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The Big Book of Reincarnation: Examining the Evidence that We Have All Lived Before
IS DEATH THE FINAL CHAPTER?
In The Big Book of Reincarnation , Roy Stemman attempts to answer one of the big questions of Is death the end? Or, is it merely the end of a chapter in the book of existence?
A self-described "skeptical believer," Stemman uses his skills as a professional journalist to perform an in-depth exploration of reincarnation. Using case studies, anecdotes, and physical evidence from the best-documented cases from around the world, Stemman shines a bright light on this subject, inviting readers to decide for themselves on the basis of facts, rather than on the basis of hearsay, speculation, and superstition.
Stemman finds fascinating examples of evidence of reincarnation in the nightmares of a Louisiana bayou boy, the past-life recall of a renowned neurosurgeon, the research of a highly respected university professor, and the unique system of governance in the mountains of Tibet, to name just a few. He examines the lives of those affected by reincarnation, such as children who can actually remember their previous lives. Instead of shying away from the skeptics, Stemman evaluates their leading theories and compares them to the findings that he has accumulated throughout his global research.
The Big Book of Reincarnation is thorough, well researched, engaging, and the most comprehensive book ever published on this fascinating subject.
In The Big Book of Reincarnation , Roy Stemman attempts to answer one of the big questions of Is death the end? Or, is it merely the end of a chapter in the book of existence?
A self-described "skeptical believer," Stemman uses his skills as a professional journalist to perform an in-depth exploration of reincarnation. Using case studies, anecdotes, and physical evidence from the best-documented cases from around the world, Stemman shines a bright light on this subject, inviting readers to decide for themselves on the basis of facts, rather than on the basis of hearsay, speculation, and superstition.
Stemman finds fascinating examples of evidence of reincarnation in the nightmares of a Louisiana bayou boy, the past-life recall of a renowned neurosurgeon, the research of a highly respected university professor, and the unique system of governance in the mountains of Tibet, to name just a few. He examines the lives of those affected by reincarnation, such as children who can actually remember their previous lives. Instead of shying away from the skeptics, Stemman evaluates their leading theories and compares them to the findings that he has accumulated throughout his global research.
The Big Book of Reincarnation is thorough, well researched, engaging, and the most comprehensive book ever published on this fascinating subject.
- GenresNonfictionPhilosophy
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
74 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 15, 2016
If you’ve read other books on this topic, I don’t feel there is much new here. However, I still believe this to be a worthy read because of all the intriguing stories regarding past life experiences. I find these absolutely fascinating -- learning how children born to a new family can identify still living family members from a previous life and be able to tell stories that only the deceased (now living again) family member would know. So cool!
I think this aspect of reincarnation/past life experiences appeals to me because I am a time travel aficionado and I view this as a form of time travel. I would love to be hypnotized to see what past lives I may have lived. Then I don’t have to dream about time travel as I will then know I have already lived past lives. I’m sure I was always an average Joe just as I am today, but still, to know more is alluring.
I think this aspect of reincarnation/past life experiences appeals to me because I am a time travel aficionado and I view this as a form of time travel. I would love to be hypnotized to see what past lives I may have lived. Then I don’t have to dream about time travel as I will then know I have already lived past lives. I’m sure I was always an average Joe just as I am today, but still, to know more is alluring.
April 29, 2020
My review of this book will not be impartial, given that I am quite strongly inclined toward belief in reincarnation. I am also strongly devoted to belief in a Divine Realm that oversees and directs reality.
So far as this particular discussion of reincarnation is concerned, I consider it to be by far the best such book I have yet read (admittedly, I’ve read only a few such books). The author seems, to me, greatly objective, rational, reasonable, and cautious in his views as expressed in the book. Admittedly, he includes any number of cases of claims for having been reincarnated from previous lives of great fame, power, wealth, etc. – some of which claims are utterly ridiculous. However, this should no more refute legitimate claims of reincarnation than would some medical quacks in any way refute the validity of medical science. Even in domains as empirical as physics, one can find any number of highly abstruse and even outrageous claims made in the name of physical science. This does not remotely nullify legitimate physics.
