Stephen Lives

by Anne Puryear

Librarian's note: This ISBN was previously used on a different book.

The mother of a teenager who committed suicide chronicles her grief process and her communication with Stephen beyond the grave, offering comforting advice to families in crisis and people who have lost loved ones to suicide. Reprint.

Genres: Biography, Spirituality

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Anne Puryear, D.D., is author of Stephen Lives! was co-founder of the Spiritual Science Research Center in Washington, D.C., and spent four years as Director of the Department of Spiritual Healing at the Medical Research Division of the Edgar Cayce Foundation.

Reviews

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't sure whether to give this one a four or a three star rating, it was in between. I enjoyed the book, although it is rather new age and most of the stuff was pretty hard for me to accept as I haven't personally experienced anything like it. Still, the book was an interesting, tragic, and depressing story that was easy to follow and kept one reading. It carried important messages about life, raising children, and reaching out to children. Most of the book was a background story of the mother as the author, raising her two sons and two adopted daughters. She went from one man/marriage to the next with various degrees of broken homes, always searching for different spiritual teachings. What happens to Stephen was heartbreakingly sad. A good book that won't be forgotten because of it's theme certainly - when teenagers die so young, it's always sobering, but even more so when they take their own lives.

One thing that stood out that the author did not talk about physical abuse with Richard, her ex, in the book. She said he was amazingly controlling, verbally abusive, and rigid. He put the kids down often and they fought daily. One of the saddest and most honest parts of the book to me was the last letter at the very end from his older brother Bobby. His regrets at not being kinder to his brother, not being able to save him, and he detailed how bad physical abuse was also, which was not mentioned in the story.

[Salsadancer · Rating 3 out of 5]

After his suicide, 15-year old Stephen writes to his mother to help her feel better. She receives some comfort, and presunably profit from the book sale, as well. It's a sad book. My son died of suicide, I grieve and look for comfort; I wasn't comforted by this book. We each find comfort in our own way and believe what we need to believe to make sense of our world. If the writing of this book helped Anne Puryear through her hell, then I'm okay with that.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be easy to read but long and detailed. At times I became very frustrated with the writer because of what she put her son through that aided in his suicide. But as I read chapter 6 and then the continuing chapters such as 7, 8 and 9 began to understand why she wrote the book the way she wrote it. I found Stephen story which is being told by him very interesting. I found her story Stevens mothers to be quite annoying. I will warn you if you start the book you have to finish it in order to get the point . Overall it's a decent book to read.

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half was a bit long and involved around Stephen's life and family — after all, most readers for this book and its premise come to read about Afterlife insights more than a biography (not any easy one at that) of a family and kid. But once the sad, even tragic transition happens, the reason readers came to this book gets satisfied — amply so.

It also becomes perhaps the best firsthand, perhaps semi-firsthand, argument against suicide I've ever read. I have recommended this book to a few friends and troubled folk I've encountered, and would encourage others to do so as well.

All in all, it becomes a great, somewhat difficult, yet satisfying and affirming read about life and the Afterlife, and even a compelling (and substantiated) argument against suicide.

[Maureen Vita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot - I have two copies. I believe that our loved ones stay among us and this book is one interpretation of that phenomena if you will. This book is not for everyone but those who enjoy reading about communicating with the other side will find this book interesting, to say the least. I may read it again as I read it over 10 years ago - since then I have worked with terminally ill people and I would like to see how this book affects me. I may gain a new perspective based on a few similar experiences I've had.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt story of a mother's devastating loss and her re-connection with her son after his suicide. Rev. Puryear shares Steven's story as well as her own, and the wisdom he shares with her - and us -from his perspective in the afterlife.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book; one of my favorites as far as spirituality and delving into afterlife information.

[Panida]

During the first half I naturally thinks the writer is hallucinating from her grief, but until the end, hallucination or not, it does give a good perspective on living your life

[Jody Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally charged well written book from the heart. The raw courage of a mother’s love for her lost son. Did a good job describing mediumship and connections with the other side.