Closer to the Light [Mass Market Paperback]

Melvin Morse (Author), Paul Perry (Author), Raymond A. Moody (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 30, 1991

The skeptics have had their say; now listen to the experts. In hundreds of interviews with children who had once been declared clinically dead, Dr. Morse found that children too young to have absorbed our adult views and ideas of death, share first-hand accounts of out-of-body travel, telepathic communication and encounters with dead friends and relatives. Finally illuminating what it is like to die, here is proof that there is that elusive "something" that survives "bodily death."
"New information on what may await us after death...Responsible, highly readable, and certainly thought-provoking."
THE KIRKUS REVIEWS

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Thirty-two years ago, my mother's best friend died on the operating table. She felt herself moving toward a brilliant light and spoke with her father who had passed away years before. Ultimately, she made the decision to return to take care of her two young children. Although this was the most peaceful experience of her life, she kept it a secret until the publication of books like CLOSER TO THE LIGHT and TRANSFORMED BY THE LIGHT. Reading the experiences of others gave her the freedom to speak openly about what it means to die and why there is little to fear.
Lorelei Andrysick
Ballantine Advertising --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

The skeptics have had their say; now listen to the experts. In hundreds of interviews with children who had once been declared clinically dead, Dr. Morse found that children too young to have absorbed our adult views and ideas of death, share first-hand accounts of out-of-body travel, telepathic communication and encounters with dead friends and relatives. Finally illuminating what it is like to die, here is proof that there is that elusive "something" that survives "bodily death."
"New information on what may await us after death...Responsible, highly readable, and certainly thought-provoking."
THE KIRKUS REVIEWS

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books; Edition Unstated edition (July 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804108323
• ISBN-13: 978-0804108324
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and touching February 9, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

After reading this book, there is no question in my mind that there is life after death. The author interviewed many children who had near death experiences, and even did follow-up interviews with them several years later. They all described floating above their bodies, going through a dark tunnel, and then seeing the most amazing light they had ever seen. Others had seen dead loved ones who told them to go back to their bodies, since it wasn't their time yet. A few of the children were given a choice whether to stay or go back to earth, and these particular children chose to go back to their parents. They mentioned approaching a door, and if you chose to go through that door, you could not come back to earth. Since science has regularly dismissed near death experiences, the author did extensive research. There is a part of the brain that, when electrically stimulated, can produce a feeling of floating above one's body. He talked about all the different stages the brain and body go through when death approaches, and the very end should be total darkness if there is truly no life after death. However, that is when people see the brightest light of all. There is no scientific explanation for that light. This is the part that convinced me that there is truly life after death. Another interesting thing is that when he interviewed these children later on as adults, they had a much greater appreciation for life than many others around them. These near death experiences made them want to live life to the fullest, and they have absolutely no fear of death now. They said that life is actually much simpler than any of us ever thought. This book would be especially helpful to anyone who has lost a loved one, or just for people who want to know more about this most important subject. While we will never have all the answers here on earth, this book proves to me that there is definitely life after death.

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars As a prior poster said, a very comforting book. May 1, 2000

By Rosemary Thornton VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Not to repeat what several others have mentioned here in these well written reviews, but this is a wonderful book.

The most notable element I see in this book is that children do not pass ALONE. There is always a loving presence - someone that goes with the child - and takes away their fears and eases the transition.

There was one story about a young girl (age 7) who tried to kill herself. She'd been the victim of horrible child abuse and chose suicide as the only way out. She left her body and found herself surrounded by "a bubble of love and life". She was shown a tree - encased in ice and snow - and told she was in the winter of her life now, but that summer was coming and much joy was ahead of her in life.

She was 47 when interviewed for this book and her adult life had been one of stability, joy and much peace.

The other good reason to buy this book is because on page 147 is "the rest of the story" about the 1986 bombing of the elementary school in Cokeville, Wyoming.

Many of the children who were there when the bomb went off (they'd all been stuffed into one classroom by David Young, the bomber) told of angelic beings that gave them very specific instructions as to where to go to be safe.

Not one or two, but many children talked about the angels, or "nice ladies who were all lit up" and voices - all giving them clear direction.

And by the way, only David Young died when that bomb went off.

This is a well written, informative, enlightening and good-news book.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-Provoking May 9, 2000

By "gsibbery"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is undoubtedly one of the most impressive studies about NDE's available. What makes this book so interesting is the amount of detail that the children have reported about their NDE's as well as certain items that would seem very peculiar if it were just a defensive reaction of the mind to something too terrible to contemplate. For one thing, most children mentioned that in their NDE, they were NOT children, but fully grown people. This is an extremely odd phenomena -- it would seem that if this were some sort of generated phantasy that the children would be seeing themselves as they are, but without being ill, but this is not the case at all. This forms one of the most convincing aspect about the experiences. And while an adult may be able to "guess" what may happen in surgery, it is unlikely that a child would be able to do so, thus giving more credence to the notion of the out-of-body-experience. A fascinating book.