounts as fabrications or hallucinations caused due to a lack of oxygen reaching brain cells, the phenomenon of NDEs continues to fascinate people from all walks of life, and unlike other supernatural occurrences, has recently gained a lot of attention from the scientific community.
So if you’ve always wondered about the origins of human consciousness or if we’ll ever be reunited with loved ones from beyond the grave, or if there’s more to existence once we bite the bullet, these books about near-death experiences from scientists and first-hand experiencers might satisfy your curiosity!
Life After Near Death
While plenty of books about NDEs focus on the details of the experience itself, Debra Diamond’s ground-breaking book explores what comes after—as the near-death experiencer adjusts to life, often has a change in beliefs, and sometimes finds themselves with new powers.
Whether it’s uncovering latent creative talents or heightened electrical sensitivity or healing gifts, the book presents a diverse set of perspectives from people who died—and then made it back to tell the tale.
God and the Afterlife
One of the largest studies on NDEs involved some 3000 people as test subjects, and one of the most interesting aspects about NDEs is that, regardless of one’s culture or spiritual leanings, the conception of the afterlife seems to be the same—across diverse backgrounds and age groups.
In this compelling book, Jeffrey Long takes a look at the plethora of scientific evidence as well as commonalities in reported NDEs and argues for the existence of God and the afterlife.
Well-researched and filled with profound insights, this book is sure to provide some hope and solace to believers and non-believers alike.
Heaven Is a Breath Away
If you’re interested in an enthralling first-hand account of an NDE, you will definitely be impressed with Heaven is a Breath Away which chronicles Valerie Peter’s vivid experience when she was involved in a traffic accident and claimed to have met Jesus in heaven while being on life support.
At the same time, Valerie’s sister Cheryl received a vision that her sibling was with Jesus, and she began praying for her safe return.
A miraculous and moving account of faith and the Christian afterlife, beautifully told—it will definitely impact you if you’ve had a crisis of faith lately.
Near-Death Experiences, The Rest of the Story
If you’re more of a skeptic, looking for scientific evidence before believing anything, you might be awestruck at what P.M.H. Atwater has achieved—having observed or interviewed over 4000 people, across 40 years of intense research.
Her book takes a comprehensive approach towards NDEs, analyzing first-hand accounts, identifying commonalities and aftereffects, and positing theories to explain why and how such experiences happen.
She even looks into “groups experiencing NDEs together.” Intriguing and engrossing, this book will surely make you question the meaning of life and death.
Proof of Heaven . . . in 30 Minutes
Eben Alexander’s best-selling book takes a look at NDEs from the perspective of a neurosurgeon—the author himself had an NDE while being in a coma for a week, on the brink of imminent death.
Nevertheless, he made a miraculous recovery that completely changed his views on life, God, and the afterlife.
A wondrous exploration of mortality and faith from an agnostic scientist, Proof of Heaven is an emotional and thought-provoking read.
To Heaven and Back
Another fascinating book on NDEs from a doctor, Mary C. Neal’s account takes readers to heaven and beyond, while detailing her encounters with angels and other cosmic beings.
The book doesn’t just focus on the strange physical sensations during an NDE but goes deep into the author’s spiritual journey, and how the NDE has profoundly changed her perspective on life.
Definitely, an enticing and life-changing read.
Featured image: Carlos Torres / Unsplash
