After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond
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- Create Date：2021-04-08 11:52:12
- Update Date：2025-09-11
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- Author：Bruce Greyson
- ISBN：1250263034
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Summary
The world's leading expert on near-death experiences reveals his journey toward rethinking the nature of death， life， and the continuity of consciousness。
Cases of remarkable experiences on the threshold of death have been reported since ancient times， and are described today by 10% of people whose hearts stop。 The medical world has generally ignored these “near-death experiences，” dismissing them as “tricks of the brain” or wishful thinking。 But after his patients started describing events that he could not just sweep under the rug， Dr。 Bruce Greyson began to investigate。
As a physician without a religious belief system， he approached near-death experiences from a scientific perspective。 In After， he shares the transformative lessons he has learned over four decades of research。 Our culture has tended to view dying as the end of our consciousness， the end of our existence—a dreaded prospect that for many people evokes fear and anxiety。
But Dr。 Greyson shows how scientific revelations about the dying process can support an alternative theory。 Dying could be the threshold between one form of consciousness and another， not an ending but a transition。 This new perspective on the nature of death can transform the fear of dying that pervades our culture into a healthy view of it as one more milestone in the course of our lives。 After challenges us to open our minds to these experiences and to what they can teach us， and in so doing， expand our understanding of consciousness and of what it means to be human。
Cases of remarkable experiences on the threshold of death have been reported since ancient times， and are described today by 10% of people whose hearts stop。 The medical world has generally ignored these “near-death experiences，” dismissing them as “tricks of the brain” or wishful thinking。 But after his patients started describing events that he could not just sweep under the rug， Dr。 Bruce Greyson began to investigate。
As a physician without a religious belief system， he approached near-death experiences from a scientific perspective。 In After， he shares the transformative lessons he has learned over four decades of research。 Our culture has tended to view dying as the end of our consciousness， the end of our existence—a dreaded prospect that for many people evokes fear and anxiety。
But Dr。 Greyson shows how scientific revelations about the dying process can support an alternative theory。 Dying could be the threshold between one form of consciousness and another， not an ending but a transition。 This new perspective on the nature of death can transform the fear of dying that pervades our culture into a healthy view of it as one more milestone in the course of our lives。 After challenges us to open our minds to these experiences and to what they can teach us， and in so doing， expand our understanding of consciousness and of what it means to be human。
Reviews
Judy Vasseur
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“The idea that consciousness is a phenomenon of the brain， the way digestion is a phenomenon of the stomach—is as fantastic as the idea of a self-playing orchestra。” —Bruce Greyson， M。D。“Is it possible that what experiencers call the “spiritual world” is not in fact a different physical location but rather a different aspect of our familiar world that we normally don’t see？”
Sarah Smith
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I really love your story， it deserves a lot of audience。 If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on NovelStar， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top
Richard Haddock
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Very interesting and validated a lot of my beliefs with scientific study。
Elisamatt
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Scientific and ReassuringI met Dr。 Greyson at a conference about 1。5 years ago when this book had not yet been published。 At the time， I was familiar w/ Ian Stevenson’s and Jim Tucker’s work on reincarnation—which I discovered by accident—but didn’t know much about NDEs。 I had barely heard about them。 I had not read Dr。 Greyson’s work prior and looked forward to reading this book。 It doesn’t disappoint， from its coherent and logical layout to the conclusions he draws。 He does not write as a “tru Scientific and ReassuringI met Dr。 Greyson at a conference about 1。5 years ago when this book had not yet been published。 At the time， I was familiar w/ Ian Stevenson’s and Jim Tucker’s work on reincarnation—which I discovered by accident—but didn’t know much about NDEs。 I had barely heard about them。 I had not read Dr。 Greyson’s work prior and looked forward to reading this book。 It doesn’t disappoint， from its coherent and logical layout to the conclusions he draws。 He does not write as a “true believer”， but as one who， having studied the evidence， is almost reluctantly drawn into his observations that there might be more to life than what we now know。 One possibility， for instance， is that we may be connected to something larger than ourselves。 