It isn’t hard to feel hopeless when we lose someone in death.
That loss is something that arouses feelings of anger, sadness, and emptiness.
But the hopelessness that arises can feel overwhelming. Why?
It’s because, at some point in our lives, everyone asks the question – what happens after we die? Is there such a thing as life after death?
Not everyone believes there’s anything to hope for after death. A lot of people, though – probably the majority of the Earth’s population, in fact – believe in some form of life after death.
It may be the idea of going to heaven, possessing the earth as a spirit, waiting for an eventual resurrection, or believing in the idea of reincarnation.
Believing that life can go on after death gives people hope – hope that they can see their loved ones again and hope that death isn’t final. It can help take the sting away from loss and the fear of our own mortality.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best books on life after death.
Can You Trust Our Top Picks? How We Chose the Books on Our List
While books on life after death are quite popular, some people shy away from them. Why is that?
It’s generally because they feel that the writer is trying to convert them, to change their basic religious or spiritual belief system.
Or, they’re worried that the hope they’ve held onto for years – that they were taught from a young age – might not be exactly right.
You can rest assured that our list of the best books on life after death has a totally innocent purpose.
Our purpose is to offer people a measure of comfort and hope.
Death brings to light a plethora of existential questions. Upon searching for answers to these questions, some people’s perception of life, death, and reality can change.
In creating this list of the best books on life after death, though, is not to change your existing beliefs. We understand that this can happen when reading new information, but our purpose is to help grieving people find a sense of comfort through their life after death hope.
The books on our list might reinforce existing beliefs, they may cause people to combine certain beliefs, or they might make people question beliefs they’ve had for years. These books will definitely make you think, but in doing so, we hope you will experience some peace.
How did we choose the books on our list?
We looked for books that weren’t trying to preach to people as we know this can be offensive to some and cause feelings of guilt, anger, or fear instead of reassurance.
Additionally, we looked for books that had positive reader reviews. We figure that if these books can provide comfort to a wide array of people, they just might be able to provide comfort to you, too.
Hope and Answers in a Time of Grief: The Top 7 Best Books on Life after Death
If you’ve lost someone and are feeling lost and confused our list of the best books on life after death can be a source of solace.
Even if you haven’t lost anyone recently, questions about life after death still arise from time to time. The books on this list can definitely be considered interesting reading material. And they might be able to provide you with some answers to those deep questions we all have about life and death.
[amazon link=”B01691YKY0″ title=”1. Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You (by John Burke)” /]
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Bestselling author, John Burke, has been fascinated with the concept of life after death. His interest in the topic has lead him on a journey that includes interviews with doctors, college professors, and everyone in between who has had a near-death experience.
In this book, Burke compares their experiences of what they consider to be heaven with the Bible’s description of heaven.
Why Readers Like This Book: This book has great reviews both on Amazon and on GoodReads.com.
Readers think this is one of the best books on life after death because the author asks interesting questions and it’s so well-written that they have a hard time putting it down.
One reader even said that this book reads like a detective novel.
[amazon link=”0671657860″ title=”2. Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives (by Brian L. Weiss)” /]
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Another one of the bestselling books on life after death is Many Lives, Many Masters.
This is the story of a doctor who hypnotizes one of his patients because they haven’t been able to progress through her treatment.
During their sessions, the woman relates stories of past lives.
The experience brings into question whether reincarnation is likely. And it also shows how the woman was able to finally make progress by acknowledging her experiences.
Why Readers Like This Book: This book is a really interesting one to read. Not only does it make people question the possibility of reincarnation, it’s helped many who struggle with grief and depression.
[amazon link=”1567184855″ title=”3. Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives (by Michael Newton, PhD)” /]
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Does a person’s consciousness continue on after death?
This is the question that Dr. Newton was intent on finding an answer to.
During his process to find an answer, he employed the use of hypnosis.
His subjects were able to tell him what it was like to die, what it’s like during the time in between one life and another, and how to recognize soul mates.
Why Readers Like This Book: Some people have found this book confusing to read.
They feel that the author’s thoughts and impressions are too intermingled with his clinical data. However, 76% of reviewers really enjoyed the book. They found it interesting and liked that it gave them some hope for the future, as well as comfort over the loss of their loved ones.
[amazon link=”B077PRRM3K” title=”4. The Afterlife Revolution (by Anne and Whitley Strieber and Gary Schwartz, PhD)” /]
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Have you ever thought about making some kind of pact with a friend or family member that whoever dies first will give the other a clue as to whether there’s life after death or not.
That’s the concept of this story.
In the 1990s a woman and her husband made such an agreement. Anne passed away, and according to Whitley – her husband – she came back to let him know that she was still alive in some form.
Why Readers Like This Book: Whether a person believes in the story of life after death or not, what a lot of people enjoy about this book is that it’s really a story about love that never dies.
[amazon link=”006242890X” title=”5. Life After Life: The Bestselling Original Investigation That Revealed “Near-Death Experiences” (by Raymond Moody)” /]
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Raymond Moody is considered the Father of the Near-Death Experience movement. This book – now celebrating its 40th anniversary – was the first to introduce people to near-death concepts. These include the bright light that people see and seeing loved ones on the other side.
The author interviewed over 100 people who had been declared clinically dead about their experience after being resuscitated. His findings have made many question what they think they know about the concept of life after death.
Why Readers Like This Book: This book was the first of its kind. It’s always fun to read the book that paved the way for other bestsellers, some of which are on our list of the best books on life after death.
[amazon link=”1587613182″ title=”6. On Life After Death – Revised Edition (by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and Caroline Myss)” /]
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This book is actually a collection of essays based on the near-death experiences of over 20,000 people. The topics of the essays discuss death, the process of dying, and the afterlife.
Why Readers Like This Book: If you like a book that flows, this may not be the book for you. A lot of people want to read something that has a beginning, middle, and end. This book, however, is a series of essays, and that’s not everybody’s cup of tea.
There are many people, though, who really enjoy what they read. Many of them find comfort from it while dealing with grief.
[amazon link=”0307345785″ title=”7. Life After Death: The Burden of Proof (by Deepak Chopra)” /]
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If you’re looking for something with a mix nice mix of metaphysical and scientific information – this is the book for you.
Deepak Chopra discusses what some consider cutting-edge scientific discoveries around the idea of life after death.
Many people who have read the book found it to be enjoyable because it forces them to look at who they really are and what they want to accomplish in this life.
Why Readers Like This Book: Chopra’s book appeals to people who have a religious background and a belief in life after death. But it also appeals to those who are more secular or scientifically minded – many of whom don’t believe in God or that we have a spirit.
What appeals to readers is the way Chopra presents the information. They find the book to be soothing and comforting. It provides them with a sense of urgency to live this life to the fullest, making the most of every moment they have left.
Book Buyers’ Guide: How to Choose the Best Books for Your Needs
We recognize that not every book on our list of best books on life after death is going to appeal to every person.
Some people have deeply held beliefs that they aren’t willing to compromise. Others want something more metaphysical than religious when it comes to their spiritual reading materials, and vice versa.
Still, others simply have different needs.
For example, someone who is simply curious about life after death has different needs than a parent who has just lost a child.
When choosing a book – either one off of our best books on life after death list or a selection of your own – you need to know your needs.
Are you dealing with a sense of loss? Who have you lost?
Are you in the midst of the grieving process? If so, who have you lost?
Do you prefer books about “the Universe,” or do you prefer book about a personal God that you can draw close to and find comfort in?
Are you interested in all sorts of life after death concepts and want to read to educate yourself on other people’s beliefs?
These questions will help you narrow down your search when looking for the best books about life after death.
Once you’ve figured out which books to search for, the next step is to look at reader reviews.
Reviews will basically tell you if the book is worth your time.
Some books may have a nice concept, but if they’re poorly written it can detract from the message.
Others may be too preachy for some folks’ taste, while others don’t provide the level of personal comfort they were hoping for.
Make sure to read both the positive and negative reviews to find the best book to fit your needs and tastes.
Comparison Table
Product Name | Image | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
[amazon link=”B01691YKY0″ title=”Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You” /] | [amazon fields=”B01691YKY0″ value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages - | [amazon fields=”B01691YKY0″ value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”0671657860″ title=”Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives (by Brian L. Weiss)” /] | [amazon fields=”0671657860″ value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches | [amazon fields=”0671657860″ value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”1567184855″ title=”Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives (by Michael Newton, PhD)” /] | [amazon fields=”1567184855″ value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages 6 x 0.8 x 8.9 inches | [amazon fields=”1567184855″ value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”B077PRRM3K” title=”The Afterlife Revolution (by Anne and Whitley Strieber and Gary Schwartz, PhD)” /] | [amazon fields=”B077PRRM3K” value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages - | [amazon fields=”B077PRRM3K” value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”006242890X” title=”Life After Life: The Bestselling Original Investigation That Revealed “Near-Death Experiences” (by Raymond Moody)” /] | [amazon fields=”006242890X” value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages 5.3 x 0.5 x 8 inches | [amazon fields=”006242890X” value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”1587613182″ title=”On Life After Death – Revised Edition (by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and Caroline Myss)” /] | [amazon fields=”1587613182″ value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages 5 x 0.3 x 8 inches | [amazon fields=”1587613182″ value=”button”] |
[amazon link=”0307345785″ title=”Life After Death: The Burden of Proof (by Deepak Chopra)” /] | [amazon fields=”0307345785″ value=”thumb” image_align=”center”] | Pages 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches | [amazon fields=”0307345785″ value=”button”] |
Books Have the Power to Uplift, Calm, and Comfort
Picking up a book and getting lost in its pages is more than mere entertainment. Words are some of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal.
Whether written or spoken, they can be used to lift people up when they’re feeling down. Words can calm people when they’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And they can bring comfort to those who are dealing with depression and/or grief.
Reading a book is one of the best things people can do if they want to expand their mind and learn new things. It can help them see the world in a totally different light.
If you’re looking for answers or need to draw some comfort from someone who has experienced similar circumstances – regarding death or some other hardship – a book is a great place to look.
