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Rating: 
Summary: Powerful and touching
Review: After reading this book, there is no question in my mind that there is life after death. The author interviewed many children who had near death experiences, and even did follow-up interviews with them several years later. They all described floating above their bodies, going through a dark tunnel, and then seeing the most amazing light they had ever seen. Others had seen dead loved ones who told them to go back to their bodies, since it wasn't their time yet. A few of the children were given a choice whether to stay or go back to earth, and these particular children chose to go back to their parents. They mentioned approaching a door, and if you chose to go through that door, you could not come back to earth. Since science has regularly dismissed near death experiences, the author did extensive research. There is a part of the brain that, when electrically stimulated, can produce a feeling of floating above one's body. He talked about all the different stages the brain and body go through when death approaches, and the very end should be total darkness if there is truly no life after death. However, that is when people see the brightest light of all. There is no scientific explanation for that light. This is the part that convinced me that there is truly life after death. Another interesting thing is that when he interviewed these children later on as adults, they had a much greater appreciation for life than many others around them. These near death experiences made them want to live life to the fullest, and they have absolutely no fear of death now. They said that life is actually much simpler than any of us ever thought. This book would be especially helpful to anyone who has lost a loved one, or just for people who want to know more about this most important subject. While we will never have all the answers here on earth, this book proves to me that there is definitely life after death.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: Before this book was published, the majority of studies on the subject of near-death experiences had dealt with adults. This book specifically concentrates on NDEs of children. Dr. Morse theorized that children would be less influenced by their culture and environment, so their reactions would be more "pure" than their adult counterparts. There are many similarities between the experiences of children and adults and only one major difference, as Dr. Morse points out. He includes many interviews with children and even includes two patients who had NDEs as children and again as adults. For the scientific-minded among readers, there are plenty of studies included which show that it is unlikely that any of the experiences recorded in this book had anything to do with delusions caused by drugs or by physical or mental illness. These experiences seem to have caused great comfort to those they happened to, and thus to the reader.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: Before this book was published, the majority of studies on the subject of near-death experiences had dealt with adults. This book specifically concentrates on NDEs of children. Dr. Morse theorized that children would be less influenced by their culture and environment, so their reactions would be more "pure" than their adult counterparts. There are many similarities between the experiences of children and adults and only one major difference, as Dr. Morse points out. He includes many interviews with children and even includes two patients who had NDEs as children and again as adults. For the scientific-minded among readers, there are plenty of studies included which show that it is unlikely that any of the experiences recorded in this book had anything to do with delusions caused by drugs or by physical or mental illness. These experiences seem to have caused great comfort to those they happened to, and thus to the reader.
Rating:
Summary: Informing and Compelling
Review: I found this book very convincing in a way no other book has been for me. It comforted all the members of my family immensely after the death of my 11 year old grandson, Jonnie, of leukemia. We also used it before Jonnie died to prepare him for his own possible death. Jonnie was not afraid to die and this book is part of the reason. I am grateful to Dr. Morse for giving us this wonderful tool. Jonnie is still our hero. He started two charities to benefit kids with cancer, the first at age 8, the second at age 10. He won the Kids With Courage Award 2002 and the 2002 Local Hero Award. http://www.jonniescharity.com
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, Comforting, Believable
Review: I read this book right after my father died, and found it immensely comforting. The Near Death Experience (or NDE) has been recorded in many peoples, cultures and times, and is a human phenomenon that cannot be denied. It exists. But what does it mean? Dr. Morse's research of the NDE in children was especially interesting, as children are guileless and have no axes to grind. Indeed, many of the children experienced places and beings in their NDE that did not coincide with the religious beliefs they had been taught. Unfortunately, the subject makes some in the scientific community uncomfortable, and so we may not see additional or followup studies anytime soon. This book was fascinating in a scientific way, and I couldn't help but feel that I was getting a bonafide peek at the world that follows this one. I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has experienced a recent bereavement.
Rating:
Summary: Easy and Intriguing Read
Review: Most people are not comfortable with death and dying (pg. 76). By the time children reach adulthood, they have watched over a thousand violent deaths on television, yet they have no concept of what is involved in the dying process (pg. 94). No surprise, death education is ignored and has replaced sex as the forbidden topic (pg. 76). Most doctors are not emotionally much better equipped than laymen to cope with the angst of death (pg. 15, 53). As patients near death, their doctors spend less time at their bedsides (pg. 52, 68). Doctors like to think that they are in control (pg. 68). They regard death as a sign of personal failure (pg. 15). More than a century ago, most people died at home in the presence of a multigenerational family and loved ones (pg. 97). Society has replaced that traditional deathbed scene with the loving lie, in which the involved actors are invited to deny the reality of the situation (pg. 60, 77-79, 86). Today, most people die alone in hospitals (pg. 56, 97). They are more likely to be surrounded and sustained by machines than by their family and friends. People eventually do not have access to a priest, minister or physician (pg. 79). They are heavily sedated, resuscitated and medicated until even the most pugnacious doctors have enough, and the body is permitted to die (pg. 55-56, 63, 75-76). The physician's dilemma is where to draw the line (pg. 55). When patients experience pre-death visions, doctors often repress them with medication and then flee to the comfort of their other, less sick patients (pg. 63). Patients are convinced that they have had bad dreams (pg. 93). Children intuitively feel that if they ask questions about death, people will visit them less (pg. 79). The nursing staff, however, tends to have a different response, probably because they spend more time talking and listening to patients than brusque and hurried doctors usually do (pg. 17, 93). Pre-death visions contain a message of hope for the patient and his family and the discussion of these visions can significantly facilitate the healing process for the living (pg. 63, 65, 73-74). Unsurprisingly, most doctors consider near death experiences (NDE) a freak hallucination that can be dismissed as "supernatural" or be put in the same category as UFO sightings (pg. 15, 16). Their reasoning is: If you do not understand NDE, you cannot explain it (pg. 56). These doctors prefer to ignore it (pg. 85). Paradoxically, many researchers in the medical profession feel, deep down in their hearts, that there is a soul (pg. 111). The mentally sound children that Melvin Morse, a respected pediatrician, interviewed at his initiative had most often not told their parents about their NDEs. And none told doctors or nurse unless it slipped out while they were semiconscious (pg. 25, 47, 157). When children shared their NDE with adults, they were sometimes ridiculed or referred to a psychiatrist or diagnosed as temporarily insane (pg. 37, 156, 182). To NDErs, that attitude is not surprising due to a widespread ignorance of death. Morse systematically demonstrates with brilliance that NDEs cannot be denied. NDErs should not be upset that Morse uses science to better understand NDEs. NDE doubters are dealing with an increasing body of scientific evidences in favor of its existence (pg. 9, 101, 202-203).
Morse first debunks the claim that NDEs are hallucinations that result from a variety of drugs, psychological phenomena, or physiological stress (pg. 116-117, 170-171, 214-226). Morse successively looks at LSD, morphine, heroin, "recreational" drugs, anesthetic agents, ketamine, transient depersonalization, memories of birth, autoscopic hallucinations, endorphins and hypoxia. Morse then explains that the sylvian fissure, an area close to the right ear, when electrically simulated, produces the out-of-body experience that about 25% of NDErs he has studied, experienced during their NDE in childhood (pg. 116, 118-119). Neuroscience has not been able to account for the Light, the key element of the NDE, that nearly every near-death experience of children has (pg. 117, 131-132, 152-153). As the brain starts its dying process, there is a collapse of the visual fields and tunnel vision results (pg. 134). Furthermore, if the Light were simply a spasm of rigor mortis in the optic nerve, patients would simply say that they saw a blinding bright light (pg. 153, 154). The Light gives these children an unmatched sense of peace, love and understanding (pg. 129, 153, 197). Strikingly, NDErs are fairly casual, and the actual telling about their NDE is very brief. Furthermore, NDErs do not change or embellish the story after years of retelling the event (pg. 188-189). The major difference between almost all adult and young NDErs is logically the lack of a life review because they do not yet have much of a life (pg. 34, 161-162, 164). The Light is almost always one that encourages knowledge. NDErs believe that the Light has given them the power to transform their life and that of the people around them (pg. 190-191). Furthermore, NDErs do not carry the burden of fear with them that many people have about death (pg. 170, 179). They know that life is precious and must be fulfilling (pg. 179). The Light, however, is nothing new. The Light fuels religious awe and has the power to transform (pg. 144). It has been well documented over time and across culture (pg. 86-92, 191). The Bible itself contains many references that support the existence of the Light. For example, in the New Testament (2 Cor. 12:1-4), Paul describes the NDE that he had (pg. 9). The source of this Light may forever remain a mystery (pg. 130).
