Customer Reviews

Life After Death: Some of the Best Evidence

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For nearly 160 years, maverick scientists and scholars have been providing very credible evidence that consciousness survives physical death and continues on in other realms of existence. The legal doctrine of Res Judicata - it has been decided - could have been invoked 100 years ago when esteemed scientists and scholars like Sir William Crookes, Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir William Barrett, and Dr. James H. Hyslop all issued statements in which they said they were convinced that there is a spirit world and that we live on in that spirit world after physical death. Yet, mainstream science, orthodox religion, and the media have rejected and ridiculed the evidence.

Apparently seeing the ridicule heaped on men like Crookes, Lodge, Barrett, and Hyslop, modern scientists and scholars have been reluctant to take a stand, even after closely examining evidence that strongly suggests a spirit world and, concomitantly, life after death.

Dr. Jan W. Vandersande, the author of this book, is a rare exception. He does not sit on the fence like so many others. He comes right out and tells the reader what he has observed and what he believes. He mentions observing flying trumpets, seeing ectoplasm, and hearing spirit voices through the trumpet. "Those experiences changed my life in at least two ways," Vandersande, who holds a doctorate in physics and served professorships at the University of Witwatersand, South Africa, and at Cornell University, tells the reader. "Firstly, it gave me the conviction that there is life after death. Secondly, it made it possible for me to be able to critically read much of the literature about psychic and paranormal phenomena."

Vandersande focuses on physical mediumship, something for most part avoided by many of the early researchers, primarily because it usually called for darkness and otherwise unscientific conditions. But what can be more convincing that seeing a deceased loved one appear right in front of you and speak to you in the voice you remember about things which you experienced? Vandersande discusses some of the best physical mediums and examines the evidence relative to fraud and alternative theories.

A skeptic looking at the cover, which has a materialized form embracing a sitter at a séance would likely have a good laugh at the materialized form's seemingly fake beard, but Vandersande is aware of this and explains it. Clearly, by applying our limited knowledge of what is involved in materializations, we show our ignorance and arrogance.

There are many good books on mediumship, but there are very few new ones that discuss physical mediumship, as does this one. It is a very worthwhile read for any one with an open mind and in search of truth. Read this book and Tom Harrison's "Life After Death: Living Proof" if you want some real insight to physical mediumship.

I tend to be a skeptic when it comes to the topic of life after death, but I read a lot on the topic because I'm looking for the evidence that will make me a believer. I started off reading this with a healthy dose of skepticism, but when the author describes his own personal experiences and analyzes them using scientific methodology (he has a PhD in Physics) some of the skepticism disappeared. He also provides supplemental evidence to support his claims. Quite honestly - the whole notion of ectoplasm creeped me out, but after reading through it it becomes life affirming. I do think he has provided some of the best evidence to support life after death, but furthermore his professional credentials and reputation are solid and that is what ultimately made me believe that he has the answer.

Having myself experienced sittings with several talented physical mediums, I was pleased to see the author's accounts of this extremely rare and wonderful phenomena. There are also warnings to the reader concerning the ease with which some of the phenomena could be faked. I can also vouch for the reality of ectoplasm and materialization as I have experienced it personally. This book is factual,detailed and honest. The materialization pictures were fascinating and worthy of study. There were some minor formatting problems in the Kindle edition and no doubt these will be corrected soon. Altogether an extremely good account of psychic research!

The French astronomer Camille Flammarion wrote, "I do not hesitate to affirm my conviction, based on personal examination of the subject, that any man who declares the phenomena [of spirit communication] to be impossible is one who speaks without knowing what he is talking about; and, also that any man accustomed to scientific observation - provided that his mind is not biased by preconceived opinions - may acquire a radical and absolute certainty of the reality of the facts alluded to." He added elsewhere, "It is by the scientific method alone that we may make progress in the search for truth. Religious belief must not take the place of impartial analysis. We must be constantly on our guard against illusions."

These words are particularly meaningful when examining the book by Dr. Jan W. Vandersande, "Life After Death: Some of the Best Evidence." Even though Flammarion was a scientist who spoke professionally about the reality of spirit communication, he lived long ago and the tendency by many today is to discount earlier scientists as being too gullible and not in possession of the latest technology. Flammarion was not the lone spiritualist in scientific circles of his day, of course, but it is refreshing to find scientists today who are unafraid to speak out in defense of phenomenon they have rigorously tested with the use of the scientific method.

