What do you think?
Rate this book
My Life After Life: A Posthumous Memoir
An unorthodox personal tale of tragedy and transcendence, My Life After Life confronts timeless questions concerning what happens to our loved ones and ourselves after death. The journey began for Dr. K. Paul Stoller one evening in 2007 when he received a phone call from the state police that his 16-year-old son Galen had been killed. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Stoller's son appeared and eventually began to communicate with him in dream states. Keenly aware of their emotional bond during his son's life, Dr. Stoller soon realized just how powerfully that bond could express itself. Dr. Stoller experienced difficulty in accepting what was happening to him-both the stress of the loss and the stress of the contact. Eventually convinced that it was his son, Dr. Stoller began journaling hundreds of pages of communication from Galen about his new circumstances, which led eventually to this book. Stoller's only comments appear in his Editor's Notes at the end of each chapter.Multiple Award Winner* Winner, Nautilus Silver Award 2012* Pinnacle Book Achievement Award 2011* Winner, Indie Excellence Award 2011* Finalist, International Book Awards 2011* Finalist, USA Book Awards 2011* Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award 2012
- GenresSpiritualityMemoir
168 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
112 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 8, 2015
Really amazing account and story. Galen passed away at the age of 16 and began to contact his father who is a well known pediatrician and doctor. I contacted his father Ken because the accounts of classrooms in the afterlife was nearly identical to the same accounts I had been researching in the work of Michael Newton. I asked Ken if he had been aware of these reports, and he had not. Further, Ken shared with me an email from a woman in St. Louis who had contacted Ken out of the blue (apt metaphor) to let him know that her deceased husband had contacted her through a medium and told her to read Galen's book. She wrote that the medium was a family friend, and that when her husband came through, he told her to look up this book that "everyone over here is talking about." He told her the name of the author and that he was "wearing a red shirt on the cover." I've seen the actual emails she wrote, and asked Ken to see if the medium possibly had heard about the book. She had not, and at the time of the reading, the book was in limited release. Subsequently I asked Galen to pen the foreword to "It's a Wonderful Afterlife: Further Adventures in the Flipside" volume two, and he generously has done so. Either way, highly recommend this and all of Galen's books. If you'd like to know what it's like for someone on the flipside, in their own words, this is a must read.
November 16, 2024
Fantastical is the first word that comes to mind, but I'm not saying not to believe the premise that this book is AUTHORED by a young man who died suddenly at the age of 16 and this book has been "dictated" to his father, who had a pre-belief in life after life (soul existence) and had a strong, even obsessive, desire to have contact with his son after the accident. This will be a book for the curious who are already well into the path of discovering the multitude (millions?) of stories about life after life, life after death, life between lives, near-death experiences... I would NOT recommend this to anyone who is just getting started on that interest, curiosity, search.
My take-away is that we are sparks of the "original creative urge" and we are called to earth to be co-creators, and this young man, in an "instant creation" dimension, has brought in components from his earth life and given them "life" in this realm. Including toys, dogs and video-game concepts that have come to life in his "creator world". I am not saying they are not real to Galen, but I am saying his creative world should not be taken as "the" world of the other-side.
Although not completely unique in books to read on the subject, it does seem unique to me in my expansive readings on the subject to have a deceased young person speak so fluidly with his loved-one and together they bring this memoir from the after-life to life (no pun intended).
My take-away is that we are sparks of the "original creative urge" and we are called to earth to be co-creators, and this young man, in an "instant creation" dimension, has brought in components from his earth life and given them "life" in this realm. Including toys, dogs and video-game concepts that have come to life in his "creator world". I am not saying they are not real to Galen, but I am saying his creative world should not be taken as "the" world of the other-side.
Although not completely unique in books to read on the subject, it does seem unique to me in my expansive readings on the subject to have a deceased young person speak so fluidly with his loved-one and together they bring this memoir from the after-life to life (no pun intended).
November 20, 2023
Galen Stoller died at the age of sixteen when, fiddling with his ipod, he inadvertently parked his car on railroad tracks and was hit by a train. This is where Galen picks up his story, dictating it to his father from “the other side.”
