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)

Gripping read

I really enjoyed listening to Proof of Heaven. Alexander presents his life-changing experience in a clear, cogent and enjoyable way. It helped me that I have a background in science to understand much of what he was describing. I loved witnessing his transition from scientist/sceptic to scientist/mystic! I am eager to continue with the Seeking Heaven meditations.

Christian?

I believe the presentation of what happened to Dr. Anderson is accurate truthful, and very interesting. The last chapter, however, seems to be his interpretation of the events he experienced during his NDE. To me, he does not appear to be a Bible believing Christian. This being said, if he was a Spirit filled Christian, I think some of his interpretation of what he experienced would be different.

MADE MY TOP 3 LIST

Would you listen to Proof of Heaven again? Why?

I would definitely read this one again. I not only found the subject matter itself fascinating, but truly enjoyed learning so much about the author himself as it was also somewhat of an autobiography.

What did you like best about this story?

I really liked hearing the authors analogies from a scientific aspect as well as an emotional one.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

I personally always prefer to her the story message conveyed by the writer himself or herself.

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

Where Spirit and Science Merge

Any additional comments?

I grew up with a strong faith in God (always believing in the afterlife) and even haved worked on staff in a church most of my adult life. However, having lost both parents in recent years, I still have questions that denominations can't seem to agree on. Would love the opportunity to meet the author Eban Alexander and delve in with a few of my own questions that I think he may could share some insight.

a must read for the skeptic.

i could not stop listening to this book...i was a skeptic but not anymore. loved it

What a relief

I liked learning that I'm a spiritual being having a human experience. I feel a real sense of relief KNOWING that when I die that all I have waiting for me is love. I always suspected that there was only one power in the universe and now I have proof. And that power was good or God which is the same. My faith has been renewed and I can live my life in love and light.
I think this book is for anyone who is going to die anytime in the future. Anyone who knows someone who is going to die or anyone. Anyone in the world. Amazing book! Thank you for sharing this it has changed my life for all of eternity.

Positive Feelings

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?

It accomplished a feeling that anything is possible and God is waiting.

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

Near death experience books.

What about Eben Alexander’s performance did you like?

His story was well told.

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

Yes, it made me feel wonderful. Powerful. Positive.

Any additional comments?

Faith restored.

I have throughly enjoyed this book!

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

The author/narrator is so earnest and spell binding. I have really enjoyed his account.

I remember.

I appreciate your courage in sharing your experience. It helped me remember who I am.

Not just another NDE memoir

Where does Proof of Heaven rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I buy audiobooks so I can listen to them in the car on long trips. This was the first audiobook engrossing enough for me not to be able to limit it to car trips. I listened to it inside my home, and that's saying something. It makes me want to own the printed book, however, because there were so many things I wanted to underline and dogear for future reference.

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

Alexander tells us how we can attain the realms he reached (albeit probably not as perfectly) through meditation and prayer.

Which character – as performed by Eben Alexander – was your favorite?

This question is not relative to a nonfiction memoir.

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

That the brain is not the end all. That science is limited, a kind of ideology that precludes our understanding anything beyond our own perceptions. That something of us is eternal, and that even in that higher realm, our earthly family is important.

Any additional comments?

The author, Eben Alexander, does not explicitly state this, but I believe he was chosen to experience the "after-death" realm so he could return and share his story with us. Though he states more than once how difficult it is to translate what he saw and learned into the language and perceptions of mere mortals, he has done a spectacular job trying. I have read many NDE memoirs and this one has to stand as the most credible.

Coping

What did you love best about Proof of Heaven?
The imagery created by the author's words.

What did you like best about this story?
It gave me hope.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I was moved by the his description and/or lack of a description of God.

Any additional comments?
I bought this book a long time ago, but I never read it. My nephew was killed when he was struck by a car as he crossed the street. Prior to his death so many things were starting to go his way and he was so happy. He had a hard life and I was so excited for him. He was about to start his own business and he was ready to take on the world. Then, like that, it was over. It still doesn't seem real. I decided to download the audible version of this book and I listened to it as I drove home from Georgia. I'm a Christian and I believe in Heaven. But, this book made the tragedy of losing him in such a violent manner a little more bearable. Hearing the author explain the "love" available in Heaven made it more real than I ever imagined and that's all I want for my nephew...peace and love. I'm grateful for the imagery of Heaven. Prior to leaving for the funeral all I could imagine was my nephew's final moments. Listening to the book helped replace those images with images of his spirit soaring through Heaven learning and experiencing real love on a level I can't fully understand yet.