As such， this is the best kind of “science writing。” When I discovered the initial JAMA article on Stevenson’s work years ago， I personally wasn’t in a good place， w/ two seriously ill children and a flagging career。 In further exploring the topic， some hope did arise that there might be more than misery ahead for us。 This book affirmed those thoughts—life might be more than a chancy jungle where the lucky and smart survive while the others （us） don’t。 So， the book has achieved at least that one goal of its author， （for me） as well as the other goals he mentions。 Some critics have dismissed this book as a review of known research （known to who？ I might ask）。 I’m less familiar w/ NDE research， so perhaps the critics are correct。 Big deal。 It’s the coherency of the presentation of even supposedly known fact in this book that makes it helpful。 Also， this book is not written for a scientific audience so assumptions about a purported reader’s prior knowledge of the topic cannot be made。 That criticism and others I saw as the usual cat fighting among academics that is often based in envy。 I was an academic， and I know more than I care to about this nasty behavior。It’s a good book。 Read it if you are interested。 And thank you， Dr。 Greyson， for writing it。 Sheila Wall， MD， MFA， CAc 。。。more
Elizabeth Love
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Bruce Greyson didn't win me over with After。 This collection of near-death experiences （NDEs） has many interesting cases in it， but the presentation of those cases is lacking。 Since it reads like a text book， it's boring。 Still， there are poignant facts worth taking notice of if you can manage to slog through the pages。Do you remember that ending of the Lord of the Rings movies where it felt like it was ending， but then it didn't and fooled viewers three or four times？ Reading After is like that Bruce Greyson didn't win me over with After。 This collection of near-death experiences （NDEs） has many interesting cases in it， but the presentation of those cases is lacking。 Since it reads like a text book， it's boring。 Still， there are poignant facts worth taking notice of if you can manage to slog through the pages。Do you remember that ending of the Lord of the Rings movies where it felt like it was ending， but then it didn't and fooled viewers three or four times？ Reading After is like that。 Even in Greyson's final chapter where he's specifically summarizing each lesson learned， there were too many false wrap-ups with "and that brings us to the next lesson，" type of structure。 There were at least seven lessons spelled out in the conclusion。If the subject of what happens after we die appeals to you， there are certainly plenty of books on it。 Due to the various ways in which people face death， take note that suicide is addressed sporadically。 Greyson calls them "suicide attempters" which in 2021 when language has evolved to be more inclusive and sensitive， these subjects should be referred to as "suicide survivors" at the very least。 The main conclusion of addressing suicide is that， even though people had pleasant experiences when they left their bodies， they were not compelled to try again and get to that peace any quicker。 The opposite happened among that demographic。 They were more inclined to appreciate every moment of living。For others who were taken from their bodies by means of accident or natural causes， there were some cases where returning to their living state after having time in a state of complete peace left them utterly depressed。Greyson does interview subjects who have set religious practices and others who have lapsed and atheists。 Some people saw what they expected to see: deceased loved ones， Jesus， or a God of one form or another。 Certain people were surprised by what they encountered。Greyson has a passion for his psychiatric practice and for the NDE subject。 That much comes through。 The book just did not stick the landing in organization and presentation of people's deeply personal stories。 His writing between the stories is extremely repetitive。 。。。more
Dawn
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3。5 stars
MaryL
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This is the first book I have read about near death experiences。 I loved all of the experiences that the author relates to back up his points。 The people's tales of their near death experiences helped to bring the book alive。 The authors explanation of how the brain works and his theory of the difference between brain and mind were down to earth and easy to understand。 The question of "where is the consciousness generated" in brain or in mind？ doesn't have an answer and is a hard question to pon This is the first book I have read about near death experiences。 I loved all of the experiences that the author relates to back up his points。 The people's tales of their near death experiences helped to bring the book alive。 The authors explanation of how the brain works and his theory of the difference between brain and mind were down to earth and easy to understand。 The question of "where is the consciousness generated" in brain or in mind？ doesn't have an answer and is a hard question to ponder。 The experiences that the near death experiencers told give me comfort as I wonder what my future holds。 I will remember this book and think about it for a long time to come。 。。。more
Gail
