September 1, 2014
Near-death experience is the common term for when an individual undergoes physical death but after resuscitation has memories of retaining consciousness and awareness of what happened while they were dead. Investigative journalist and Vanity Fair contributing editor Bachrach (journalism, John Cabot Univ., Rome) attempts to find out exactly what happens when we die, through interviews with doctors, nurses, hospice workers, researchers and those who experienced near death--which she says is a misnomer. There is nothing "near" about it; these people met all the definitions of being clinically dead. Death travelers (Bachrach's term) are consistent in reporting being drawn to a peaceful white light or tunnel, often meet dead relatives or other beings, and commonly watch medical practitioners working on their corporeal bodies or observe their loved ones reacting to their demise. This happens to young and old, men and women, atheists and religious types alike. As medical science advances these reports are becoming more plentiful. VERDICT There are previous books on the subject, such as Raymond Moody's Life After Life, but this book's journalistic approach makes the topic accessible to the secular and skeptical crowd.--Janet Tapper, Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR
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