Customer Reviews

Unfinished Business: What the Dead Can Teach Us About Life

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Just when you thought everything that could be written about the hereafter has been written, here comes a great new book that puts a whole new twist on the subject. For this is not a book about what heaven is like, this is a book about what our dear departed would like to tell us here on Earth about how to clean up unfinished business so that we don't have to go through the same regret and guilt they did when they passed on. One would think that it's the living who live with the most guilt when a loved one dies, but the departed carry as much regret over to the other side about how they could have lived better lives. And they want us to not have to go through what they did by urging us to live better and love better now before it's too late. It's a pretty great book.

By nature, I'm as skeptical as they come about just about everything in life. Therefore, with each new book released by this author, I'm always amazed and delighted to find myself absorbing and integrating into my day to day life the thoughts and ideas put forth on it's pages. This latest is no exception - it is informative, heartfelt and very engrossing. I mean, c'mon, how can anyone NOT be interested in what our loved ones who have crossed over have to teach us? My father left this earth one year ago and since that time (thanks to Mr Van Praagh's past body of work and now this new one), I've been able to cope and understand the importance and greater meaning of the sometimes very frightening process of death.

This book is written in the language of you and I.

One can tell that James was definitely guided by Spirit
to write these words.

The book bridges the gap between worlds,
between what we call life and the illusion of death.
It puts us in touch with our loved ones who have passed and those here, and leads to a greater understanding of just how close we all are.

Spirit and those who have passed wished to touch our hearts and our minds, through James inspired words they do and once read not one of us will never to be the same.

It is a wonderful book, James personal style has made this an easy read, yet it is full of profound and awesome new information from the other side.

This is a book that you will not want to put down and will most probably keep to reread again and again.

For I believe these simple, yet extremely new and profound words will impact you over and over again.

Unfinished Business begins with a seat-gripping story of loss that cracks opens your heart and it stays that way throughout the book. Renowned medium James Van Praagh has carefully chosen some powerful client readings to share in his latest book. The readings are interwoven into the theme of unfinished business--those emotional hooks and hurts that linger on, sometimes even into the spirit world. The stories/readings and his insights from them are both entertaining and inspiring, and effectively demonstrate how both the living and the dead are liberated when we take care of unfinished emotional baggage. More so, they are lessons of caring, forgiveness, and love, that even die-hard skeptics would have to admit are worthwhile and thought-provoking reminders, if only for their redemptive value.

I ordered this book because I was going to attend the 'Celebrate Your Life' conference in Chicago 2009. I was packed & had my car keys in my hand - literally ready to leave - when my husband of 14 years told me that he had bought a second home & was planning on 'moving out' of our family home - alone. Well, with a bomb like that - I obviously didn't make the seminar, although I know now that hopping into the car & driving straight to the conference would've been the best thing for me to have done at the time. But, with a young son at home, I just didn't feel comfortable saying, 'oh-ok-sure!' & driving several hundred miles away - leaving my little one alone with my husband - a man who had obviously become a NEW person right before my eyes!!

After the usual mess & drama such unexpected news leaves in its wake had taken its toll - with the hopes of some escape - I began reading Mr. Van Praagh's book. I was looking for anything to read that didn't focus on divorce, relationships, separations, etc., not expecting that this book would have anything to do with my 'situation' and of course not expecting that it could help me with my situation.

But, Mr. Van Praagh's book did--somehow--speak directly to me and directly to the agonizing situation that I was in the middle of. I found myself crying along with some of the stories and insights he and his 'audiences' discovered. And, I found myself 'a player' in some of those same stories. I finished the book in about four days... and my heart slowly swung around from wanting a punitive, angry separation or divorce from my husband, to where my heart is now... leaving most (not all of it because it's still an open wound) but leaving most of the pain aside and concentrating on ME and my son.

I told my husband that I finally remembered WHO I was and that I was a strong, capable, wonderful person who would survive this unilateral decision my husband made (I would surely have handled things a bit differently!) but for the sake of our young son, and for my own sanity, I was willing to work on ideas for making this separation happen.