GALEN STOLLER’S STORY FROM BEYOND
Stories told of a person’s life as it continues beyond death are actually not that uncommon. I have read several, including accounts of people who have explored the transcendent dimensions via out-of-body or Near Death Experiences (NDE). They are similar, with the biggest difference being the degree of lucidity from the deceased author. That is, some such tales, like this one, are clearly told as from a friend speaking to you in the same room. Such clarity, however, can make the story unconvincing, though the reader may be all-the-more desirous to believe it.
Such is the case with My Life After Life: A Posthumous Memoir. It is purported to be authored by Galen Stoller after he died. It reads clearly, with the voice of a contemporary sixteen year old boy. According to his father, Galen had an artistic slant, wanting to be an actor. It seems he was/is a decent writer as well, even after death. His prose is very readable, if fantastic.
Galen’s story, though, is not as fantastic to me as it might be, since I have read a lot of such “beyond life” accounts. Details are different, but much is familiar. Are the authors of these accounts feeding each other? In some cases, certainly, but I don’t know how much exposure Galen had to such stories. All I can say is that for the most part, the story he tells is understandable and hopeful.
Galen tells of sensory confusion during his accident and then “waking up” in a place in nature and meeting a man who looks like a tall version of himself. The man leads him through this place to a spot that will become a headquarters for Galen. He would know the man as his “teacher.”
The rest of the book is Galen’s account of his initial time in this dimension. He includes accounts of the afterlife process as he comes to understand it. For example, he is given a silver cup representing his past life experiences that he keeps while in this dimension. However, he must put it “back on the shelf” if he decides to incarnate again.
Galen interacts with an advanced soul (Matthew) who acts an an initial intermediary between himself and his father. He makes friends with a black lab dog (Andy) who becomes his constant companion and is actually an advanced being. He is befriended by another advanced being who is nonhuman that he calls, Wyrme. He even sees an entity or force that he thinks of as God, and that is called “The Great I.”
All of this in tone is akin to other tales of death survival, and it seems Galen’s father, a medical doctor, preloaded Galen’s expectations from his own beliefs. That doesn’t make this book untrue, but it should be noted. Indeed, Dr. Stoller’s beliefs and paranormal experiences led to his seeking after-death communication with his son. In short, Dr. Stoller avers that communication was achieved and resulted in Galen dictating to him, My Life After Life. The doctor identifies himself in the book as “the editor.”
AFTERLIFE MEMES INCLUDING THE BIZARRITY
Despite the clarity of Galen’s narrative, it is not clear how exactly he communicated with his father to write this book. It seems dreams were involved, at least initially. Indeed, the idea of the dead communicating with us via dreams is a common one. Dr. Stoller does say that he later heard Galen’s voice audibly. That would seem to facilitate the dictation process, and it also is not unknown in the literature.
Also part of the literature, is the idea of the perceived environment being a creation of the perceiver’s will/intent. This is such a common meme in afterlife stories that Galen doesn’t spend much time on it. This concept includes his body, which is formed like his sixteen year old self on Earth, though he can change it if he wants. Only once, does he mention losing his “physical” form and becoming pure spirit/energy.
The afterlife and Earth as teaching mediums is also strongly presented. Again, our purpose as sentient beings is to learn and grow. A physical life on Earth (or elsewhere) facilitates that process. Our growth is toward higher dimensions and higher levels of being. Our ultimate goal seems to be reaching the level of, or joining with, “The Great I.”
Vocations are another concept often seen in afterlife stories. It seems souls can choose to follow some endeavor such as teaching. Galen befriends a nonhuman being who looks to him like an egg with long orange hair. This being is called, Brock (Brock?), and he wants to be an ambassador to Earth (from his home planet/dimension apparently). Since Galen knows a lot about Earth, he becomes a teacher of Earthly things for Brock.
A GOOD READ BUT NEEDING MORE
While the book is technically well-written and an easy read, it alternates between hopeful and bizarre for me. If the bizarre is truly what Dr. Stroller perceived as coming from his son, then I don’t blame him for including it. Something more is needed, though, to support those parts. As it is, they feel too much like fiction.
