By: Colin Wilson Publisher: Doubleday Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Doubleday Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 272 Publication Date: September 16, 1987 Release Date: September 16, 1987
colin wilson stalwart of the new age Wilson is one of the most sensible and reliable writers dealing with the occult and new consciousness. I have followed his career from the early seventies. To some extent this book simply recapitualtes his earlier and more satisfying works, The Occult, Beyond The Occult and Mysteries. There are more up to date works on survival covering the most recent thinking, but this is still worth reading,especially the chapters dealing with Rudolph Steiner. iN SUM THERE ARE MORE RECENT MORE CONVINCING WORKS (see Roger Penrose for example.
I didn't say it was possible- I said it was true! _When Colin Wilson started the research for this book he was still a skeptic on the subject, by the time he finished it he was convinced in the reality of life after death. He isn't alone, for as this book shows over and over, even researchers that wish that there was no survival after death, who can see no logical reason for it, have been forced to conclude on the basis of the evidence that it is a fact. In his introduction to this second edition the author points out that after rereading his work he is more struck than ever by the consistency of the evidence. Case after case reveals a consistent pattern. All I can say is that after rereading it after five years, I still think that it is one of the best-written, most comprehensive books on the subject.
_There is an incredible amount of evidence packed into this book. Swedenborg and Steiner (two scientific converts) are examined early on. They keep popping up since there is so much independent verification of their teachings by others. The entire 19th century phenomenon of Spiritualism is carefully reexamined (the Fox sisters, Daniel David Hume, Andrew Jackson Davis, etc.) Then the history and files of the Society for Psychical Research are also covered. This is also true for the Theosophical Society. This continues on to modern day research in out-of-body phenomenon and the near death experience. Actually, there is just so much information here, much of which even I was unfamiliar with, that this list doesn't do it justice. Some might say that he is just rehashing the old material. NO, that is not the case- he is re-examining the old material with a fresh and objective eye. You will be surprised at how much you thought you knew about these cases that is just plain wrong.
_The evidence presented in this book should convince any reasonable person.
"I didn't say it was possible- I said it was true." Sir William Crookes
Excellent Survey of 19th & 20th Century Psychical Research Wilson's writing style is quite lively, which makes for enjoyable, fast-paced reading. Wilson's greatest strength in this book is his ability to describe, explain, and summarize many classic psychical cases, research, and other writings (ranging from the early 19th century to mid-to-late-20th century), including many of the most important ground-breaking works by key members of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). Wilson's research is extensive, and his analysis is convincing. His characterization of historical materials is even-handed and accurate, which should be readily apparent to those who have read the original cited works. (His writing encourages the reader to seek and absorb the classics he cites.) Whether you are just beginning to read "life after death" (or other psychic or paranormal) literature, or whether you are already well-versed in this field of study, you will enjoy Wilson's engaging style and exhaustive examination of a multitude of outstanding primary sources.
Problematic My problem with this book is not so much with the concept of life after death, although I remain skeptical, but with the quality of Wilson's scholarship. There were too many times that he seemed to reach firm conclusions on the basis of fairly tenuous evidence. Much of the material he cited was suggestive, but not completely convincing. Frankly, I was disappointed because Wilson is one of the better popular writers on parapsychology and similar matters. But judging on the basis of this book, Wilson can't hold a candle to the late D. Scott Rogo.
Evidence For Life After Death This brief book is an objective look at the evidence of continued human existence after physical death has occured. Wilson uses a variety of cases to determine the validity of the subject and he comes to the conclusion that we do live on after death. Well researched, convincing, and well written.
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