Review by Booklist Review
Sometimes it seems as if almost everyone in the country has had a near-death experience. Phyllis Atwater had three, and unlike other researchers, who stress the transcendental aspects. of the experience--the white, loving light, for instance--Atwater also explores other, more ominous or confusing aspects. After interviewing hundreds of "experiencers," as she calls them, Atwater concludes that while NDEs always lead to spiritual awakening, the means may not be as pleasant as we have been led to believe. And more important than the experience itself is the hard work that comes with integrating it into one's life, finding its real value and meaning to both mind and soul. Atwater's down-to-earth writing style conveys what seems to be a genuine desire to instruct people about NDEs and then get on with her life. Though occasionally scattered, she is never pedantic and always compelling. An interesting addition to the ever-burgeoning NDE library. ~--Ilene Cooper
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Claiming to be a three-time near-death survivor, Atwater ( Coming Back to Life ) presents this study of near-death experience based on 700 interviews she conducted. She questions the accounts of a ``tunnel of light accompanied by feelings of well-being'' frequently reported; rather, she discusses the ``hell-like'' experiences she has discovered. She also delves into the psychological and physiological aftereffects--the ``brain is physically changed after a near-death episode.'' Unfortunately, Atwater does not clearly define death; only at times is she is in accord with the medical definition. The text roams over areas of theology, metaphysics and even touches on space aliens and their possible role in near-death experiences, leaving the reader to wonder how any of this applies to our spiritual development, as Atwater claims. Illustrations. 35,000 first printing. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Books chronicling near-death experiences, like Betty J. Eadie's recent best seller, Embraced by the Light (Gold Leaf Pr., 1992), tend to find an eager audience among readers who are fascinated by psychic phenomena or who seek assurance of an afterlife. With its detailed examples of near-death experiences ranging from ecstatic to hellish, this book will surely find a receptive audience too. About half the book is devoted to the apparent aftereffects on near-death survivors, including psychological and physiological changes as well as enhanced psychic powers. In contrast to this work, Susan Blackmore provides a more skeptical and scholarly approach in Dying To Live: Near-Death Experiences (Prometheus Bks, 1993). Whereas Atwater presents all reported phenomena as evidence of an afterlife, Blackmore offers explanations based on the natural biological responses of a dying brain. Most public libraries would do well to have both books.-Ilse Heidmann Ali, Kyle Community Lib., Tex. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