Dr. Stoller’s communication with Galen seems too easy. Though a medical doctor, he tells of his acquaintance with the paranormal (working with psychic mediums and communicating with the dead). This does not invalidate his account of communicating with Galen, but it needs narrative support. It would help to have a better idea of whatever struggles he went through to achieve that communication.
And the fact that Galen is intent on producing a series of books (the “Death Walker” series) seems suspect. Still, Dr. Stoller has this to say about the book’s believability:
I therefore ask readers to suspend their disbelief enough to consider that somehow bridges were built between our world and another to allow this book to be written.
It’s the “somehow” part that needs elaboration.
A PART OF THE LITERATURE BUT KEEP READING
I did enjoy reading My Life After Life, finding it a lucid, reassuring account of life after death. It does validate much of what I’ve come to believe about the nature of this physical life and our survival of it. I can recommend the book as part of your study of the afterlife experience. Just don’t go solely by this account. Check out other books in the afterlife literature.
GALEN STOLLER’S STORY FROM BEYOND
Stories told of a person’s life as it continues beyond death are actually not that uncommon. I have read several, including accounts of people who have explored the transcendent dimensions via out-of-body or Near Death Experiences (NDE). They are similar, with the biggest difference being the degree of lucidity from the deceased author. That is, some such tales, like this one, are clearly told as from a friend speaking to you in the same room. Such clarity, however, can make the story unconvincing, though the reader may be all-the-more desirous to believe it.
Such is the case with My Life After Life: A Posthumous Memoir. It is purported to be authored by Galen Stoller after he died. It reads clearly, with the voice of a contemporary sixteen year old boy. According to his father, Galen had an artistic slant, wanting to be an actor. It seems he was/is a decent writer as well, even after death. His prose is very readable, if fantastic.
Galen’s story, though, is not as fantastic to me as it might be, since I have read a lot of such “beyond life” accounts. Details are different, but much is familiar. Are the authors of these accounts feeding each other? In some cases, certainly, but I don’t know how much exposure Galen had to such stories. All I can say is that for the most part, the story he tells is understandable and hopeful.
Galen tells of sensory confusion during his accident and then “waking up” in a place in nature and meeting a man who looks like a tall version of himself. The man leads him through this place to a spot that will become a headquarters for Galen. He would know the man as his “teacher.”
The rest of the book is Galen’s account of his initial time in this dimension. He includes accounts of the afterlife process as he comes to understand it. For example, he is given a silver cup representing his past life experiences that he keeps while in this dimension. However, he must put it “back on the shelf” if he decides to incarnate again.
Galen interacts with an advanced soul (Matthew) who acts an an initial intermediary between himself and his father. He makes friends with a black lab dog (Andy) who becomes his constant companion and is actually an advanced being. He is befriended by another advanced being who is nonhuman that he calls, Wyrme. He even sees an entity or force that he thinks of as God, and that is called “The Great I.”
All of this in tone is akin to other tales of death survival, and it seems Galen’s father, a medical doctor, preloaded Galen’s expectations from his own beliefs. That doesn’t make this book untrue, but it should be noted. Indeed, Dr. Stoller’s beliefs and paranormal experiences led to his seeking after-death communication with his son. In short, Dr. Stoller avers that communication was achieved and resulted in Galen dictating to him, My Life After Life. The doctor identifies himself in the book as “the editor.”
AFTERLIFE MEMES INCLUDING THE BIZARRITY
Despite the clarity of Galen’s narrative, it is not clear how exactly he communicated with his father to write this book. It seems dreams were involved, at least initially. Indeed, the idea of the dead communicating with us via dreams is a common one. Dr. Stoller does say that he later heard Galen’s voice audibly. That would seem to facilitate the dictation process, and it also is not unknown in the literature.
Also part of the literature, is the idea of the perceived environment being a creation of the perceiver’s will/intent. This is such a common meme in afterlife stories that Galen doesn’t spend much time on it. This concept includes his body, which is formed like his sixteen year old self on Earth, though he can change it if he wants. Only once, does he mention losing his “physical” form and becoming pure spirit/energy.
The afterlife and Earth as teaching mediums is also strongly presented. Again, our purpose as sentient beings is to learn and grow. A physical life on Earth (or elsewhere) facilitates that process. Our growth is toward higher dimensions and higher levels of being. Our ultimate goal seems to be reaching the level of, or joining with, “The Great I.”