Perhaps just the thought or reality of dying with 'Unfinished Business' might have played a role in this 'change of heart' I was experiencing? Although I think the stronger message--the message I needed to hear--in Mr. Van Praagh's book is toward the end when he talks about how short life is, and how much work it takes to stay angry or fearful or sad, when that same energy can be used to make our world--as well as the world around us--happier and friendlier.

Thank you Mr. Van Praagh. I'm sure you knew that your book could help others--I just wanted to write about how it helped me in such an unusual and timely way. There are no coincidences, right? ;-)

I am a big fan of James van Praagh. His latest book is amazing. I would love to give it 10 stars. Every word on every page has a lesson to learn. It is absolutely wonderful for those who want to change their lives for the better. It gives ideas on how to change one's thinking.

I have always had an interest in stories about the afterlife. Right before my brother passed away in November of 2009, his wife and I asked him to give us a sign after he passed, that he was still watching over his wife (on earth). He smiled and nodded his head saying that he would. In the (3) months that he has been gone, (18) light bulbs have had to be replaced on the house he shared with his wife. Some on significant days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, his former birthday, his wife's birthday and Valentine's Day. Coincidental ? I think not, as during that same period we only replaced (1) light bulb.

In Unfinished Business , the author and famous medium James Van Praagh shares feedback obtained from some who have passed, about the importance of making amends here on earth. It appears, according to the author, that the "unfinished business" on earth which we take to the grave does appear to carry over into the afterlife. Some of the stories are shocking and might bring a tear or two to your eyes. From such issues as: guilt, regrets, blaming others, forgiving and forgetting, and the importance of overcoming obstacles that are getting in the way of true happiness.

These spirits have shared what they have discovered on the other side. Their stories help the reader to understand why some things that happened on earth, had to happen. The author, through feedback gained from contact with some spirits, shares ways that we can turn our earthly "unfinished business" to "finished business" by clearing our conscience, ridding ourselves of emotional baggage, developing a positive outlook, having compassion for others, and by having hope and faith, now while we have the opportunity.

MY THOUGHTS - In my opinion, there will always be believers and non believers as to whether an afterlife exists. I enjoyed this book, and the stories, and would recommend this book to those who have recently lost a loved one. I feel that this book might be a source of comfort to those who are grieving. RECOMMENDED

As a medium and author, I found this book enlightening to those who may not communicate with the spirit world. The dead do teach us; they do resolve their unfinished business; they do this all because they love us. Their teaching moves us to healing and leading better and more fulfilled lives. It's all about love. My greatest teacher was my friend's father who had so much to resolve with his family and so much to teach me about what the spirits on the other side care about. It's us. The resolution of their issues brings us to an understanding about their lives and their place now with and without us. If you are wondering what do they do? What can I learn from the spirit world? Then pick up this book.

[...]

I could not put this book down. James holds your attention and never has a dry moment.

Along with holding your attention and being entertaining, this book has some hard life lessons that some of us still need to learn.
Being human, we all make mistakes... this is a good book for helping to let go of the mistakes and see things from a new perspective.

James also has a few guided meditations that worked rather well for me. I have done long periods of yoga, where you get into a deeply connected meditative state after the workout portion is done. James had me close to the same grounded feeling in a matter of minutes.

Overall this book is well worth its small price.
The best way to put this, if you are human this book is for you.
Grief, loss, mistakes, etc... This book can help.

JVP, with some help from the dearly departed, gives instructions on how to improve your life, the world and even the universe with your thoughts, words and actions. Be positive, follow the golden rule, keep an open mind & heart, meditate & pray, help your fellow man, forgive yourself and others, let go of guilt & regrets, apologize. These are things most of us know but don't do enough because we are so caught up in the little and big dramas of life on Earth. This book is a wonderful, inspirational reminder to get back on that path that you may have wandered away from. There are two topics in particular that I am glad JVP took some time to discuss in this book; "God" and "meditation". I think we don't know enough about meditation in our culture; it is a mystical doorway to your higher self and many other things. Share this highly positive book with people you know and they will thank you for it.