Product Description Endorsed by popular N.D.E. authors Raymond A. Moody, Jr. M.D., and Kenneth Ring, Ph.D., this revised edition explores the after-effects using both research relative to case histories and the authors own N.D.E. story.
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Updated Classic - Valuable ToolSeptember 22, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
When do anecdotal experiences become fact? Is a researcher more qualified to say what is factual, or the people who experience a phenomenon first hand? Who better to answer these questions than a writer who is both the experiencer and the researcher? P. M. H. Atwater has been a fearless pioneer in the field of near-death experience precisely because she herself desperately needed the answers to the many questions she posed in her research. Ms. Atwater states that the three near-death experiences she survived in 1977 changed her to the point that ". . .life `as usual' became impossible." It becomes clear when reading the autobiographical portions of the book that near-death can be a rewarding experience, but only if it is fully understood and successfully integrated into the lives of the experiencer and their loved ones.
Many current books discuss the phenomenon, but few actually aid the survivor in dealing with both the experience itself, and the aftermath of the catastrophic changes involved. Ms. Atwater's second revision demonstrates her determination to work tirelessly in aiding her fellow survivors to cope with the "surprises" that appear to be inevitable after such an event. After speaking with hundreds of survivors, she has discovered a pattern of major after-effects that include the inability to personalize emotions, a changing sense of time and physical reality and difficulty communicating and maintaining relationships. Ms. Atwater also goes into detail regarding the spiritual aspects of such an experience (imagine being confronted by spiritual beings you have previously refused to believe existed) and alterations in brain function. Although many survivors are categorized as brain damaged, Ms. Atwater explains why these changes should be more accurately understood and treated as, "brain shifts." The book also contains a chapter explaining how the friends and relatives of survivors can best help their loved ones, and an extensive resource guide.
One of the aspects of this book that may be overlooked is the fact that it can be of benefit to other besides near-death survivors. In the introduction, researcher Kenneth Ring, Ph.D. points out, "[the book] deals with the much larger question of the effects of transformative experiences in general, many of which, like the near-death experience, involve a death and rebirth motif." In our experience, many on the spiritual path find themselves confronted with similar issues as transcendental events bump them into states that are considered outside the norms accepted by society in general.
The book maintains a very personal and conversational style that will either endear the reader to Ms. Atwater, or be off-putting if the reader's taste tips toward more academic reading. The reading process could be made more pleasant by eliminating the bold print used throughout the body of the book. Readers may not agree with everything Ms. Atwater has to say, the author's sincere interest in aiding survivors and her years of extensive experience make this book a classic in the field. Lee & Steven Hager are the authors of Quantum Prodigal Son: Revisiting Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Perspective of Quantum Mechanics
