Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects Volume 1: Birthmarks [Hardcover]

Ian Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275952835 | ISBN-13: 978-0275952839 | Publication Date: April 30, 1997

Based on some 30 years of research on people who claim to remember past lives, this work encompasses the full spectrum of theory and case study on the subject to date. Early in his investigations, Stevenson became aware that some who remember past lives had birthmarks or birth defects that corresponded to wounds, usually fatal, on the person whose life was remembered. The work suggests surprising answers to such questions as the following: Why does someone born with a birth defect have the one he or she has, instead of another one? Why do some children show phobias in early infancy when they have had no traumatic experiences and no model for the phobia in their family? Why are some monozygotic (one-egg) twins markedly different from each other? Why do many boys who later become homosexual show effeminate behavior in infancy before their parents can have influenced them to do so? Writing as a scientist and a Western medical professional, Stevenson realizes that the idea that wounds on a deceased person can influence the embryo of a later-born baby is subversive to many assumptions of modern biology. Knowing that each individual case has some flaw or weakness, he decided to publish the entire corpus of cases of this sort. Photographs of birthmarks and illustrations of weapons form part of the evidence in this daring and explorative research. This work will be of particular interest to physicians, psychiatrists, biologists, and anthropologists. In addition, those concerned with paranormal phenomena and the mind-brain problem will find this work challenging.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

IAN STEVENSON, M.D., is Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division of Personality Studies at the University of Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1192 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (April 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275952835
• ISBN-13: 978-0275952839
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 3.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,497,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ian Stevenson's Finest and Most Comprehensive Work, March 18, 2003

By 

M. Yank "mike_yank" (West Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects Volume 1: Birthmarks (Hardcover)

Anyone attempting to understand the scientific evidence suggestive of reincarnation MUST read this comprehensive text. Here, Stevenson has assembled an encyclopedia of what is arguably the most compelling aspect of the cases he has documented for over forty years - that some of these young children who claim to have experienced previous lives (or to whom previous lives have been attributed) bear highly unusual birthmarks or suffer from birth defects that correspond with wounds on the alleged "previous personalities" to a degree that defies coincidence. Stevenson's cautious and meticulous nature shine in his delineation of case after case, and ultimately the sheer number of strong, compelling case studies causes one to reexamine one's position on the possibility of reincarnation. At the least, Stevenson has documented a highly puzzling cultural phenomenon too pervasive to ignore. At best, he demonstrates a scientific vision that matches that of the greatest pioneers in the history of science.