Vandersande is such a person and his book lays out quite clearly his personal experiences with spirit communication and materialization along with his evaluation of it. A reader cannot escape the fact that he, because of his education and training, is a qualified observer - someone who would not be duped by chicanery. Here is a physicist with an impressive resume who went far beyond almost all of his colleagues by investigating the phenomenon first-hand. Most scientists discount survival after death straight away and refuse to look at any evidence whatsoever. Vandersande's approach is reasonable as well as scientific; his account carries weight and deserves to be taken seriously. Frankly, his conclusions seem to be the only ones possible.

Is there really life after death? It sure seems that way. Even before reading this book, I believed life continues in the spiritual world. After reading it, I feel less inhibited to talk about my own experiences. I've never been in a séance, much less have I seen trumpets flying around the séance room, but I have seen ghosts, angels, and other bodiless energy forms.

Do you ever feel as though you are being watched? What if you actually saw or heard the entity? Vandersande's book, Life After Death, gives many accounts of his sessions over an eight-year period where he personally witnessed such things as ectoplasm and direct voice through trance mediums and channelers. All his experiences are described in detail and with supporting strange-but-true photos.

Materializations of deceased entities are probably the most impressive evidence for life after death. He talks about materialization during sessions he calls sittings or séances in which the medium is usually in trance. This is not hard for me to believe, and probably a pretty acceptable idea to those who have lost a loved one and felt their presence near them thereafter. I have awakened during the night on more than one account to see a bluish-grey figure hovering over my bed. Things have been known to move from one place to another in my house. Thanks to Jan, I now know that these phenomena are due to spirit entities manifesting themselves. Such occurrences were so common in my life that I wrote and published a book about it in 2005.

Vandersande's book is appropriately subtitled Some of the Best Evidence for life after death. The thing that captivated me about this book is how the medium or channeler was able to give exact details about a person or situation that let the seeker know that their deceased loved one was indeed speaking or communicating (in the case of a channeler) through them. There was no other way such intimate things could be revealed. The author considers alternative explanations for these psychic phenomena such as telepathy and ESP but to me, it would be just as hard (if not harder) to believe in telepathy or ESP as it would be in life after death. I've had readings/prophecies that were as effectively true.

He talks about a few frauds in this field, but there can be a fraud in any walk of life. Fortunately, this did not keep Dr. Vandersande from investigating the topic in depth and forming his own opinions. His beliefs are supported by his experience, which I would expect from a scientist such as Vandersande. We all want proof that our experiences are real, but we don't to be rejected by those whose beliefs are different than ours. I think that is where many religions lead people astray; they tell people what to believe rather than teaching them to explore and accept their own truth.

I enjoyed this book and found the stories fascinating especially the ones where the medium was able to give personal details that he or she could not have known in the natural realm. I think that one of the most helpful spiritual gifts a person can have is to be able to provide comfort and emotional healing through prophecy or by providing readings that give specific and accurate information to let the inquirer know it truly was the spirit of their deceased loved one speaking.

Is this book and psychic phenomena proof or spoof? You must decide for yourself.

I have read approximately 65 -70 book on the subject of life after death and physical mediumship and I would definitely put this one in the top five. The life changing evidence that he presents is scientific and irrefutable. The author is a scientist with a PhD. in physics and has been studying this subject intensively for over 40 years. What possible motive could he have for writing this book other than to share this truth with whomever is interested? The information contained in this book is staggering. The evidence is overwhelming. Survival after death is the greatest discovery in the history of the human race and most people do not have the capacity to comprehend the irrefutable evidence of this. I would recommend this book more than any other book on the planet for anyone who is searching for truth about life after death.

I found this book to be fascinating. The author's experiences are presented authentically. The photos in the book are amazing. They are really old and the resolution isn't the best, but they clearly weren't made on a computer either and that is what counts. It is natural to be skeptical of these phenomenon, but resorting to name-calling like the one 1-star review is just silly, so read it and judge for yourself.

I liked that book, is a good sourse of real
information about the life after death evidence.

For me, exelent!

David

This had to be the worst book I have ever read on the subject. It said it was edited by Jan's kids and you can tell. The author's opinions inundated the book. If I read, In my opinion....one more time I was going to scream. Let the facts speak for themselves. No one cares about your opinion.

Terrible... awful and stupid.. the photos are ridiculous, disgusting and again, stupid. This book is not at all something I would recommend. I got rid of mine. i believe in the paranormal but this book makes a mockery of it. I am sorry I purchased this book. I was very disappointed...I threw mine away.