Out-of-Body Experiences: How to Have Them and What to Expect (Paperback)

~ Robert Peterson (Author), Charles Tart (Foreword) "I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and spent the first twenty-four years of my life there..." (more)
Key Phrases: astral cord, astral arms, astral eyes, Robert Monroe, Charles Tart, University of Minnesota (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Out of Body Experiences could be summed up in Robert Peterson's own words: it's "what the books didn't tell me." Many people have tried to have out of body experiences (OBEs) and are discouraged when things don't go exactly as the books suggest they should. Peterson assures readers that anyone can have an OBE, and relates the difficulties and discoveries in his personal quest for them. His anecdotal, reassuring approach makes the whole experience seem much more accessible than do other books on the subject, which tend to read like textbooks. Peterson also addresses odd and potentially startling aspects of the OBE that the more technical books neglect to mention. Out of Body Experiences is a casual, friendly approach to astral travel that should be the first book anyone attempting an OBE reads, and should be high on the reading list of anyone who has tried unsuccessfully to leave his body.

Product Description

Imagine the wonder of leaving your body to travel to places and realms you have only dreamed of. Out of Body Experiences is the book to teach you how to leave your body and what to expect when you do it. A simple step-by-step manual and "flight guide" the author talks not only about his own experiences, but what you may encounter when you leave the body. For the first time, out-of-body experiences are accessible to anyone who cares to try.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571740570
• ISBN-13: 978-1571740571
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #196,391 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Down To Earth Kind Of Guy Writing About The Incredible., July 27, 2000

By	Sphere "cch128" (Alaska) - See all my reviews

I have read various books on "Out of Body Experiences" and how to manuals for many years, but few can match this books ability to make the incredible understandable in down to earth style and language. The author comes across very clearly as a regular kind of person, like the rest of us. His writing style makes the unusual an easy read. He shares his own first hand knowledge and experience, not re-cooked information from other books. This is the real thing, I have read too many books about books, or books about others ideas and experiences that this first hand account of these realities is a wonderful breath of fresh air for me. His techniques of how to attain an OBE have suggestions that I have never seen anywhere else. He appears to be a very practical kind of person with his feet firmly on the ground but able to see beyond the sky. If your looking for an OBE book, this is the one you want. I have had a couple of unplanned OBE's and they are as real as real can be, but to do it by the power of your own will is the trick. Once you have had your own OBE there is no question as to this being a reality. Once you have had one you will easily be able to tell the difference between lucid dreams and OBE's, they are distinctly different. I had two unplanned OBE's, but I want to be able to have OBE's at will. This is what I bought this book for. I am just starting with his suggestions on how to consciously transition into an out of body experience, it takes work, but I believe this book has the best and most varied information about many different techniques which can work for most people. I am pleased that this book has a total lack of "New Age" dogma, a welcome change. After reading this book it is obvious that this guy loves science and has that kind of mind, but yet he shows you things that our science is just now scratching the surface on, things that our culture has hardly begun to understand. I AM Chris

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential OOBE book, June 20, 2002

By	John (Ohio) - See all my reviews

Here is a person who is interested in sharing how he accomplished OOBE in a practical and down to earth manner where everybody can understand. His main focus is to teach others how to do it not to make money. This book was on the web before it was even published!!!

He talks about his experiences in short stories which is easily digested and with each chapter he has exercises that you can do to have OOBE. He writes not only how to have OOBE but as the title of the book implies "what to expect" when you do have them so you will be prepared and not totally off guard.

For example, he talks about the silver cord and how things are a little different in the astral than in the physical. The last chapter of the book has a detailed method of getting out of the body.

However, I wish he wrote about some of the struggles that he had and how long it took for him to have some of his OOBE. I think it is important to have people understand that for most people it will take time and effort and dedication. And by reading about some of his failures, readers won't be too discoruaged when they don't have OOBE as soon as they want. Instead they will say, "Hey, he had difficulties too and still accomplished OOBE. I'm like him and if he did it, I can do it too!"

Again, I would highly recommend this book for anybody who is interested in having OOBE. It is easy to understand and doesn't have the esoteric "mumbo jumbo" that are found in some of the other books.

As always, there are what is considered 'essential books' in any subject matter. I feel that this book ranks with the essential books in the field of OOBE. Some of the other essential books, in my opinion are, Journey Out of the Body by Robert Monroe, Adventures Out of the Body by William Buhlman, Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce and Rick Stack's book(I can't remember the title). There are more but these are from more recent times and may be easier to understand and read than some of the older books.

It's important to have good books to read(this is one of them) so that your subconscious is saturated with the subject so that it knows that you are serious about having OOBEs. Good luck in having OOBEs and remember not to get discouraged and keep at it.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great place to start, June 20, 2001

By	Samuel J. Decker (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was hunting for my first book on OBEs here on Amazon.com and I decided to buy Robert Peterson's book that you are now considering. I couldn't be more pleased with the book, and highly recommend it to everyone. You get a first hand account of this man's exploration into the astral realm. You live vicariously through him from his first experience and on through the years. At the end of each easy to read chapter, there is an exercise. But when you get there, you won't want to stop reading. I know I didn't. I just ate this book up. And now that I'm finished with it, I'm going back through the exercises. After reading this book, you know exactly what you have to do to have an OBE, and what you'll find once you get there. You'll also learn some unexpected treasures about psychic phenomenon.