Vocations are another concept often seen in afterlife stories. It seems souls can choose to follow some endeavor such as teaching. Galen befriends a nonhuman being who looks to him like an egg with long orange hair. This being is called, Brock (Brock?), and he wants to be an ambassador to Earth (from his home planet/dimension apparently). Since Galen knows a lot about Earth, he becomes a teacher of Earthly things for Brock.
A GOOD READ BUT NEEDING MORE
While the book is technically well-written and an easy read, it alternates between hopeful and bizarre for me. If the bizarre is truly what Dr. Stroller perceived as coming from his son, then I don’t blame him for including it. Something more is needed, though, to support those parts. As it is, they feel too much like fiction.
Dr. Stoller’s communication with Galen seems too easy. Though a medical doctor, he tells of his acquaintance with the paranormal (working with psychic mediums and communicating with the dead). This does not invalidate his account of communicating with Galen, but it needs narrative support. It would help to have a better idea of whatever struggles he went through to achieve that communication.
And the fact that Galen is intent on producing a series of books (the “Death Walker” series) seems suspect. Still, Dr. Stoller has this to say about the book’s believability:
I therefore ask readers to suspend their disbelief enough to consider that somehow bridges were built between our world and another to allow this book to be written.
It’s the “somehow” part that needs elaboration.
A PART OF THE LITERATURE BUT KEEP READING
I did enjoy reading My Life After Life, finding it a lucid, reassuring account of life after death. It does validate much of what I’ve come to believe about the nature of this physical life and our survival of it. I can recommend the book as part of your study of the afterlife experience. Just don’t go solely by this account. Check out other books in the afterlife literature.
November 20, 2024
Wonderful
Very moving and inspiring. Loved reading about Galen's experiences after his death. A must for those who love metaphysical literature and NDE accounts.
Very moving and inspiring. Loved reading about Galen's experiences after his death. A must for those who love metaphysical literature and NDE accounts.
Read
June 28, 2011This book won the Indie Excellence Award for the Death & Dying category.
September 24, 2011
An interesting read. Although I found some of it very hard to believe, I do believe that the point of the book was to make you think and perhaps ask yourself some questions. 7
December 14, 2025
A Different Perspective
This is an interesting read and I enjoyed it, but it left me with more questions than I anticipated. I have read many books about death and dying and after life experiences but this is the 1st one for me that did not include some acknowledgement of God. I kept waiting for the concept of Love, which eventually came in a general way, but it was not related to our relationship with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, which to me is the foundation of Love. There is mention of Native American and Buddhist beliefs but they are not expanded upon and religion of any kind seems to be deliberately avoided. So, this book did not "sit right" with me but it is interesting and many of the concepts of consciousness and emotional growth I could agree with including reincarnation and "walk ins".
This is an interesting read and I enjoyed it, but it left me with more questions than I anticipated. I have read many books about death and dying and after life experiences but this is the 1st one for me that did not include some acknowledgement of God. I kept waiting for the concept of Love, which eventually came in a general way, but it was not related to our relationship with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, which to me is the foundation of Love. There is mention of Native American and Buddhist beliefs but they are not expanded upon and religion of any kind seems to be deliberately avoided. So, this book did not "sit right" with me but it is interesting and many of the concepts of consciousness and emotional growth I could agree with including reincarnation and "walk ins".
June 2, 2020
It’s not everyday a teenager writes a book - more so, if they have left this life.
Galen Stollen’s story of how he communicated with his doctor father after his death is exciting. It shows another perspective to what some call heaven, and other call nirvana, is really like.
I found Galen’s stories of his adventures in his after life fascinating. They equate generally to what a number of researchers say happens ie there is continuous learning to move you between levels of enlightenment and a place of pure love and light.
This was Galen’s first book and I look forward to reading his next.
Galen Stollen’s story of how he communicated with his doctor father after his death is exciting. It shows another perspective to what some call heaven, and other call nirvana, is really like.
