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Before: Children's Memories of Previous Lives
A fully updated 2-in-1 edition, with a new introduction by the author, combining Dr. Jim B. Tucker's bestselling books about children who remember past lives― Return to Life and Life Before Life.
These two books contain accounts of Jim B. Tucker's experiences with a number of extraordinary children with memories of past lives. Building on the international research started by his University of Virginia colleague Ian Stevenson, Tucker's work has been lauded by the likes of Larry Dossey and Deepak Chopra.
Tucker takes a serious-minded approach to each case. His goal is to determine what happened--what the child has said, how the parents have reacted, whether the child's statements match the life of a particular deceased person, and whether the child could have learned such information through normal means. In the end, his findings provide persuasive evidence that some children do, in fact, possess memories of previous lives.
Thought-provoking and captivating, the stories in Before urge readers, skeptics, and supporters alike to think about life, death, and reincarnation and to reflect on their own consciousness and spirituality.
These two books contain accounts of Jim B. Tucker's experiences with a number of extraordinary children with memories of past lives. Building on the international research started by his University of Virginia colleague Ian Stevenson, Tucker's work has been lauded by the likes of Larry Dossey and Deepak Chopra.
Tucker takes a serious-minded approach to each case. His goal is to determine what happened--what the child has said, how the parents have reacted, whether the child's statements match the life of a particular deceased person, and whether the child could have learned such information through normal means. In the end, his findings provide persuasive evidence that some children do, in fact, possess memories of previous lives.
Thought-provoking and captivating, the stories in Before urge readers, skeptics, and supporters alike to think about life, death, and reincarnation and to reflect on their own consciousness and spirituality.
- GenresNonfictionScience
544 pages, Paperback
Published April 13, 2021
9 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Jim B. Tucker
11 books41 followersJIM B. TUCKER, M.D. is Bonner-Lowry Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson with children who report memories of previous lives.
Dr. Tucker was born and raised in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in psychology in 1982, followed by a Medical Degree four years later. He then received training in general psychiatry and child psychiatry at the University of Virginia. After he completed his training, he stayed in Charlottesville and began a successful private practice in psychiatry.
Tucker has published two books--Life Before Life and Return to Life--and numerous papers in scientific journals. He has spoken before both scientific and general audiences and has made a number of television appearances, including Today, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning.
Dr. Tucker was born and raised in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in psychology in 1982, followed by a Medical Degree four years later. He then received training in general psychiatry and child psychiatry at the University of Virginia. After he completed his training, he stayed in Charlottesville and began a successful private practice in psychiatry.
Tucker has published two books--Life Before Life and Return to Life--and numerous papers in scientific journals. He has spoken before both scientific and general audiences and has made a number of television appearances, including Today, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 28, 2021
This book is a combination of both of Jim Tucker's previously published books. I read them both some years ago, but had no problem rereading them, even though I don't usually read books twice. Dr. Tucker's books aren't the type that are going to please everyone, because some readers will see them as too scientific, while others will consider them pseudoscience. In addition, some readers, I'm sure, will consider them nothing but "nuts".
Personally, I see them as being good general public books on reincarnation and paranormal subjects, such as ESP. Dr. Tucker gets philosophical in the second book, and I better understand his "life is a dream" theory after reading it a second time. The quantum physics chapter still left me skimming and yawning, however. After recently reading my 2017 review for his second book, I decided to just repost it as part of this review, since it pretty much sums up what I feel about Dr. Tucker's writings and beliefs.
Review from January 21, 2017 of Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives:
Jim Tucker's second book left me with mixed feelings. I like his writings more than Ian Stevenson's simply because I found all of Dr. Stevenson's books too dry and scientific, for my taste. (The one exception being European Cases Of The Reincarnation Type .) But this second book really veered off at the end with discussions of quantum physics and life being nothing but a dream. Although I've encountered quantum physics here, there and everywhere in metaphysical books, I don't understand the concept, and don't feel any strong need to do so. I'm just not particularly scientifically inclined, and have no need to see metaphysical topics scientifically explained.