Has this book provided proof for reincarnation? No. The book makes no claim to achieving such a feat. It does, however, offer monumental amounts of data that should make any rational person seriously consider that some form of transference of memories and knowledge of previous lives to present lives (by means that are radically outside the domain of the physical sciences), at least in some cases, might truly exist. The evidence, although not strictly conclusive, is sufficiently strong that it is completely irrational and foolish to dismiss all such evidence on the mere grounds that the sciences offer no validation of such claims. For that matter, that which constitutes science versus art is a highly debatable matter. Is psychology a science or an art? If only brain states exist in human psychology, then feelings, thoughts, emotions, desires, revulsions, etc. have no place in psychology. After all, it is absolutely impossible to confirm any claim to the effect that a given emotional state is identical to a specific brain state. My point is simply that even if much of parapsychology is deemed “unscientific”, much of what goes for parapsychology is precisely in the gray areas (like in a penumbra) between strictly empirical science and mere opinion. Superstring theory in physics has, so far as I know, not a shred of empirical data to confirm its validity. Yet, numerous brilliant physicists devote their lives to mastering string theory and hope for a time when its claims will be solidly validated.
I will quote in what follows from the book under review (page 237): “Those involved in reincarnation research accept that their investigations and tentative conclusions will be closely scrutinized and criticized by a wide range of nonbelievers, from religious extremists and atheists to scientists and magicians, all of whom are unprepared to accept the possibility of a spiritual dimension to life. Indeed, for many people, skepticism has become a new religion whose followers are encouraged by their high priests to worship at the altar of materialism. They deride a wide range of reported phenomena, such as ESP, telepathy, and remote viewing with the zeal one normally associates with brainwashed groups who are incapable of thinking for themselves. Yet many of the scientists who belong to skeptics’ organizations are happy to accept the mind-boggling realities of quantum physics – rightly so – while closing their minds to equally challenging possibilities in other fields.”
That segment from the book is worth seriously thinking about. Closed-mindedness is NOT restricted to spiritualists and religious fanatics. Closed-minded fanatics, those who simply impugn all evidence not in line with “orthodox” science, can be found among atheists, agnostics, materialists, and those whose minds are simply made up about what is possible and is forever (without honest and humble analysis of the evidence) to be ruled out as impossible.
Evidence for reincarnation is splendidly included among the numerous case studies reported in this important book. Each person would do well to honestly, objectively, and humbly assess the evidence and then make up one’s mind to take whatever approach to the evidence that seems most credible and sagacious. As for myself, I see the book as offering yet more evidence (not conclusive evidence – evidence, nevertheless) for a doctrine that seems to me, as a devout theist, to offer the most credible explanation for how absolute fairness and justice can prevail in a world that, at face value, would seem chaotic, purposeless, meaningless, insouciant, and without a vestige of concern for justice or equity. Reincarnation offers the most credible way to refute such a pessimistic and cynical outlook – and Roy Stemman’s engaging book offers yet more evidence that reincarnation is not a mere myth, but an objective reality.
So far as this particular discussion of reincarnation is concerned, I consider it to be by far the best such book I have yet read (admittedly, I’ve read only a few such books). The author seems, to me, greatly objective, rational, reasonable, and cautious in his views as expressed in the book. Admittedly, he includes any number of cases of claims for having been reincarnated from previous lives of great fame, power, wealth, etc. – some of which claims are utterly ridiculous. However, this should no more refute legitimate claims of reincarnation than would some medical quacks in any way refute the validity of medical science. Even in domains as empirical as physics, one can find any number of highly abstruse and even outrageous claims made in the name of physical science. This does not remotely nullify legitimate physics.