PS. Readers can find additional information about NDEs on [website listed on](pg. 135).
Rating:
Summary: As a prior poster said, a very comforting book.
Review: Not to repeat what several others have mentioned here in these well written reviews, but this is a wonderful book. The most notable element I see in this book is that children do not pass ALONE. There is always a loving presence - someone that goes with the child - and takes away their fears and eases the transition. There was one story about a young girl (age 7) who tried to kill herself. She'd been the victim of horrible child abuse and chose suicide as the only way out. She left her body and found herself surrounded by "a bubble of love and life". She was shown a tree - encased in ice and snow - and told she was in the winter of her life now, but that summer was coming and much joy was ahead of her in life. She was 47 when interviewed for this book and her adult life had been one of stability, joy and much peace. The other good reason to buy this book is because on page 147 is "the rest of the story" about the 1986 bombing of the elementary school in Cokeville, Wyoming. Many of the children who were there when the bomb went off (they'd all been stuffed into one classroom by David Young, the bomber) told of angelic beings that gave them very specific instructions as to where to go to be safe. Not one or two, but many children talked about the angels, or "nice ladies who were all lit up" and voices - all giving them clear direction. And by the way, only David Young died when that bomb went off. This is a well written, informative, enlightening and good-news book.
Rating: 
Summary: My Fav. NDE Books- I've Been There Too
Review: One day in 1995 I died, and had a NDE. Ever since then, I've been reading everything I can on the subject. According to most stories I've read, I had an unusual one, not going down a tunnel, but experiencing many interesting phenomena all the same. It seems to me that there are some NDE books and magazine articles that are just hype, and published just to give recognition. I have found, through my many years and multitudes of books on the subject, that there is an underlining truth and spirit that pervades the true experiences. So, I have compiled a list of my best reads for NDE books - ones that I consider genuine and adding validating light to the personal NDE experience. I have left out compilations, these are personal narratives. I hope you enjoy them too.
Embraced by the Light ------by Betty J. Eadie
Psychic Gifts ---------by Tiffany Snow
Saved by the Light --------by Dannion Brinkley
4 Days in Eternity ---------by Wayne F.A. Marentette
After the Light -------------by Kimberly Clark Sharp
Rating:
Summary: My Fav. NDE Books ¿ I¿ve Been There Too
Review: One day in 1995 I died, and had a NDE. Ever since then, I've been reading everything I can on the subject. According to most stories I've read, I had an unusual one, not going down a tunnel, but experiencing many interesting phenomena all the same. It seems to me that there are some NDE books and magazine articles that are just hype, and published just to give recognition. I have found, through my many years and multitudes of books on the subject, that there is an underlining truth and spirit that pervades the true experiences. So, I have compiled a list of my best reads for NDE books - ones that I consider genuine and adding validating light to the personal NDE experience. I have left out compilations, these are personal narratives. I hope you enjoy them too.
Embraced by the Light ------by Betty J. Eadie
Psychic Gifts ---------by Tiffany Snow
Saved by the Light --------by Dannion Brinkley
4 Days in Eternity ---------by Wayne F.A. Marentette
After the Light -------------by Kimberly Clark Sharp
Rating:
Summary: Thought-Provoking
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the most impressive studies about NDE's available. What makes this book so interesting is the amount of detail that the children have reported about their NDE's as well as certain items that would seem very peculiar if it were just a defensive reaction of the mind to something too terrible to contemplate. For one thing, most children mentioned that in their NDE, they were NOT children, but fully grown people. This is an extremely odd phenomena -- it would seem that if this were some sort of generated phantasy that the children would be seeing themselves as they are, but without being ill, but this is not the case at all. This forms one of the most convincing aspect about the experiences. And while an adult may be able to "guess" what may happen in surgery, it is unlikely that a child would be able to do so, thus giving more credence to the notion of the out-of-body-experience. A fascinating book.
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