Dr. Tucker's dream theory was much more interesting, but I did not understand that either. If life is a dream, or a series of dreams, what is the meaning and purpose of life? My third and final quibble about this book is the mention of Eben Alexander in it. ( Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife ) While I certainly don't think everyone should have the same opinion of a book that I have, I still find it unbelievable anyone can read Dr. Alexander's first book and not come away with the feeling that he is a narcissistic con man, in search of a new day job. That would be particularly true of a reader who is a psychiatrist.
Other than all that, this book is a good summary of the research done over the years on past lives remembered by children. It contains both American and non-American cases. I understand how some readers feel the American cases are the most interesting, but the cases from other countries almost always seem to involve more proven details; as well as intriguing things such as a child remembering who killed him in a past life, with the killer still being alive. Can you imagine an American case like that? Can you imagine the publicity it would receive?
The two most interesting American cases in this book are the James Leininger and Ryan Hammons ones, but those are pretty well known already to avid readers of reincarnation stories. Thus, once again, I see this book as being a good review of children's past life memories, what has been recorded and analyzed. Moreover, for anyone interested in quantum physics and life-is-a-dream theories, there's bonus material in this book just for you.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.)
Personally, I see them as being good general public books on reincarnation and paranormal subjects, such as ESP. Dr. Tucker gets philosophical in the second book, and I better understand his "life is a dream" theory after reading it a second time. The quantum physics chapter still left me skimming and yawning, however. After recently reading my 2017 review for his second book, I decided to just repost it as part of this review, since it pretty much sums up what I feel about Dr. Tucker's writings and beliefs.
Review from January 21, 2017 of Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives:
Jim Tucker's second book left me with mixed feelings. I like his writings more than Ian Stevenson's simply because I found all of Dr. Stevenson's books too dry and scientific, for my taste. (The one exception being European Cases Of The Reincarnation Type .) But this second book really veered off at the end with discussions of quantum physics and life being nothing but a dream. Although I've encountered quantum physics here, there and everywhere in metaphysical books, I don't understand the concept, and don't feel any strong need to do so. I'm just not particularly scientifically inclined, and have no need to see metaphysical topics scientifically explained.
Dr. Tucker's dream theory was much more interesting, but I did not understand that either. If life is a dream, or a series of dreams, what is the meaning and purpose of life? My third and final quibble about this book is the mention of Eben Alexander in it. ( Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife ) While I certainly don't think everyone should have the same opinion of a book that I have, I still find it unbelievable anyone can read Dr. Alexander's first book and not come away with the feeling that he is a narcissistic con man, in search of a new day job. That would be particularly true of a reader who is a psychiatrist.
Other than all that, this book is a good summary of the research done over the years on past lives remembered by children. It contains both American and non-American cases. I understand how some readers feel the American cases are the most interesting, but the cases from other countries almost always seem to involve more proven details; as well as intriguing things such as a child remembering who killed him in a past life, with the killer still being alive. Can you imagine an American case like that? Can you imagine the publicity it would receive?
The two most interesting American cases in this book are the James Leininger and Ryan Hammons ones, but those are pretty well known already to avid readers of reincarnation stories. Thus, once again, I see this book as being a good review of children's past life memories, what has been recorded and analyzed. Moreover, for anyone interested in quantum physics and life-is-a-dream theories, there's bonus material in this book just for you.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.)
October 24, 2021
I read both of these books separately and then again in this new compilation. I find Jim Tucker’s research and case studies to be utterly fascinating and compelling. His work is what ultimately led to me going down the rabbit hole of books on reincarnation and spirituality. Something about these books resonated with me on a really deep level. I was raised Catholic and I still identify as such but it honestly never really did much for me. However, when I started getting into reincarnation and reading about children who remember past lives and past life regression cases, it just ignited a passion within my soul and I knew, deep within me, there was some truth to all of this. I am so grateful for all of Jim Tucker’s extensive research and for him writing these books because they ultimately gave me a sense of purpose in my life and introduced me to a newfound belief system that truly resonated with me.
March 28, 2021
Interesting book and topics covered. It is quite detailed and reads in places like an article for JAMA but those areas can be skimmed to get to the meat of the matter. Quite scientific in places and sometimes seems repetitive. Read the cover, it gives adequate information. It does seem that there are more incidences of the past life experiences in countries that solidly believe in re incarnation. There seem to be a few more in the US and he is apparently in search of more in the US which should be interesting. We may never know what or why these events occur. Many things we are not meant to know. I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews