Life After Life: The Bestselling Original Investigation That Revealed Near-Death Experiences

First issued in 1975, this volume gathers first-hand accounts from 100 people who survived clinical death and returned to tell their stories. Dr. Raymond Moody cataloged these testimonies to investigate recurring themes across the dying process. His investigation identifies common patterns among survivors, including out-of-body occurrences, passage through a dark tunnel, encounters with deceased loved ones, meeting a bright light, and a comprehensive review of life events. Moody, a physician regarded as the father of modern near-death studies, organizes his findings around the shared characteristics of these boundary experiences. The work compares survivor testimonies against historical and mystical texts, drawing parallels to the Bible, the writings of Plato, Emanuel Swedenborg, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Moody addresses common queries regarding the reality of these events, analyzing natural, scientific, psychological, and supernatural explanations for what patients undergo. This volume suits readers seeking a documented collection of near-death experiences, those examining comparative spiritual literature, and readers looking for scholarly research into human consciousness. It includes an opening Foreword by Eben Alexander, M. D., author of Proof of Heaven, an introductory piece by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M. D., and a closing Afterword written by Moody himself. It is less suited to readers looking for fictional narratives, clinical medical manuals, or detailed step-by-step instructions for esoteric rituals.