Customer Reviews

On Life after Death

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am surprised that I somehow missed reading this wonderful little book for so long. Considering the dozens of books that I've read on the topic of NDE's and of continued existence after bodily death it is remarkable that I should only encounter one of the best until last. While it is a slim volume, it covers everything of importance- and with a sincerity and enthusiasm missing in many other books.

Specifically, this is a collection of four key lectures given by Dr. Kubler-Ross: 1) Living and Dying (1982), 2) Death Does Not Exist (1977), 3) Life, Death, and Life After Death (1980), and 4) Death of a Parent (1991).

All of these lectures interweave and reinforce each other. The key concepts involve the body as a mere shell (or cocoon) that we outgrow to evolve into the next level of existence as a spirit (or butterfly.) The purpose of life on earth is to learn and grow through hard lessons and choices. And the most important lesson of all is that of unconditional love. If you can put this above materialism and ego, then your "life review" should go well. Oh yes, and nothing in this world occurs by "coincidence."

I'm inclined to prefer Dr. Kubler-Ross' words precisely because she was not an "objective", detached, observer. She studied over 20,000 accounts of NDE's, she sat at countless death beds comforting and listening to the dieing, she had an NDE herself, she was actually visited by the spirits of the dead, plus she personally experienced the state known as "cosmic consciousness." In my opinion, this gives her words the ring of truth, and a first-hand legitimacy lacking in many other records. Plus, as I read, I quickly came to see that everything she wrote completely agreed with and confirmed my own experiences and conclusions down through the years- before I ever heard of her, or even the subject.

This little book is a treasure.

Dr. Kubler-Ross is the author of "On Death and Dying", where she addresses the process of death and bereavement, offering coping skills for the parent, family member or child who have lost a loved one. In "On Life After Death", she discusses her twenty-five year research with the dying, illustrating what actually occurs to the person at the moment of death, taken from thousands of interviews with those that have had a near death experience, (NDE) concluding that this experience is virtually the same for everyone.

The book contains four essays on the subject. In the first essay she states her argument without hesitation, stating emphatically that after interviewing thousands of dying men, women and children, all told her virtually the same experience. They begin by having an out-of-the-body occurrence and a feeling of wholeness, and heightened awareness. These individuals reported "seeing" doctors, nurses and loved one's while they were clinically dead. She also goes onto explain that we are never alone when we begin to pass on, that there is always someone, a deceased family member, a guarding angel or guide to help us through this transition.

One of the more compelling stories Kubler-Ross conveys was the visitation from an old, deceased patient. The doctor was at a difficult time in her career, and she wanted to resign from her work with the dying. One day after delivering a seminar on the subject, she met her boss to resign when in the open elevator stood an old patient, Mrs. Schwartz. This individual was the first patient that Dr. Kubler-Ross interviewed for her studies on NDE, and had recently died. Mrs. Schwartz told her that she had "come back" for two reasons, first to thank the doctor for her help and also to persuade her to continue her work with the dying. As a scientist, Dr. Kubler-Ross did not want to believe she was speaking with a dead patient, and to prove to herself that this experience was indeed happening, the doctor put across to Mrs. Schwartz to write her a note, stating her request. Astonishingly, Dr. Kubler-Ross has this note in her possession to this day, and kept her promise to continue her work with the dying. As a scientist, writing about this experience and speaking about it to hundreds of people and colleagues, must have taken considerable courage.

Dr. Kubler-Ross is recognized as the world's foremost expert on the subject of death, the process of dying and the afterlife. These four astounding essays are written clearly and persuasively based on years of research on literarily thousands of patients.

This is an important book. Dr. Kubler-Ross has conveyed a strong message of hope for all of us, concluding that the basic purpose of our lives is to learn, and most importantly, to love.

This book is the book that got me through the loss of my father in 1996. Since than, I have purchased it for every person that I know that has lost someone close to them. It is comforting to hear a "scientific" woman ADMIT that there is something beyond this world. (Read the preface.) We had to read On Death and Dying in High School and it was important, however, I think this book should be added to the curriculum. I will see my Dad again, and know that he sees me whenever he wants to. It still hurts that he is out of my sight, but it gives me such comfort to know that he is not gone forever. READ THE BOOK IF YOU'RE GRIEVING!!!!

This is a strong, well written book full of good news for those who are grieving over the loss of a loved one, but toward the end of the book, she got a little too mystical for me. However, that represented maybe 7-8 pages. The rest of the book is a solid treasure.

It is also a book for the living, in that she expresses in very clear language, our reason for being. There's a lot of spirituality in this little book and it is a quick read. I found it very helpful and it reminded me that Life is all about love, nothing more, nothing less.

I'd recommend reading it a time or two.

I have read a number of books since the death of my husband 10 months ago. Not one of them gave me the peace and consolation that I felt in my entire being than this wonderful book written by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. I intend to buy several more copies to have on hand so I can give them away to anyone I should meet who has just lost a loved one.

I do work as an energetic healer. I have this book in my healing library and it is constantly on loan to various friends and clients going throw deaths and losses in their lives. It is probably the single most helpful book in the library in this regard. Easy to read and very human in her approach, Dr. Ross does a wonderful job of not only explaining death and loss from her perspective as a healer, but also experientially through years of observation and interacting with the dying. She gives hope and light with her compassionate and every-day approach to death as another part of living. I have to order a second copy to keep up with requests for this book. It is amazing.

Someone gave me this book after my husband of 32 years died suddenly. I can only say I wish I had read it sooner. Two points make the book WONDERFUL for me. An acclaimed scientist and author wrote the text in 1977 and vocalized the unconditional love you experience after death. Secondly, when I was a lifeguard I had this experience while rescuing a child who did live but I almost died. My mentor told me I had only an hallucination due to oxygen deprivation. After that judgement by him, I never trusted the vision and feelings I had experienced. I rarely spoke of the incident and only to 2 very trusted friends who were dying of heart problems to give them comfort prefacing my experience with the words of my coach. While 'Life after Life' was validating, Kubler-Ross gets right to the point on page 16. Knowing that past experience was real would have made my husband's death easier for me I think. I hope this book helps you in your journey as the book helped me. I now give this book to anyone I know experiencing death.

I read this book shortly after my dad committed suicide at 48 years of age. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' knowledge and experience in the field of death provided some amazing insights for me that allowed me to put many of my fears of my father's experience to rest. This book has completely changed the way I look at death. I no longer worry about my dad. I know he is somewhere safe and I will see him soon enough. I would recommend this book to anyone who has suffered a loss of a loved one.

The wonderful Kubler-Ross has taken some of the fear out of death, and confirmed the peace and love that we all hope accompanies it.

The book reflects thousands of interviews with those who had "near death" experiences. The result is a guide to what actually happens during this time of life, from a human and a spiritual perspective. On Life and Death offers those facing their own death, or that of a loved one, the understanding and peace to move forward.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross relates her lessons learned at the bedsides of of literally hundreds of dying people in her touching book, "On Life After Death." This pioneer in the study of death and dying shares first-hand stories that simultaneously chill and comfort. Kubler-Ross makes it clear that none of us -- even if we die in the midst of the desert -- dies alone. She shows how we are greeted by loved ones who preceded us in death (even if by moments). I frequently give this comforting work to bereaved friends whose grief is tempered by Kubler-Ross'powerful words. I can't seem to keep a copy on hand -- they all go to those who need its message of hope.