Proof of Heaven

A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife

By: Eben Alexander

Narrated by: Eben Alexander

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 New York Times bestselling account of a neurosurgeon's own near-death experience—for fans of 7 Lessons from Heaven.

Thousands of people have had near-death experiences, but scientists have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben Alexander was one of those scientists. A highly trained neurosurgeon, Alexander knew that NDEs feel real, but are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.

Then, Dr. Alexander’s own brain was attacked by a rare illness. The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion—and in essence makes us human—shut down completely. For seven days he lay in a coma. Then, as his doctors considered stopping treatment, Alexander’s eyes popped open. He had come back.

Alexander’s recovery is a medical miracle. But the real miracle of his story lies elsewhere. While his body lay in coma, Alexander journeyed beyond this world and encountered an angelic being who guided him into the deepest realms of super-physical existence. There he met, and spoke with, the Divine source of the universe itself.

Alexander’s story is not a fantasy. Before he underwent his journey, he could not reconcile his knowledge of neuroscience with any belief in heaven, God, or the soul. Today Alexander is a doctor who believes that true health can be achieved only when we realize that God and the soul are real and that death is not the end of personal existence but only a transition.

This story would be remarkable no matter who it happened to. That it happened to Dr. Alexander makes it revolutionary. No scientist or person of faith will be able to ignore it. Listening to it will change your life.

©2012 Eben Alexander (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc

Critic reviews

"Dr. Eben Alexander's near-death experience is the most astounding I have heard in more than four decades of studying this phenomenon. In my opinion, Dr Alexander is living proof of an afterlife." (Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, author of Life Beyond Life)

"Eben Alexander brings a unique perspective to the sacred world combining a glorious, personal vision of spiritual consciousness with patient, insightful scientific inquiry. Proof of Heaven is a compelling story of what may lie ahead for all of us in the life beyond this one. We have nothing to fear." (Allan J. Hamilton, MD, FACS, author of The Scalpel and the Soul and Zen Mind, Zen Horse)

"I can highly recommend this important book that has the potential to break many scientific taboos." (Dr. Pim van Lommel, cardiologist, author of Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience)

LOVED this book!

This book is magical and beautiful and inspiring! Thank you to the author for putting this story into the world!

The proof is in he Logic

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I did enjoy listening to this book. It is well written and beautifully narrated. I am one of those skeptics when it comes to accepting the so called spiritual world but I am also open minded and this is why I listened to this book.
Unfortunately the outcome is always a sense of disappointment since in this case as in all other books written before it, it only served to reinforce what I, and so many others already know namely, belief systems and formal logic are mutually exclusive. In other words, any attempt to explain a belief and still comply with the strict rules of logic, is doomed to failure. In the end you either believe it or not.

Remarkable!

Would you consider the audio edition of Proof of Heaven to be better than the print version?

I have both, and it's great to hear the author's voice change when he's describing something particularly meaningful for him.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

His authenticity and his objective presentation of data

A good story and a great listen!!

Would you listen to Proof of Heaven again? Why?

Yes, I thought it was well laid out and was a very memorable listen. I also may pick up some additional details if I were to listen to it again.

I have a number of doctors in my family and many skeptics about Near Death Experiences and I think they all should listen to this book. I think this is an outstanding book and that Eben Alexander is sincere. I purchased this book as a Christmas present for a good friend of mine. I highly recommend it.

My only concern is what Eben Alexander is doing with the proceeds of sales of this book. As a Neurosurgeon he must be fairly wealthy already. I would think that the proceeds should be donated to charity or NDE research.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I would say Eben, the author - but he's really the only character.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

It seemed genuine and personal.

Any additional comments?

Eben Alexander goes into a little bit too much detail about his personal history and life. While I think this might help the story a bit, it was more detail than was probably needed.

Overall though I thought this was a great book.

One of the Best NDE Books!

One of the best NDE books around. I found the narration to be very well done and the storyline very believable. I've read other NDE books that try to explain the experience scientifically, and they end up being dry and boring. This book was interesting from the start to the end. I won't say I couldn't put it down, but I always looked forward to getting back to listening to Ebon's encounter.

This book may not make me 100% certain that NDE’s are real, but it did bring me one step closer. I don't know if it's possible for a human being to really be 100% certain of anything. It’s just not in our nature.


Excellent book and well worth reading. I really enjoyed it.

Very good book

This is a very good book however is missing something, it’s a fascinating story but I think that there is more into it, Not sure if I want to keep this book.

Extraordinary Account of NDE!

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?

I loved the fact that the book was read by the author! I do not believe that anyone other than Dr. Alexander could have done a better job. The author's reading brought life to the story!

What did you like best about this story?

The NDE was so real through the author's reading that I could not help but feel as though I were on a journey into his encounter! What a marvelous listening experience! There are so many reasons why I love this story! The primary reason has to do with the fact that this extradinary experience happened to a Neurosurgeon! Everyone is aware of how science feels about the mind/brain issue, and the mere fact that this glorious encounter happened to an established Neurosurgeon blows my mind! God certainly has a sense of humor! Dr. Alexander was genuinely honest and at times it appeared that he read from the tablet of his heart. There were no traces of theatrics or fabrication about the journey into his NDE which made for a great listening experience! I understand that Dr. Alexander is an accomplished Neurosurgeon, but it definitely sounds to me that his encounter with NDE was indeed the best thing that could have ever happened in his life. His account of NDE will give credence to the experience, and I am very glad!

Any additional comments?

I experienced an NDE several years ago and it transformed my life. Actually, the NDE is just the beginning of the quest to experience the presence of the Divine.

Worth a Listen

What made the experience of listening to Proof of Heaven the most enjoyable?

I appreciated how this NDE opened a neurosurgeon's mind to the afterlife. I was particularly interested in how his brain was completely non-functioning during his coma, therefore could not be creating this experience as is often alleged by the medical community.

What did you like best about this story?

The author was adopted as an infant. I enjoyed hearing his challenges and eventual success in locating his birth family. I was moved by the role a family member played in his NDE.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

HIs sincerity and spiritual conversion were affecting.

If you could give Proof of Heaven a new subtitle, what would it be?

A No-Brainer

Any additional comments?

The author's voice and delivery are a little clinical. However, his authenticity and my interest in the subject rendered it irrelevant for an enjoyable listening experience. The descriptions of his experience in heaven, while fascinating, were not as much a focal point of the story as his medical circumstances proving his experience was not created by his mind.

Thought Provoking

Would you listen to Proof of Heaven again? Why?

There is so much material so get lost in. When it ended my thought was I need to learn more.

Any additional comments?

Confirms what I have believed to be true.

thought provoking

I found the book very interesting and has lead me to think more about the afterlife and what it means.