Is There Life After Death?

by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Everybody has wondered what lies beyond this life, but few have investigated this with as much sensitivity and rigor as Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. This first-ever recording of Dr. Kübler-Ross on audio―the pioneer who defined the five steps of grief―tells us what she discovered about the age-old Is There Life After Death?

Dr. Kübler-Ross spent decades with thousands of dying patients, observing and inquiring with an open mind and a researcher's precision, uncovering many astonishing insights into what all human beings experience when we die. Though she kept much of this stunning research private during her life, you now have a chance to hear her speak directly

The ethereal body―Dr. Kübler-Ross's remarkable verification of this transition state between this life and the next
• Being welcomed by our loved ones who have gone before us, and how we now have evidence for this extraordinary phenomenon
• Encountering teachers, guardian spirits, and religious figures in our journey after death―an experience that occurs in every culture and belief system
• What happens to us after we reach the divine light, described by many as the source of unconditional love
The question of life after death has been pondered in world religions throughout the ages, but now this compassionate scientist sheds a new light on the eternal mystery of the soul's passage beyond this physical existence. Is There Life After Death? is an unprecedented opportunity to hear of one of the most renowned healers of our time, as she speaks to us about the wonder, joy, and hope of the journey that awaits us all.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Death, Self Help, Grief, Philosophy

Audio CD

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was a Swiss-American psychiatrist, a pioneer in near-death studies, and author of the internationally best-selling book, On Death and Dying (1969), where she first discussed her theory of the five stages of grief, also known as the "Kübler-Ross model".
Kübler-Ross was a 2007 inductee into the National Women's Hall of Fame, was named by Time as one of the "100 Most Important Thinkers" of the 20th century and was the recipient of twenty honorary degrees. By July 1982, Kübler-Ross had taught 125,000 students in death and dying courses in colleges, seminaries, medical schools, hospitals, and social-work institutions. In 1970, she delivered an Ingersoll Lecture at Harvard University on the theme On Death and Dying. The New York Public Library also named, "On Death & Dying" as one of the "Library's Books of the Century."

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recordings of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in which she speaks of her views on life after death both spiritually and scientifically. I am not a religious person, but found this very comforting.

[Jake Maguire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth K-Ross is a powerful soul who spent her life making enormous contributions to the field of trans-personal psychology

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor audio quality mars intriguing content.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) answers the title’s question with a resounding yes. In her decades of research into the death, dying, and near death experiences, the Swiss psychiatrist concluded that human consciousness survives the death of the body. Is There Life After Death? (2005) is an audiobook featuring excerpts from several speeches that Kübler-Ross gave. The audio quality is abysmal, making her accented English difficult to understand. Kübler-Ross was clearly passionate about the subject, but I would recommend that you read her books or articles rather than listen to this audiobook.


[Image: Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1987]

Regarding the content itself, Is There Life After Death? should be classified more as a work of spirituality and religion than one of science. Kübler-Ross did research into near death experiences, including interviewing thousands of patients who died and were resuscitated, but her arguments here are primarily based on anecdotes and personal experience. Kübler-Ross makes very specific claims about what happens to every person after death, but simply does not present enough evidence to justify such broad claims. Unfortunately, the audiobook did not bring me any closer to believing in life after death. There are certainly things the author found in her research I cannot explain – including examples of blind people able to provide minute details of their near death experience, such as describing the order in which people came into their hospital room and the clothes they were wearing - but these things in themselves do not prove Kübler-Ross’s assertions about the existence of guardian angels, a single all-powerful and all-knowing god at the center of the Universe, the immortality of the soul, or the immortal soul's ability to travel across the Universe at incredible speed. Additionally, as a social worker living through the United States opioid epidemic, I have had in-depth conversations with dozens or maybe even hundreds of Americans who have experienced an overdose, become clinically dead, and been resuscitated by Narcan. If there’s ever been a miracle drug, Narcan is it! Some of my clients have been “brought back” from death over 10 times. No one has reported to me anything like the usual near death experiences recounted by Kübler-Ross in this audiobook, such as seeing dead loved ones and divine light. This – admittedly anecdotal – lived experience also makes me doubt the commonality of the Near Death Experience that Kübler-Ross describes in Is There Life After Death?. Of course, the psychiatrist could only provide so much evidence and nuance in a 2-hour and 14-minute audiobook (published a year after her death). I will need to read her work to get a better understanding of the depth of her belief system. Her contributions to grief therapy are important.

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[Image: Book Cover]

Citation:
Kübler-Ross, E. (2015). Is there life after death? (audiobook). Sounds True. https://www.audible.com/pd/Is-There-L... (Original work published 2005)

Title: Is There Life After Death?
Author(s): Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Year: 2005
Genre: Nonfiction - Spirituality, religion, & social science
Length: 2 hours & 14 minutes
Date(s) read: 12/20/24 - 12/21/24
Book # 230 in 2024
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[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross MD (2005) IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH? (AUDIOBOOK)
Audible - Sounds True