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Author Dr。 Bruce Greyson began。 his exploration of near death experiences decades ago when an overdose patient related information to him that she could have only obtained during a period when she was unconscious in a hospital bed。 From his extensive interviews with those who have experienced NDEs， Greyson has come to believe that our brains are not the source of consciousness but rather focus our attention on information necessary for us to function in our world。The anecdotes are fascinating; h Author Dr。 Bruce Greyson began。 his exploration of near death experiences decades ago when an overdose patient related information to him that she could have only obtained during a period when she was unconscious in a hospital bed。 From his extensive interviews with those who have experienced NDEs， Greyson has come to believe that our brains are not the source of consciousness but rather focus our attention on information necessary for us to function in our world。The anecdotes are fascinating; however， anyone who has done much reading on the subject will recognize many of them。 Greyson allows the reader to come to his own conclusions on the validity of NDEs and life after death， while presenting the subject from a scientific point。Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book。 This is my honest review。 。。。more
Kerry
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If you are curious about life after death or near death experiences， read this！ Dr。 Greyson， a researcher and Psychiatris presents his 40 plus years of research of near death experiences and writes story after story of patient descriptions of their NDE's， His book is well written and the patient stories were very interesting， but I confess that there were so many patient NDE's that didn't read every one。 If you are curious about life after death or near death experiences， read this！ Dr。 Greyson， a researcher and Psychiatris presents his 40 plus years of research of near death experiences and writes story after story of patient descriptions of their NDE's， His book is well written and the patient stories were very interesting， but I confess that there were so many patient NDE's that didn't read every one。 。。。more
Daknees57
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A truly magnificent book， bringing scientific rigour to a common experience that most scientists and medical professionals prefer to ignore。 This is a groundbreaking work that I predict will have significant impact in the world。 Highly recommended！ Thank you Dr。 Greyson。
Tia
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First off， I would like to thank the publishing company for sending me an ARC， in return for a fair and honest review。 The opening chapter was perhaps the strongest start I have seen in a while and hooks you instantly。 However， I wish I could say that the momentum is kept up throughout but it is not。 By about the half-way point， I felt as if I had read enough with how some chapters were repeating the same points over and over regarding the author's cynicism。 The actual research and conclusions t First off， I would like to thank the publishing company for sending me an ARC， in return for a fair and honest review。 The opening chapter was perhaps the strongest start I have seen in a while and hooks you instantly。 However， I wish I could say that the momentum is kept up throughout but it is not。 By about the half-way point， I felt as if I had read enough with how some chapters were repeating the same points over and over regarding the author's cynicism。 The actual research and conclusions the author has drawn from them are fascinating， but ultimately I did not finish the book due to the repetitive nature of the author's musings and tangents。 Perhaps if the structure was a little tighter， I would have finished it。 Ultimately I would still suggest it for anyone who is interested in the nature of near-death-experiences or 'NDE's' as the author shortens them to， but don't feel bad if you get burned out。 。。。more
Sheila Pritchard
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The best Near Death Experience book I’ve read。 So thoroughly researched。 A great mix of personal stories and scientific research。 Very inspiring for living life now and not fearing death and what lies beyond。
Jennifer England
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What an interesting book with so many near death and other experiences。 I loved it。 I believe in Angel numbers and there is a very important exchange between Dr。 Greyson and the Dalai Lama on page 222。 Read this book and look up some meanings of 222， I think you will be amazed。 Messages of hope and a light for all。 Thank you Dr。 Greyson and all who were a part of this amazingly inspired book。 Namaste。
Carissa
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I found the perspective of this author so incredibly refreshing and validating。 A scientific and skeptical approach that doesn't immediately dismiss experiences and phenomena that we have yet developed the tools to understand， but instead explores them from an evidence based foundation。 Ego put aside for the sake of scientific exploration。 I found the perspective of this author so incredibly refreshing and validating。 A scientific and skeptical approach that doesn't immediately dismiss experiences and phenomena that we have yet developed the tools to understand， but instead explores them from an evidence based foundation。 Ego put aside for the sake of scientific exploration。 。。。more
Heather
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An interesting retelling of many NDE’s and the final chapter summarizes the common threads。 There are no answers though to the why， despite scientific research。Thank you to the author and publisher for the complimentary copy。
Alyssa
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Just 。。 wow。
Yameen
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A great introduction to those new to the phenomenon of NDES。 Documents Dr Bruce Greysons journey into discovering the NDE and his commitment to researching and questioning patients over the years。 Whilst people with previous knowledge of nDESs may not learn much from here newcomers will get the gist and understand the nature of NDES。 PROS - Easy to read for beginners - Written in very personal manner- Summarizes key aspects of NDECons - Not rigorous academic wise- No objective academic criticism A great introduction to those new to the phenomenon of NDES。 Documents Dr Bruce Greysons journey into discovering the NDE and his commitment to researching and questioning patients over the years。 Whilst people with previous knowledge of nDESs may not learn much from here newcomers will get the gist and understand the nature of NDES。 PROS - Easy to read for beginners - Written in very personal manner- Summarizes key aspects of NDECons - Not rigorous academic wise- No objective academic criticism of ndes so skeptics would be better looking at other nde texts 。。。more
Bec74
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Fascinating and a bit mind blowing。 The sections about his skepticism and scientific method were a bit repetitive。 I guess he was trying to respond to his critics， but he came across as very defensive。
Squaresparky
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I received an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads。Overall it's an interesting topic。 I wish the book would have flowed better。 It became tedious to read at times。 I received an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads。Overall it's an interesting topic。 I wish the book would have flowed better。 It became tedious to read at times。 。。。more
Sibyl Martin
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Amazing stories I first heard about this book on a podcast。 The doctor’s description of these patients’ lives after NDEs were so inspiring。 As their attitudes changed and evolved into a selfless lifestyle。 The book approached this subject in a very scientific manner， but still addressed each experiencer respectively。 I am a Christian and throughout the stories of NDE， different scriptures kept coming to mind。 It made me question how many things we believe as Christians are man made。 God is true Amazing stories I first heard about this book on a podcast。 The doctor’s description of these patients’ lives after NDEs were so inspiring。 As their attitudes changed and evolved into a selfless lifestyle。 The book approached this subject in a very scientific manner， but still addressed each experiencer respectively。 I am a Christian and throughout the stories of NDE， different scriptures kept coming to mind。 It made me question how many things we believe as Christians are man made。 God is true love and that’s what these NDE where finding out。 Some of them had no words to describe an enveloping love， but this book confirmed His existence for me even more。 。。。more
Robin
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Outstanding， I highly recommend this book！
Heidi Burkhart
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The book was well balanced with anecdotal information from people who had NDS's， and research。 There were some good interviews that Greyson did with other professionals in the field at the end of the book。 I wouldn't say that it was "gripping" reading， but I was quite curious about the topic。 If you are curious about this topic I would recommend it！ The book was well balanced with anecdotal information from people who had NDS's， and research。 There were some good interviews that Greyson did with other professionals in the field at the end of the book。 I wouldn't say that it was "gripping" reading， but I was quite curious about the topic。 If you are curious about this topic I would recommend it！ 。。。more
Elaine
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Another great win from a Goodreads giveaway！Greyson starts off telling the reader that this is NOT a scientific treatise for the academics， it is written in order for the lay person to understand his decades of research into Near Death Experiences （NDE）。 It is a very readable book， the science behind the research is explained clearly but if you want more in depth research， he provides an extensive bibliography。I have heard tales of my family members who've witnessed dead relatives appearing mome Another great win from a Goodreads giveaway！Greyson starts off telling the reader that this is NOT a scientific treatise for the academics， it is written in order for the lay person to understand his decades of research into Near Death Experiences （NDE）。 It is a very readable book， the science behind the research is explained clearly but if you want more in depth research， he provides an extensive bibliography。I have heard tales of my family members who've witnessed dead relatives appearing moments or even months after their passing so reading about NDE and others seeing more beyond this world is no surprise to me。 This book is a good reassurance to any who are questioning what is beyond death and what is the purpose of our existence。 Greyson has looked into how NDEs affect those who have them and the changes they've made in their lives afterwards。 。。。more
