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Summary: Book provides comfort
Review: James Van Praagh's book, Talking to Heaven, should provide comfort for anyone who has lost a loved one, or who is curious about the afterlife. In this books, Mr. Van Praagh gives us some background on how he became a medium, relays several readings, and gives pointers on how to develop your own intuition. He uses many of his readings as examples of love, thoughts on suicide, as well as AIDS. It seems Mr. Van Praagh has garnered much attention from this book, as well as from his second book, Reaching to Heaven. What's put him in the spotlight even more is his television appearances, which is targeting him for much criticism. It seems a few skeptics, who make a living out of proving others wrong, seem to find glee in calling Talking to Heaven, as well as James Van Praagh, a sham. I feel that this is a deeply moving book that should be read by anyone who is on a spiritual jouney. What he says coincides with many other books on the after-life that have been told by people who have had a near-death experience, as well as people who claim to have the same powers Mr. Van Praagh does. It's up to each individual to decide. Everything cannot be proved with science. If Mr. Van Praagh is a sham, then he cannot keep up the lie forever. If he's isn't, then those who aren't blessed with an open mind are missing out. This is a wonderful book and I'm glad more books like these are being written.
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Summary: Simply Wonderful
Review: Anyone concerned about life after death should read this book. I had such a sense of peace after reading it. Great, easy to read print. Highly recommended.
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Summary: A mountebank and master of chicanery
Review: James Van Praagh is simply the latest fad in a world of desperate people willing to be duped because of their sorrow. Not only can Van Praagh not talk to the dead, he barely makes sense when he talks to people. His writing, like his television appearances, public readings, etc. is just a bunch of double talk with no basis in reality and without a hint of logic. Even spirituality has to make sense on some level. If every definition you use is one you invented, there is nothing to use as a standard to measure against. Without this standard, there is no difference between truth and fallacy, in fact you remove the ability to question anything because you are making up everything as you go along. Van Praagh has mastered this technique, and in his readings uses tried and true "psychic" techniques used by every medium, palm reader, and tarot jockey that's ever come down the pike. He simply regales his subjects with a litany of questions until he hits something, then follows the thread. As the subject tells him everything he asks, he presents the answers as psychic power, when the person has told him everything with their own mouths. He also uses sweeping generalizations (popular with astrologists) that could work on anyone. Keep in mind, Van Praagh knows that people who come to him have a lost loved one,and probably have some unresolved issue with that person, or they wouldn't have come to him to begin with. The emotional state of the subject does half of Van Praagh's work for him. The other half is just riddling the person with questions, narrowing down who the dead person is, and then telling the subject that the dead person is well, and forgives them, and wants them to be happy and sleep well. This book is a sham, a meaningless concoction of flapdoodle and wholly unprovable claims. Best of all, he claims that his technique doesn't work on skeptics. How convenient! Van Praagh doesn't have the slightest idea how to talk to the dead, but he is very saavy in the ways of giving false hope to, and taking money from, the living.
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Summary: one of the two best books ever written!
Review: This book along with James Van Praagh's other book "Reaching to Heaven" are the best books that I have ever read. If you have an open mind about what happens to the human spirit after it leaves the physical body on earth, you should definitely read this book. If you have lost somone that you love and are wondering if you will ever see them again, then this book is for you. This book changed my life in a very positive way!
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Summary: I WAS TRULY BLESSED BY THIS BOOK !!!
Review: From the very first page to the end of this book i did not want to put it down.It touched me so, that i cried with every page i read. No matter how many times i read his work or see him on talk shows, i can never get enough of him. GOD has truly blessed James Van Praagh
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Summary: A master of deceiving the people
Review: This man is simply telling people what they want to hear. A master of deception. The only truth in this man/book is that there is life after death. I wish these kind of crafty so-called physics who claim they talk to the dead would leave the people alone. That is more peace at heart to these people he takes advantage of. This book is better off never to exist from the beginning on the account he is not truly helping people become peaceful through his beliefs. Have you ever seen him on t.v.? If he was true, he would not need to ask questions from those he takes advantage of...afterall, he talks to the dead, right?
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Summary: Tremendous!
Review: What a tremendous work! James Van Praagh not only explains psychic terms and phenomena in plain English, but he does so in such a way that the thought of contacting a spirit is no longer a fearful happening. The way Mr. Van Praagh explains his readings, it is as comforting as a warm blanket to know there are spirits waiting for us on the "other side" as well as helping us daily in our walk of human life. Beginning from when the author first noticed and recognized his gifts, James takes the reader through the subtle hints of his childhood to the more blatant happenings of his adulthood in the world of mediumship. It's as if the reader is having a one-on-one conversation with James through the pages of this book as he explains what 'psychic' is and isn't and how we all have the abilities mentioned - the difference being some people have more "fine tuned" abilities than others. The author's stories of the readings he's done, and how he's had to overcome skepticism among some clients, are as enlightening as a ray of bright sun after an early morning rainstorm. To say his renditions are enjoyable is an understatement - I'd truly call them a breath of hope in a world where we frequently fear death...both ours and that of loved ones. James tells about "normal" deaths as well as suicidal actions, which is a section I believe everyone on this earth should read. If potential suicide victims understood what happens upon committing this kind of act, like the author says, there would be a lot less of it occurring. An added bit of inspiration is seen through the author's explanation of pets and animal souls. Pet owners will certainly appreciate his insight and the messages he shares from pets who have passed on. In Talking To Heaven, Mr. Van Praagh describes the healing process we all go through during times of loss. Not only are the stages he discusses right on target, but he explains why we go through them, what's to be expected, and gives the reader direction on how to deal with each particular stage. Being a psychic healer myself, I found the book quite informative on a few new and different approaches and teachings - from the basic "guess who's standing behind me" exercises to the more intricate part of developing spiritual gifts and communication. From diet to emotional and mental states to your spiritual self, Mr. Van Praagh prepares you to explore a new world of inner sight and knowledge on your own. By exploring and opening up to your inner self, the author explains how new awareness is brought into your life, enabling you to live a more fulfilled existence than ever imagined and the happy life you've always dreamed of. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered about "the other side" and to those of you who are ready to utilize your own "innerknowingness" and experience what you came here for - to love and be loved.
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Summary: Ease your fears of death
Review: In this book you will find that death is just another stage in life. We are all at different levels of learning and death isn't really as final as we use to think. Uplifting, and a great book. The comparisons of mediums and the specifics on seances was a little boring, but very interesting experiences by James Van Praagh
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Summary: Such a Beautiful Book!
Review: I believed in reincarnation but this book really gave me a vivid image of life after death. If we are open minded enough, this book will convince us we will never die. We just take off our physical bodies. Our personalities stay exactly the same. I am sure this book has helped many people heal from loss of loved ones or fear of death. The peace, love and joy the writer's clients experienced really touched me deeply and brought me tears. Such a beautiful book! I also recommend "the Laws of Eternity" and "the Laws of the Sun" by Ryuho Okawa, "Many Lives Many Masters" "Only Love is Real" by Brian Weiss.
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Summary: Excellent book for anyone suffering the loss of a loved one.
Review: This is a must read for anyone who has any doubt or fears as to what happens after death. James has convinced me that death is something that need not be feared. Our loved ones have passed on to another level of living. They are still with us even though we don't see them. We are comforted knowing we are never alone. It's exciting to know that death isn't what it seems or appears. His book has changed my life and the way I view things. James has been blessed with a gift that he uses to ease the heartbreak of so many people.
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