Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation: Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged [Paperback]

Ian Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1980

Can anyone speak a language he or she has not learned normally, in childhood or later? Claims to have accomplished this are made from time to time, but only rarely do they receive support when carefully examines. In this volume Dr. Stevenson presents detailed reports of two cases taht seem authentic.

Authentic instances of speaking a language that has not been learned normally (responsive xenoglossy) suggest that another personality (perhaps one of a previous life) had learned the langauge. Cases of responsive xenoglossy thus add to the evidence concerning the survival of human personality after death.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Ian Stevenson is Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division of Parapsychology, Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press; Rev and Enl edition (October 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813908728
• ISBN-13: 978-0813908724
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Reincarnation

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

174 of 182 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the book for the skeptic July 15, 2000

By Karmic Journey

Well,well, well...no stars are enough for this book. It seems the word belief does not exist in Dr Stevenson's dictionary , and with clinical detachment, he has investigated each and every of the 20 cases. He has avoided philosophy and religion talk etc and does not have his own agenda which he his trying to promote. There are many books on reincarnation written by those who want to make a quick buck, or those promoting a particular religious thought or simply to become popular and appear on talk shows and then charge people (gullible) on an hourly basis. Dr Stevenson is not driven by any such factor. Reading his methodolgy, he has actually gone about the research as any skeptic would. He has not believed the case story and then looked for evidence that would support such a case story, he has looked for the evidence any skeptic would. The presentation of evidence gathered is fantastic showing the corroboration of each evidence. The best thing I liked about his research was that he actually attempts to rule out any fraud in each case story. Unbiased and honest. The use of the word "suggestive" speaks for his style used in the book throughout. He does not attempt to force any philosophical, religious thought down the reader's throat. You are free to make your own conclusions....and yes, it is DARN RIGHT CONVINCING !

132 of 137 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic work on reincarnation April 25, 2000

By A Customer

"Suggestive" is putting it mildly (but is typical of Dr. Stevenson's cautious approach). "Pretty darn convincing" is more like it. This is one of Stevenson's original works from many years ago (the 1960s), but it has stood the test of time. If you read it and his more recent "Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect," you'll have a fairly good idea of how convincing the evidence for reincarnation can be. Stevenson's research is very thorough, and this is a dense volume that can be a little dry to read. Each of the 20 cases is presented in sufficient detail to be compelling. It's not something you'll polish off in a couple of evenings, but you'll know you're in the presence of an honest-to-god researcher. Stevenson, who has been affiliated with the University of Virginia for decades, is almost single-handedly responsible for reincarnation being taken seriously in this country, and this book is a classic that should be one of the very first you buy on this topic. You'll be handing it out to skeptical friends and saying "Oh, yeah? Read THIS."

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Convincing evidence of continuity of "life" at another level of consciusness. March 9, 2008

By Rajyashree Tripathi

I read this book several years ago-- long after I had kept hearing from my parents about one of the cases cited therein. A young girl from Chhattarpur (MP) India whom they had known, and who recalled her past three lives. She sang songs in a language from a distant province in India and even recognized her "families" from those times when "re-united" with them. As a scientist, my approach to the notion of re-birth had been on more logical grounds. However, now I am more convinced than ever that something that gives us an identity-- beyond the name and face as we know in this life-time-- lives on. Perhaps forever....