I found Galen’s stories of his adventures in his after life fascinating. They equate generally to what a number of researchers say happens ie there is continuous learning to move you between levels of enlightenment and a place of pure love and light.
This was Galen’s first book and I look forward to reading his next.
January 17, 2025
This is a fascinating book. I've read quite a few books at this point that deal with the after-life but this is a pretty unique one. I think if there is a bit of a blind-spot here that might open this book up to skepticism and criticism is that it's a bit short on details on how it was written and put together. Perhaps one more section addressing the writing process or maybe even a link to an audio explanation would have been very helpful in this regard. Still, I feel if you are drawn to this subject matter and keep an open mind you will surely find this book fascinating and very touching.
February 22, 2025
Profound New Perspectives
As a student of esoteric, mystical, metaphysical and multi-dimensional studies, as well as a thurst of knowledge of the spirit side, I learned far more in this one book that years of study. Or at least added upon the puzzle pieces I've been accumulating in my 50 years on planet earth. I love everything about this book and the new profound perspectives I have been given because of it. Thank you, Galen! ( and dad, Kenneth)❤️
As a student of esoteric, mystical, metaphysical and multi-dimensional studies, as well as a thurst of knowledge of the spirit side, I learned far more in this one book that years of study. Or at least added upon the puzzle pieces I've been accumulating in my 50 years on planet earth. I love everything about this book and the new profound perspectives I have been given because of it. Thank you, Galen! ( and dad, Kenneth)❤️
April 27, 2019
A very unusual book written by a 16-year-old who died but who found a way to communicate with his father from the afterlife.
I've read many books about near death and what is said to come after but this one is quite unusual even in that genre. Regardless, I enjoyed it and I would definitely read the next one in this series.
I've read many books about near death and what is said to come after but this one is quite unusual even in that genre. Regardless, I enjoyed it and I would definitely read the next one in this series.
March 1, 2021
Well worth a read.
In the aftermath of the deaths of my elderly mother and aunt, one month apart, I have sought solace in research about the afterlife. This heartfelt account, of a son’s description of his experiences after dying suddenly as a teenager to his grief-stricken father, add volumes to our understanding of what is possible and what to expect when we pass.
In the aftermath of the deaths of my elderly mother and aunt, one month apart, I have sought solace in research about the afterlife. This heartfelt account, of a son’s description of his experiences after dying suddenly as a teenager to his grief-stricken father, add volumes to our understanding of what is possible and what to expect when we pass.
July 22, 2017
An unusual and gratifying account
Not only is this book well-written, it impresses me as truthful and uplifting i look forward to more books in this series.
Not only is this book well-written, it impresses me as truthful and uplifting i look forward to more books in this series.
March 31, 2018
One of the most interesting books I've ever read.
As an emotionally numb person at times, I found this book very touching. One of the most interesting books I've ever read.
As an emotionally numb person at times, I found this book very touching. One of the most interesting books I've ever read.
October 11, 2018
I loved this detailed account of life between lives
I loved the simple, matter of fact, style and feeling of this book. I look forward to tbe series. Well done galen and father.
I loved the simple, matter of fact, style and feeling of this book. I look forward to tbe series. Well done galen and father.
March 13, 2019
Interesting Read on an Afterlife
When you want to read about dimensions after you make your transition to the other side this experience is an interesting experience.
When you want to read about dimensions after you make your transition to the other side this experience is an interesting experience.
August 22, 2020
Hard to believe.
Afterlife interests me.This is so amazing I have a hard time believing it . Truly,truly amazing . A bit highfaluting.
Afterlife interests me.This is so amazing I have a hard time believing it . Truly,truly amazing . A bit highfaluting.
December 9, 2023
Fascinating book! Galen has shared his experiences in the afterlife that I’ve never heard before… which surprises me because I’ve read so many books of this genre.
April 7, 2024
Trippy, man. But who knows?
December 7, 2016
Over there - notes.
This is a thought provoking book. I want to read it again soon and evaluate the ideas it shares. There is something wonderous, puzzling and exciting shared in this book. Will we be ready for it?
This is a thought provoking book. I want to read it again soon and evaluate the ideas it shares. There is something wonderous, puzzling and exciting shared in this book. Will we be ready for it?
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews