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)

Better Than 90 Minutes In Heaven

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes!
I downloaded this book after seeing a special on ABC about the author's experience. I found his testimony of life after death to be remarkable and strong.
What I loved the most was his honesty. I enjoyed, Proof of Heaven better than 90 Minutes in Heaven,because of his overall message of God's love verses a detailed religious overtone. I didn't feel preached to in Proof of Heaven or that the author was trying to convert me to a specific religion.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Proof of Heaven?

I love the message that we are loved and cherished. Would recommend this audio to anyone having a hard day or feeling alone-will give you peace knowing that God loves you.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

I felt as if the author was telling me first hand his experiences. Eben is a good storyteller and I found myself not being able to pause the book!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I felt as if I knew the author and he was a friend telling me his experience in real-time.

So much better than I expected

Proof of Heaven has been the #1 book on the NY Times best seller list (nonfiction) for quite some time, but it didn't appeal to me at all. To me Near Death Experience stories don't carry much clout because people can claim anything they want, and nobody can contest it. I finally purchased it because a friend told me it was super good, and I wasn't disappointed.

My impression of Dr. Alexander, who also read the book himself, was of a real genuine and likeable guy. There were some very moving times in the book as he told about his life where you could hear the emotion in his voice, and I'll be honest, I teared up as I listened.

I liked the way he used his scientific background as a neurosurgeon to explain a lot of what he went through, and why major parts of his experience are physically impossible in this present world. As a Christian I also enjoyed seeing the way Dr. Alexander's experiences mirrored many Biblical descriptions of God and Heaven, even though he had no theological background or even prior belief in God. This book was in no way written to support Biblical Christianity, but it's hard to ignore the number of times his recollections unknowingly do align with the Bible.

It is very enjoyable and easy to listen to. It doesn't get overly scientific, or get too bogged down lengthy, sci-fi-like descriptions. I highly recommend this book.

Changed my life!

I downloaded this book on a whim, not knowing what to expect. If you'd asked me before listening to Alexander's story I would have said that no afterlife exists. However, this is a compelling and convincing portrait of an experience -- an amazing and wonderful experience -- while the author was in a coma and had no apparent brain activity. What happy news!

what else did God tell him????

While I enjoyed Eben Alexander's account of his near death experience I was left wanting to know more of his time away from his body. he mentions God gave told him many secrets and knowledge but he didnt give us readers much more then "God is love"

but....maybe that is all we need to know.

im still touched by his account of his personal doubts and skepticism before his NDE. He is also a decent narrator for his first attempt

This book is a must-read

Would you listen to Proof of Heaven again? Why?

I listen to the whole book at least three timesAnd certain parts of it even more.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Mechanically Dr. Alexander did an excellent job of crossing his T's and dotting his eyes with the book. But certainly the most compelling part of the book was the subject matter. His story was beautifully told and left me with little doubt concerning his experience. Thank you Eben for daring to share your story. This book definitely deserves a spot on your night table.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The story you're dying to see.

Any additional comments?

Don't pass this one up.

Amazing

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

I haven't read the print version but think I might like to have it.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

He seemed very honest in describing his experience and feelings.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I find myself disrespectful of most organized religions but I found great honesty, comfort and hope here.

At Last--Affirmation from a Man of Science

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?

His learned scientific analysis of his experience proved what many of us have believed most of our lives.

What other book might you compare Proof of Heaven to and why?

Life After Life, a book I read back in the 70's and mentioned in the book. So many people were skeptical then, but, since I'd experienced a near-death experience, during which I felt total peace and love, I believed!

What does Eben Alexander bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Eben Alexander brought his obvious compelling need to share his experiences with the world with his own voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I loved it and wish my father, a non-believer who believed when you were dead you were done, could have discussed it with me before he died in 2008.

Thought Provoking

I really enjoyed listening to this very personal experience. Dr. Alexander's reading invokes emotions. What makes this so special is listening to the emotions in his voice as he reads his experiences. To be read with an open mind. Remember this is his personal experience and is not meant to validate anyone else's experiences.

Reminder to Embrace the Unknown

The thought that this doctors/scientist who had a near-death experience and wanted to share it with the world and have no doubts about it and said soo many times it was as real as life. To me in my heart listening rather than reading and hearing the emotion in his voice it was so believable and soo full of hope. He explained it with so much colorful detail and emotion Ill admit made me cry a few times..
For me, my husband who lost his mother and believes there is nothing after this, I told him about this doctors experience and about his sister being his guide in the end, I know made him think about it and I know I saw a little hope in his eyes that all the pain she went through was not for nothing and made me wonder which one of her loved ones was waiting for her when she left us..
Im also a believer in meditation and practice it as much as I can since I was young, as I still am in my almost 33yrs of living. I've had some weird experiences with meditation and saw some beautiful things that sometimes I thought had to be a dream but I know it was more, it had to be. The doctor inspires me to keep on meditating, and reminds me that we are more than our bodies and that we are not alone.
I know my mind is full of crazyness and as he explained in lots of expressive words some of his experiences with his mind (who does'nt want to have an out of body experience,or float?) he had since he was a child and like him in my teen years in the 90's I experimented probably too much with my friends but dont regret any of it for I have many of my own amazing memories of my experences with what the mind can show you and do..
The doctors words of life,love and his experience reminded me to always keep an open mind and to Embrace the Unknown. Also while listening to his magical experience I was thinking of the bands who have had a big part in my life and still do with lyrics and melodys that helped me open up my mind when I was young and as needed to this day and forever will when I need a reminder that there is more..

Skeptical with Evidence

I can't help being a little skeptical of Eben Alexander's near death experience, but unlike other books in this religious genre that I've read, I believe him. Instead of quoting off Bible verses to tell his story, the author uses his professional medical background and science to backup what he experienced when he was in a coma and how he woke up because of his love for his son. He didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel or angel of death showing him to the gateway to heaven, but he saw a need to live again.

I have to admit that I'm the wrong person to write this review because I think that heaven is whatever your subconscious mind wants it to be. Many authors in this genre tries too hard to preach to us that heaven is real and we should all worship God. I'm not doubting them, but it is nice to hear from someone who wasn't as active in their religion before they had their near death experience.

"Proof of Heaven" was written in a way that you want to believe there is an afterlife, but without the agenda of going to church and being brain wash over and over that there is a god. If you belief system is strong, you already know base on your personal judgement that your religion is true to your heart and don't need convincing to act upon it. Instead of focusing on just one religion to explain Alexander's story, he made religion as an after thought and that is why it is so believable.