Near-death experiences : heavenly insight or human illusion? /

This book is an expanded version of a German work published in 2011. Engmann, a neurologist, psychiatrist, and artist, begins by discussing the belief in life after death, supported by the accounts of individuals who had near-death experiences. Many of these experiences took place in ancient times, and the book cites reports from Plato, Paul the apostle, and Gregory of Tours, among others. The following chapter focuses on supporting philosophical and religious aspects of these experiences. The author then examines this phenomenon from the scientific and medical perspective, which discounts the continuation of life. This perspective is also supported by many specific factors, including neurotransmitter theories and neuropsychological aspects. The author fully realizes the fragile but contradictory nature of these two views. At the end of the book, Engmann provides a five-point summary that attempts to integrate these two perspectives. The final chapter provides descriptions of scientific terms used in the text. The book is very well written and illustrated with many pictures to simplify the author's discussion; it will be accessible to a wide audience. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic and general library collections. --Daryl Scott Paulson, independent scholar