Michael Pasquarella
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Easily understood scientific research approach to the phenomenon of near death experiences。 I think it would be very helpful for all those who deal with people near death， to read what doctor Greyson has written。
Shelley
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It wasn't much different from Raymond Moody's "Life After Life。" It wasn't much different from Raymond Moody's "Life After Life。" 。。。more
Michael P Demkowicz
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Fascinating scientific discussion of life and death。 Well-written and easy for the layman to comprehend。 The author reports and you decide。 Discussion of the mind and brain e？without forcing religious beliefs on the reader。 Must read for the curious reader regardless of the readers religious belief， agnosticism or secularism。 Read this book and see for yourself。
Pat
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A good book about near death experience。 I'm not new to the subject so I didn't need the lengthy scientific exposition。 My favorite part is always the individual accounts。 A useful concept for me to mull around is the idea that the brain is a biological filter for the Mind， and actually interferes with our access to the great Mystery that is Universal Mind and consciousness。 We are soooooo much more than our brains and bodies。 A good book about near death experience。 I'm not new to the subject so I didn't need the lengthy scientific exposition。 My favorite part is always the individual accounts。 A useful concept for me to mull around is the idea that the brain is a biological filter for the Mind， and actually interferes with our access to the great Mystery that is Universal Mind and consciousness。 We are soooooo much more than our brains and bodies。 。。。more
Sue
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After is a very interesting book on a topic that is little discussed and even less understood。 Bruce Greyson has been investigating in this area for some 40 years， ever since he first encountered unusual behaviors in an unconscious patient early in his career as a psychiatrist。 This book helps all who might be interested learn what his and many others’ years of research have revealed about those who have near death experiences （NDEs）， how they may occur and some characteristics。As it happens， th After is a very interesting book on a topic that is little discussed and even less understood。 Bruce Greyson has been investigating in this area for some 40 years， ever since he first encountered unusual behaviors in an unconscious patient early in his career as a psychiatrist。 This book helps all who might be interested learn what his and many others’ years of research have revealed about those who have near death experiences （NDEs）， how they may occur and some characteristics。As it happens， there is evidence for NDEs in historical and literary records going back hundreds to thousands of years （the Greeks）。 There are mentions of injured people seeming to be dead， then being alive and reporting strange visions or experiences。 It appears to occur in about 10 to 20% of those who come close to death。Dr。 Greyson presents extensive detail as he has set up a format to move methodically from the existence of NDEs， through the physiology of the brain， theories of brain vs mind， comparison of life pre and post an NDE， etc。 There is an international association dedicated to this work now， one in which Dr。 Greyson has been very important。 While absolute answers may never be possible， there are very intriguing results found here， such as specific information a person may bring back from an NDE that they didn’t know at the time of their illness/injury。 This leads to questions about the possible existence of the mind without the brain。 As I said， intriguing。I do recommend this book to all who have any interest in this area。 A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review。 。。。more
Thomas
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Very interesting book about Near-Death Experiences （NDEs）。 I heard about this book when the author， Bruce Greyson， was interview on the Peoples' Pharmacy radio program。 There were many examples of NDEs that Dr。 Greyson collected over many years and he has come to believe that these experiences are real to the people who have come very close to dying or were actually clinically dead for a short time before being resuscitated。 The similarities of what different patients described had very similar Very interesting book about Near-Death Experiences （NDEs）。 I heard about this book when the author， Bruce Greyson， was interview on the Peoples' Pharmacy radio program。 There were many examples of NDEs that Dr。 Greyson collected over many years and he has come to believe that these experiences are real to the people who have come very close to dying or were actually clinically dead for a short time before being resuscitated。 The similarities of what different patients described had very similar characteristics。 They also are not a result of drugs。 The stories are compelling and I will probably be reading more on this subject to learn more。 。。。more
Shamashtika
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