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars

Audible writes, "Everybody has wondered what lies beyond this life, but few have investigated this with as much sensitivity and rigor as Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. This first-ever recording of Dr. Kübler-Ross on audio - the pioneer who defined the five steps of grief - tells us what she discovered about the age-old question: Is there life after death? Dr. Kübler-Ross spent decades with thousands of dying patients, observing and inquiring with an open mind and a researcher's precision, uncovering many astonishing insights into what all human beings experience when we die. Though she kept much of this stunning research private during her life, you now have a chance to hear her speak directly about:
• The ethereal body - Dr. Kübler-Ross' remarkable verification of this transition state between this life and the next.
• Being welcomed by our loved ones who have gone before us and how we now have evidence for this extraordinary phenomenon.
• Encountering teachers, guardian spirits, and religious figures in our journey after death - an experience that occurs in every culture and belief system.
• What happens to us after we reach the divine light, described by many as the source of unconditional love.
The question of life after death has been pondered in world religions throughout the ages, but now this compassionate scientist sheds a new light on the eternal mystery of the soul's passage beyond this physical existence. Is There Life After Death? is an unprecedented opportunity to hear of one of the most renowned healers of our time as she speaks to us about the wonder, joy, and hope of the journey that awaits us all."
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Kübler-Ross is a quietly spoken lady. This is the same Kübler-Ross who came up with the cycle of change/grief. Am still a reluctant sceptic tbh. She does tell a good story though.
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[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Profundities of life after death. Her research is inspiring & the stories of death experiences where blind could recall what people resuscitating where wearing or two year olds converse with Mary are fascinating. Or those people dying that were aware of others that had passed away before they were told of their unexpected passing.

Highlights:

Divinity within us:
“Body is the house, the temple or the cocoon that we inhabit for certain amount of time.”

Encountering near death experiences:
“Like shedding a winter coat that we don’t need anymore.”

The soul & the body:
In the Ethereal body there is No pain. No handicaps. Patients are not always grateful to be a butterfly squished back into their cocoon.

Blind people able to share minute details of their near death experience where they could describe the order with which people came in the room the clothes they were wearing.

My mystical experiences:
“Should you shield the canyon from the windstorms you would never see the beauty of their carvings.”

Kids born with instinct fears only. Falling & loud noises. The other fears are implanted by parents. In the spiritual quadrant children have not been contaminated.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book and I am still not convinced that life after death or out of body experiences are real things in the way EKR implies. The most convincing argument against this was given by EKR herself. In the book, she says that a Jew isn't going to see Christ and a Protestant isn't going to see Mary near death. So, if your brain only shows you what you know, perhaps the phenomena is just your brain trying to make sense of what is happening. We already know that not everything we "see" is reality (visual illusions). Brain function can continue 4-6 minutes without oxygen, i.e. longer than the heart and lungs and pronouncement of death. (What a strange thought to think how many people "hear" their own pronouncement of death.)

I thought this book was light on science and heavy on personal experience. Speaking of her personal experiences, I am pretty sure it was psychedelics that helped convince EKR of her theories. What do you think it was that was injected into her when she had the out of body experience she describes in the book? Ketamine is my best guess.

[Jackiebartoletti · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to listen to her talk about this topic. I believe it's only an audio "book" and it includes live audio recordings of her speaking on this topic to an audience. The second part has laugh out loud moments that I appreciated. I actually appreciated a lot about this book -- it gave me hope, it reminded me of what's important, it's thoughtful, loving and kind. I believe the stories she shared. While I also believe that in a near-death experience, one can easily hallucinate - she helped me see and further understand a world beyond this earth where our loved ones are and we will be too. This is the only work of hers I've read so I will explore more. Note that the audio is difficult to understand in some parts due to recording quality - a word here and there - but it does not take away from the message.

[Steve H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recordings of EK-R speaking at home and at seminars, divided into two parts. The first is EK-R recalling her experiences with numerous patients who experienced near death or other seemingly inexplicable death related events. The second is more philosophical and details more of her own mystical experiences. Both parts are fascinating.

I read "On Death and Dying" back in the 70s, but these few hours of listening to EK-R makes me want to learn more about her work beyond just that famous and ground-breaking work.

See EKRFoundation.org

[Tamara Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, but there were two things that hindered my enjoyment. I listened to the audiobook which was unfortunately narrated by the author. She is Swiss and had such a heavy accent that I had to listen very carefully to discern all she was saying. This was exacerbated by the poor quality of the recording. I recommend this book, but do yourself a favor and read it instead.

[Kian.ting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make me contemplate about life and what’s important a recommended read for people to slow down once in a while and reconsider what’s important. Her book is about the human experience of death and also about some parenting guidelines for us to build resilient children and for us as adults to be resilient ourselves.

[A. Hexalane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 60% of this audiobook is an abridged retelling of her book On Life After Death. The last 45 minutes or so are a separate lecture given to an audience of doctors. It is nice to hear her voice, but there is not much new here that isn’t explored elsewhere.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the majority of this book. Occasionally she goes off the deep end and it gets a little weird, but overall I enjoyed it.

[Christina Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be hard to say if there is life after death. But it good be true we would have to look into it. This book was good.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some interesting points but was tough to slog though.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the science and mystery com I need together.

Great reminders to break out of the cycle and be kind.

[David McBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling narrative that there is, in fact, life after death.

[Nicole Marble · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kubler-Ross offered a theory based on her interviews w/ people who had so-called near-death experiences. Subsequent research has shown that the brain halucinates when deprived of oxygen which produces illusions.
So, long out of date opinions.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her Swiss accent.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor recording quality, semi-interesting subject matter and I've got death on my short-term horizon line. Maybe slow to percolate.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

used audiobook

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Kubler-Ross examines the possibility of life after death through the stories of her patients.

[Nancy]

I'm not sure how to rate this. I listened to an audio version, and it was a terrible recording of Kubler-Ross herself reading this. Between her heavy accent, background noise, poor quality in general of recording, etc., it was quite difficult to understand a lot (most, really) of what she was saying. Also, at times I think I heard some random creepy ice-cream-truck-music. (What WAS that?)

Especially considering the subject matter, I give this a solid 'C' for Creepy.

Ummm, not recommended. If you want to check this out, I say go with a print version instead.