On Life after Death (Paperback)

~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (Author)
Key Phrases: United States, Doctor Ross, Shanti Nilaya

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Essays discuss the meaning of life and death, the existence of life after death, and coping with the death of a parent.

From the Publisher

* Features a new foreword by Caroline Myss. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 82 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts; 1 edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890876533
• ISBN-13: 978-0890876534
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,966 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Near-Death Experiences

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dying is only a transition to a different form of life., April 27, 2005

By	OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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.

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instead of flowers, buy this book for the grieving, November 1, 1999

By	PT Gerber, New Jersey (United States) - See all my reviews

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!!!!

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Essays on the Death Process, May 1, 2005

By	C. Middleton (Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.