Lucid Dying

The New Science Revolutionizing How We Understand Life and Death

By: Sam Parnia MD PhD MD PhD

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

From internationally renowned expert in resuscitation and New York Times bestselling author Sam Parnia, MD, PhD, comes a groundbreaking look at what happens to us when we die, based on the largest-ever research study run on recalled experiences of death.

Today, for the first time in history, the scientific exploration of death and what happens when we die is real, active and ongoing. Contrary to popular perceptions, this subject is no longer the remit of philosophy, religion, or personal opinion. Truly remarkable scientific discoveries that will fundamentally affect everyone’s lives now and in the future are taking place, yet very few people are aware of them. Most people—including scientists and doctors—maintain strong beliefs about death and its experience. Those beliefs are rooted in traditional, and often cultural, notions of death. But what if all that we have come to believe about death is fundamentally wrong? What if the paradigm we have been operating within no longer exists? What if death is not the end we thought?

Lucid Dying is the first book to share that science. Presenting data derived from multiple groundbreaking studies, Dr. Parnia shows that the entity we refer to as consciousness—our Self—does not seem to become annihilated when we die. In fact, during death, our consciousness vastly expands and leads to a vivid experience that follows a very specific narrative arc.

These studies support that there really is a universal experience of death that is meaningful, transcendent, positive, and transformative—not hallucinatory, delusional, or illusory as previously imagined. In his latest book, Dr. Parnia weaves empirical research with gripping stories to show us the truth of how death is not the end we all thought and how anyone can harness the newfound wisdom to lead deeper, more intentional lives.

Scientific Evaluation of NDE

I love this book, because the science behind it proves what I know empirically. When I was 19, I died, felt joyful, and then got slammed back into my body. With me? I felt a knowingness that I had work to do. It felt as if I was in the army and I signed up for a difficult tour and that I had just gone AWOL. I knew I would live. And I wasn’t happy about that whole prospect .

Later on in my life, I married a rocket scientist and lawyer, who, when he died, came back to me. My own book, love from both sides, tells the story of what happened to him after death. And it’s very similar to the stories and this wonderful book. The life evaluation, he was shown what he did, and what he neglected to do. My wonderful husband had a lot of apologizing to do!

The science and documentation in this book tells why peoples experience like mine were real.

My own NDE happened in 1967. That was before Raymond Moody‘s book was published, so I kept that experience completely to myself. Just like a lot of the people mentioned in this book kept their own experiences to themselves.

I love the ending of this book because it’s what I teach my clients. Find a way to use your life to make other people happy and you will find the purpose of your own life. Read this wonderful book! And then share it with everybody. I will share it with all my clients. Oh, and I do life regressions for a living. Brian Weiss was my teacher. So I make a living saying to people while they are in trance and they are are dying in another body, “float above: what did you learn in that life time and how does it relate to this lifetime?” People want to find the purpose of their lives. And I think this book gives a roadmap!

We all need a book like this from time to time

I would describe Sam Parnia's writing as comprehensive, rigorous, and responsible. It is also inspired, thoughtful, and expansive. The topic of death is such a charged topic so it takes the stoic dispassion of a physician scientist to tread maturely. My least favorite section was the one about Ninad's work (the tone and fervor was a bit much). Everything thereafter was elegant, compelling, and thought-provoking. Overall, I'd highly recommend Lucid Dying and I thank Sam for this enlightening and sobering work. I feel we all need this reminder from time to time.

There is so much about spirituality we still don't know.

If one is truly interested in knowing about dying, this is a somewhat easy read. it has changed my perspective on so many things, and confirmed so many things I've seriously pondered.

Excited to See Scientific Rigor Applied to This Vital Topic

Dr. Sam Parnia brings a level of scientific rigor to the topic of what happens after death that is both refreshing and much needed. As someone deeply interested in the intersection of consciousness and end-of-life experiences, I’m thrilled to see a doctor—and a community of medical professionals—applying evidence-based research to a subject often shrouded in mystery. This book offers proof and insight that can help us navigate our lives with greater awareness and clarity, making it a must-read for anyone curious about the science behind what comes next.

Lot of science

Didn’t love the narrator’s voice but got used to it. Lot’s of science to shlog through (I’m not an academic). But it was necessary and important to include all the science to support the author’s ideas. and get to the great parts (documenting survivors’ experiences). Very good book!!