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Collector's Library of the Unknown
At the Hour of Death
Book by Osis, Karlis, Haraldsson, Erlendur
267 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 1977
37 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 30, 2018
I have read “At the Hour of Death” with considerable interest, because I’m a devout theist who believes that this life is not all there is for humanity. The book I’m reviewing is written by authors who, admittedly, subscribe to beliefs that include the “survival” hypothesis. That is, they believe that the evidence accumulated by them concerning numerous reports from people who almost died or did, in fact, reach the end of their lives, does favor the survival thesis. This, of course, refers to the survival of the person’s “soul” or “spirit” such that the death of the body does not terminate the consciousness of the person.
There are monumental amounts of data, as well as quite in-depth analyses of the data, throughout this book. Near the end of the book, the authors seek to summarize the most salient implications for either the survival of consciousness after death or the converse, the termination of consciousness. From my perspective, the book is encouraging in that it appears to offer substantial, if not conclusive, evidence favorable to the survival hypothesis. Skeptics will, of course, undoubtedly seek to vitiate whatever arguments are made favorable to the survival hypothesis. Probably, very few people who read the book will have their outlook seriously modified. No conclusive evidence is given one way or the other, but the book’s thesis is certainly favorable to those who have belief in an afterlife.
I will conclude that the book is worth reading, whether by a skeptic (unbeliever) or by a believer in a post-life survival. At any rate, the discussions of thousands of case reports of people who had visions (hallucinations?) of other beings and transcendent realms of reality close to their deaths are, at the least, thought-provoking.
There are monumental amounts of data, as well as quite in-depth analyses of the data, throughout this book. Near the end of the book, the authors seek to summarize the most salient implications for either the survival of consciousness after death or the converse, the termination of consciousness. From my perspective, the book is encouraging in that it appears to offer substantial, if not conclusive, evidence favorable to the survival hypothesis. Skeptics will, of course, undoubtedly seek to vitiate whatever arguments are made favorable to the survival hypothesis. Probably, very few people who read the book will have their outlook seriously modified. No conclusive evidence is given one way or the other, but the book’s thesis is certainly favorable to those who have belief in an afterlife.
I will conclude that the book is worth reading, whether by a skeptic (unbeliever) or by a believer in a post-life survival. At any rate, the discussions of thousands of case reports of people who had visions (hallucinations?) of other beings and transcendent realms of reality close to their deaths are, at the least, thought-provoking.
April 30, 2017
As a long time student of afterlife studies, most recently in grief and bereavement and care of the dying, I had long heard of this seminal work. Oddly enough, I located it in one of my favourite used bookstores here in Toronto.
The authors, both psychologists, provide the results of two surveys of patients at end of life, one cohort in the United States and the other in India. They then contrast the findings in these two groups with each other, and then with patients disclosing near death experiences. The evidence is compelling for continuing bonds, and you do not have to be a believer to appreciate the findings. I found it challenging at times to follow the lines of interpretation, but found the patient narratives intriguing. It can be dry at times, but for those interested in the subject matter, it is worth the effort.
The authors, both psychologists, provide the results of two surveys of patients at end of life, one cohort in the United States and the other in India. They then contrast the findings in these two groups with each other, and then with patients disclosing near death experiences. The evidence is compelling for continuing bonds, and you do not have to be a believer to appreciate the findings. I found it challenging at times to follow the lines of interpretation, but found the patient narratives intriguing. It can be dry at times, but for those interested in the subject matter, it is worth the effort.
May 11, 2022
Creio que todos nós já pensámos na morte, no seu mistério e significado.
Este livro revela o resultado do estudo feito apartir de inquéritos realizados a médicos e enfermeiros que tenham assistido pessoas antes da sua morte e tenham testemunhado as aparições ou visões que estás pessoas tenham vivido.
O estudo é feito nos EUA e posteriormente, para comparação, na Índia.
É interessante, principalmente na partilha de relatos sobre as visitas e visões, alterações de humor e, surpreendentemente, relatos de enganos celestes na troca da pessoa chamada!
Torna-se um pouco aborrecido nas comparações, dados estatísticos, confrontação de argumentos e hipóteses que, contudo, compreendo ser necessário para tornar sério este estudo.
Este livro revela o resultado do estudo feito apartir de inquéritos realizados a médicos e enfermeiros que tenham assistido pessoas antes da sua morte e tenham testemunhado as aparições ou visões que estás pessoas tenham vivido.
O estudo é feito nos EUA e posteriormente, para comparação, na Índia.
É interessante, principalmente na partilha de relatos sobre as visitas e visões, alterações de humor e, surpreendentemente, relatos de enganos celestes na troca da pessoa chamada!
Torna-se um pouco aborrecido nas comparações, dados estatísticos, confrontação de argumentos e hipóteses que, contudo, compreendo ser necessário para tornar sério este estudo.
February 12, 2011
This was rather scientific but they did not draw many conclusions except that they decided there might be life after death. Probably. Most likely.
May 19, 2011
fascinating
June 5, 2012
Incredibly interesting!
November 2, 2014
The best book available on death-bed visions.
May 24, 2016
One of the best books on this subject I have ever read. Definitely makes you feel better about a possible afterlife.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews