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)

In His Own Words

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?

I don't know that I would have had the same reactions to the book if I read it. The author narrates the book, and there is magic in the narration. Because he is telling his own story, in his own words, the story becomes so real,so believable, and so poignant. After listening to audiobook, you KNOW this happened.

What I needed to hear

This was a book that was recommended to me after my 42 year old husband died suddenly and unexpectedly 2 months ago. Over the past few years, I have been struggling with faith- and anything outside of being 100% proven. As a physician myself, my scientific mind, needed concrete evidence... Up until reading this book and hearing Dr. Alexander's experience- nothing gave me what I was looking for. Although my grief continues and will continue for the rest of my earthly life as i miss my dear husband and father to my 4 young children, I now believe that his physical body is no longer with us but his spiritual presence is still all around us. It provides me the comfort that I have been searching for. Thank you for sharing your story.

Excellent treatment of difficult subject

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

Too see and hear of the conversion of this talented, experienced scientist and his detailed description of his experience. He will have an uphill task to convince other medical men of its validity.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

Intelligent reader, pleasant voice, earnest performance

Falls short

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?

The author's desire to pass on to man his knowledge and assurance that heaven was real and there was an afterlife was very believable. This definitely was the purpose of the book and it will give comfort to those who are not sure. His experience though still leaves open questions.

Would you be willing to try another book from Eben Alexander? Why or why not?

Maybe....I am not sure he has more to impart. This book seems to have told the story in enough detail I doubt if he will write another.

Which scene was your favorite?

The point when he realizes the girl on the butterfly was his sister.

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

Too detailed to keep up focus for a one sitting book.

Any additional comments?

I think the author tries to rationalize something that man has tried to do for eons....an afterlife. I have read many books on NDE and his attempt to put it in scientific terms somewhat turned me off; not to his story but to his trying to apply humanistic principles to it. It is what it is. I know he is a scientist and his brain is trained to analyze everything that comes his way but adding dimensions to consciousness is probably a way to put reality in the discussion did not reconcile with my simple faith and hope.The fact that he did not actually see God, or whatever he calls Him, gets me to thinking that he may have been in what we Catholics call Purgatory. Some theory's of Hell is the absence of God, whereas Purgatory is not quite the absence but not quite his presence. Him being an Episcopalian I would have thought it may have entered into his thoughts. I still have an hour left so it may have. What he termed as the gateway may be Purgatory. All in all I liked the book.

Good so good I I listen to Eben read to me over and over.

His adventurers into heaven are so real . I've listened to The Map of Heaven the most .I believe authors who read their on books is t best. I hope He rights and reads some more.

questionable experience for those looking at NDE's

What did you like best about Proof of Heaven? What did you like least?

This book did not seem to accord with a majority of near death experiences that I have read about. It almost seems as if this was more of a demonic misleading, than a glimpse of Heaven. I found it to be an interesting read nonetheless.
I would encourage the listener to use caution if looking at this book in any theological sense, due to more than one statement that is not in line with Biblical thinking.

Was Proof of Heaven worth the listening time?

probably worth the listen, although I will probably only listen once.

Compelling evidence of an afterlife

If you could sum up Proof of Heaven in three words, what would they be?

Keeps your attention

What did you like best about this story?

The final chapter was worth the wait for what was revealed.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I thought the book might have been a better read if read by someone other than the author. While I believed what he wrote, he often times lacked the vocal expression of a professional.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That the medical field is starting to pay attention to people who detail out of body experiences rather than just dismiss them.

Any additional comments?

All in all it was a compelling book. It was a little slow when he detailed the medical proof from the aspect of a neurosurgeron - but I understand that the book was written to help his colleagues in the medical field understand and believe what he had experienced.

Very good, life after life, only God!

Yes, must read!
I think the idea of the book and experience that Eben had is amazing, book could be shorter!
Yes I believe there is more.

Great Book

Such a beautiful book. Well researched & written. I finished it in 2 days. You won’t regret it.

AMAZING

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! IT'S TOUCHED MY LIFE!!!!!! I THINK I'M GOING TO LISTEN TO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!!!!