Has this book provided proof for reincarnation? No. The book makes no claim to achieving such a feat. It does, however, offer monumental amounts of data that should make any rational person seriously consider that some form of transference of memories and knowledge of previous lives to present lives (by means that are radically outside the domain of the physical sciences), at least in some cases, might truly exist. The evidence, although not strictly conclusive, is sufficiently strong that it is completely irrational and foolish to dismiss all such evidence on the mere grounds that the sciences offer no validation of such claims. For that matter, that which constitutes science versus art is a highly debatable matter. Is psychology a science or an art? If only brain states exist in human psychology, then feelings, thoughts, emotions, desires, revulsions, etc. have no place in psychology. After all, it is absolutely impossible to confirm any claim to the effect that a given emotional state is identical to a specific brain state. My point is simply that even if much of parapsychology is deemed “unscientific”, much of what goes for parapsychology is precisely in the gray areas (like in a penumbra) between strictly empirical science and mere opinion. Superstring theory in physics has, so far as I know, not a shred of empirical data to confirm its validity. Yet, numerous brilliant physicists devote their lives to mastering string theory and hope for a time when its claims will be solidly validated.
I will quote in what follows from the book under review (page 237): “Those involved in reincarnation research accept that their investigations and tentative conclusions will be closely scrutinized and criticized by a wide range of nonbelievers, from religious extremists and atheists to scientists and magicians, all of whom are unprepared to accept the possibility of a spiritual dimension to life. Indeed, for many people, skepticism has become a new religion whose followers are encouraged by their high priests to worship at the altar of materialism. They deride a wide range of reported phenomena, such as ESP, telepathy, and remote viewing with the zeal one normally associates with brainwashed groups who are incapable of thinking for themselves. Yet many of the scientists who belong to skeptics’ organizations are happy to accept the mind-boggling realities of quantum physics – rightly so – while closing their minds to equally challenging possibilities in other fields.”
That segment from the book is worth seriously thinking about. Closed-mindedness is NOT restricted to spiritualists and religious fanatics. Closed-minded fanatics, those who simply impugn all evidence not in line with “orthodox” science, can be found among atheists, agnostics, materialists, and those whose minds are simply made up about what is possible and is forever (without honest and humble analysis of the evidence) to be ruled out as impossible.
Evidence for reincarnation is splendidly included among the numerous case studies reported in this important book. Each person would do well to honestly, objectively, and humbly assess the evidence and then make up one’s mind to take whatever approach to the evidence that seems most credible and sagacious. As for myself, I see the book as offering yet more evidence (not conclusive evidence – evidence, nevertheless) for a doctrine that seems to me, as a devout theist, to offer the most credible explanation for how absolute fairness and justice can prevail in a world that, at face value, would seem chaotic, purposeless, meaningless, insouciant, and without a vestige of concern for justice or equity. Reincarnation offers the most credible way to refute such a pessimistic and cynical outlook – and Roy Stemman’s engaging book offers yet more evidence that reincarnation is not a mere myth, but an objective reality.
March 10, 2019
Some great information. An enjoyable read.
March 5, 2025
Though I found this book a little dull at times, it is a well composed thesis on why to believe in reincarnation. It is an exploration of reasonings using real-world examples. If you are looking for just straight accounts of reincarnation, this is not the book for you. But if you are looking for something a little more in depth, it's an interesting read.
May 15, 2019
Great non biased look at factual information about several stories and theories of Reincarnation without being preachy.
May 24, 2020
Presents compelling evidence, certainly gave credible explainations to some of my own experiences
July 18, 2022
Sound introduction to reincarnation. Feel like the author comes from a sceptical place but it does jump about a bit with maybe yes then maybe no.
A lot of the evidence stated for reincarnation was by one particular dude, which is fairs if he is the biggest researcher in the field but I don't particularly like that. Generally quite well researched though with a bibliography and the lot.
Do think it made me more open to reincarnation
A lot of the evidence stated for reincarnation was by one particular dude, which is fairs if he is the biggest researcher in the field but I don't particularly like that. Generally quite well researched though with a bibliography and the lot.
Do think it made me more open to reincarnation
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2016
Evidence for reincarnation in case studies. Lots of references if you want more information. A list of researchers and therapists. Those who know reincarnation is the truth won't need this book, but might find it interesting. Those who know that reincarnation is not true won't be swayed about any number of case studies no matter how detailed. Most don't realize just how many people believe.
April 5, 2014
Superb - excellent read, very informative.
March 25, 2014
Jauks sākums ceļojumam laikā :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews