Rating: 
Summary: hmmmmmmmm..........
Review: 'The Last Laugh' by Raymond Moody, MD.Yesterday, I did a speed read of this book in Barnes & Noble over a cup of black coffee and a pizza-sized oatmeal raisin cookie while waiting for Aikido class to start. I was looking forward to reading some new and interesting insights from this near-death pioneer. Unfortunately, there was none of that in the book. The book was a dry, long-winded, twisted discussion of the intractable points of view between skeptics, religious fundamentalists, and psi believers. I came away with the feeling that while Dr. Moody believes in psi, he wants to distance himself from the New Agers and people that blindly believe any psi claim that comes along. At the same time, he raps the knuckles of the skeptics and the fundamentalists. It seems to me he could have said all of that in four pages. But in the early chapters, he admonishes the reader to 'hang in there and take the journey with me.' Don't fall for it. There's no payoff. If distancing himself was his goal, Dr. Moody seems to have achieved a successful reader-ectomy. If near-death anecdotes are what you want to read, read Dr. Moody's previous books. 'The Last Laugh' ain' t it. I think I got the last laugh because I didn't shell out the $12.75 to be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Moody Performs a Successful Reader-ectomy
Review: 'The Last Laugh' by Raymond Moody, MD. Yesterday, I did a speed read of this book in Barnes & Noble over a cup of black coffee and a pizza-sized oatmeal raisin cookie while waiting for Aikido class to start. I was looking forward to reading some new and interesting insights from this near-death pioneer. Unfortunately, there was none of that in the book. The book was a dry, long-winded, twisted discussion of the intractable points of view between skeptics, religious fundamentalists, and psi believers. I came away with the feeling that while Dr. Moody believes in psi, he wants to distance himself from the New Agers and people that blindly believe any psi claim that comes along. At the same time, he raps the knuckles of the skeptics and the fundamentalists. It seems to me he could have said all of that in four pages. But in the early chapters, he admonishes the reader to 'hang in there and take the journey with me.' Don't fall for it. There's no payoff. If distancing himself was his goal, Dr. Moody seems to have achieved a successful reader-ectomy. If near-death anecdotes are what you want to read, read Dr. Moody's previous books. 'The Last Laugh' ain' t it. I think I got the last laugh because I didn't shell out the $12.75 to be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Last Laugh" is Hardly a Laugh
Review: Although Raymond Moody coins "playful paranormalist" as the new paranormal buzz term, nothing about "The Last Laugh" is even remotely playful. Weighted down with overly intellectual terms Moody seems to make up as he types, the book plods along at a stodgy pace only a Ph.D. candidate would feel compelled to endure. While he seemed conscious of who his audience was in all his other books, Moody seems to have either forgotten how to write for the masses or ceased to care whether they'll hang in with him or not. If you're a fan of his other works, beware of this latest offering. It bears no resemblance in style or content to previous work. According to Moody, "The Last Laugh" is actually the conclusion his publisher refused to insert in his first book, "Life After Life." He dismisses all paranormal occurrences as pure entertainment and in the process trashes any and all believers and practioners of it. Placing himself on an omnipotent pedestal, Moody looks down and proceeds to enjoy his last laugh at the expense of the rest of the paranormal crowd. The biggest question I have is why it took him 26 years to finally enlighten all of us about the "real truth." Since its first publication in 1975, "Life After Life" catapulted Moody to international fame as the near-death experience expert. He seemed to enjoy the recognition, making the rounds of the talk shows and spirituality seminars along with cranking out other volumes as follow-up work to his first. I met Moody at a seminar several years ago and never picked up a whimper of his current claim that the paranormal is largely just entertainment. Nor did I get that impression from the literature designed to recruit people to his mirror gazing institute. As a reader of his former books, I feel somewhat betrayed with his apparent change of tune. I can't help but wonder if it's being done to draw new attention to himself or perhaps to discredit other researchers and practioners in the paranormal world whom he feels may have slighted him in some way. In any event, I'm not laughing at "The Last Laugh."
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Laugh
Review: Describing himself as a "playful paranormalist," Dr. Raymond Moody sets forth "a new philosophy of near-death experiences, apparitions, and the paranormal" in The Last Laugh, his latest book. Dr. Moody is an internationally recognized expert on near death experiences. He has written seven previous books, and presents lectures, as well as appearing on national television. Dr. Moody believes that meaningful discussion of paranormal phenomena has been obscured by three groups of people: the parapsychologists, who rely on science to provide proof; the skeptics, who believe paranormal experiences are either delusions or fraud; and the fundamentalists, who hold that all things paranormal are the work of the devil. Dr. Moody says that near-death experiences aren't death experiences, and therefore none of us know what really happens after death. He says that "what I am suggesting throughout this whole book is that, if we are to discover any real truths about the paranormal, about near-death experiences, and about life after death, we will only do so if we stop taking everything so seriously." He expands that by saying we take what knowledge we have literally, and that "taking things literally [impedes] learning." He says that rather than study paranormal experiences "from a place of literalness," he begins "from a place of childlike willingness to explore everything playfully, but with intention to look closely and with respect at what my explorations revealed." One of his discoveries is the "empathic near death experience," where the experience is shared by the dying person with someone who is not dying. Dr. Moody's research also reveals that the paranormal has entertainment value for humans. He says that he has "become increasingly aware of how entertainment, humor, play, and the paranormal are, in a curious way, intimately enmeshed." We enjoy trying to solve the puzzle and paradoxes presented by paranormal phenomena. Dr. Moody says "The Last Laugh seeks to pry open the dam holding back the stream of information about. . .near-death experiences." Readers will find their beliefs about the paranormal, whatever those beliefs may be, challenged by his comments. They'll also find themselves intrigued and entertained.
Rating:
Summary: The Last Laugh
Review: Describing himself as a "playful paranormalist," Dr. Raymond Moody sets forth "a new philosophy of near-death experiences, apparitions, and the paranormal" in The Last Laugh, his latest book. Dr. Moody is an internationally recognized expert on near death experiences. He has written seven previous books, and presents lectures, as well as appearing on national television. Dr. Moody believes that meaningful discussion of paranormal phenomena has been obscured by three groups of people: the parapsychologists, who rely on science to provide proof; the skeptics, who believe paranormal experiences are either delusions or fraud; and the fundamentalists, who hold that all things paranormal are the work of the devil. Dr. Moody says that near-death experiences aren't death experiences, and therefore none of us know what really happens after death. He says that "what I am suggesting throughout this whole book is that, if we are to discover any real truths about the paranormal, about near-death experiences, and about life after death, we will only do so if we stop taking everything so seriously." He expands that by saying we take what knowledge we have literally, and that "taking things literally [impedes] learning." He says that rather than study paranormal experiences "from a place of literalness," he begins "from a place of childlike willingness to explore everything playfully, but with intention to look closely and with respect at what my explorations revealed." One of his discoveries is the "empathic near death experience," where the experience is shared by the dying person with someone who is not dying. Dr. Moody's research also reveals that the paranormal has entertainment value for humans. He says that he has "become increasingly aware of how entertainment, humor, play, and the paranormal are, in a curious way, intimately enmeshed." We enjoy trying to solve the puzzle and paradoxes presented by paranormal phenomena. Dr. Moody says "The Last Laugh seeks to pry open the dam holding back the stream of information about. . .near-death experiences." Readers will find their beliefs about the paranormal, whatever those beliefs may be, challenged by his comments. They'll also find themselves intrigued and entertained.
Rating:
Summary: This Book is a Complete Waste of Money
Review: Dr. Moody devotes page after page to slandering and childish name-calling of his critics which is especially unbecoming to a profession person whom I had always held in esteem. He also trivializes the Near Death Experience, including it in the same category with entertainment, humor and play. The NDE is one which is of deep significance, spiritually and philosophically to many of us and not one to be dismissed lightly as is done in this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A JUICY IRREVERENT READ
Review: Frankly, I don't understand some of the other reviews that are so negative...who needs yet another NDE book that piously pumps pompous platitudes up your angelic skirt? Instead, this book upfront promises to be a winking irreverent review of the paranormal "trade", and in real human terms skews the major categories of participants: the parapsychologists who perennially seek admittance to the "big house" via scientific proof, the skeptics who adore their own Carl Sagan sanctified logic and scientism, and the Christian Right, which sees Satan in every new concept since the invention of the wheel. Some reviewers are miff'd that Raymond actually called the latter naughty names. They deserve worse, and if in control would ban this and any other book on the NDE experience as the work of the Devil. I suggest everyone lighten up and get a little street wise. If you want warm and cozy platitudes, read POINTS TO PONDER in this month's Readers Digest. For those who like to THINK, this book is fascinating. I grant Raymond the right to be a real human being, not some NDE saint or a substitute wise Father.
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Summary: So what's so funny?
Review: He could have said it all in a paragraph--and written it better!
Rating:
Summary: You should allow for below zero reviews
Review: I admit I didn't pay much for this book, but even 1 cent would have been too much.
I can't believe this book has been written by Dr. Moody.
It's an insult to anyone believing in the paranormal.
Rating:
Summary: Are we having fun yet?
Review: I admit to being extremely surprised by the basic premise ofRaymond Moody's new book, which is that near-death experiences and"paranormal" phenomena in general do not prove the existence of life after death, spirits, etc. His logic is sound; I just didn't expect him, at this late stage in the game, to pull back from what 100% of his readers have always believed was his viewpoint. Moody uses a satiric, bubbly tone, similar to the way philosopher Mary Daly writes: word play, puns, alliteration and rhymes; and his aim, like Daly's, is to skewer mainstream thought and convention like meat on a spit and then roast it over the coals of his acrid wit and insight. Moody also knows a lot about mythology, history, sociology and of course psychology, and ties these fields into the discussion in a very interesting inter-discliplinary fashion. His premise is that as a species we are permanently fascinated with the paranormal because it entertains us, because it's fun, and that this is reason enough to continue studying it, despite the fact that we can't prove its claims one way or the other. I give Moody credit for having the courage to express ideas which many of his fans will find offensive and shocking. My complaint is that the writing style is dense, full of asides and overblown with academic syntax. I had trouble following him at times (and I'm no dummy). And despite his claims to the contrary, his discussion of such notables as Dannion Brinkley and Betty Eadie does come off sounding as though he thinks they're fakes, which is going to be hard for many serious students of the paranormal to swallow. I appreciated Moody's assessment of the three main players in the paranormal game, which never resolves itself and never goes forward: the paranormalists themselves, striving for credibility; the professional skeptics whose religion is not objective investigation but "Scientism"; and what he calls the funda-Christians, who see Satan in every fun and pleasant thing the world has to offer, paranormal experiences included. If you're expecting another of Moody's treatises on NDE phenomena, skip this one. But if you're willing to put aside your assumptions and beliefs and consider a totally new way of thinking about the paranormal, this book is worth the effort.
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