The best near-death experience books fall into three groups: classic research that mapped the experience, personal accounts by people who lived it, and popular stories that brought the subject to millions of readers. Start with Life After Life by Raymond Moody for the foundation, then choose by what you are curious about.
This guide gathers 12 near-death experience books with a short note on what each offers. Several authors have also been guests on our show, and you can hear them in their own words. For a wider overview first, read our guide to near-death experiences, or browse our near-death experience stories.
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Key Takeaways
- A good first read. Life After Life by Raymond Moody is the foundation of modern NDE research.
- Three kinds of books. Research classics, personal stories and popular accounts each offer a different doorway.
- Authors you can hear. Betty Eadie, Eben Alexander, Anita Moorjani, Jeffrey Long and Scarlett Heinbuch have all been on the show.
- Read with an open mind. Accounts differ in detail. Notice the shared themes and keep what resonates.
- Affiliate note. View on Amazon links are affiliate links and cost you nothing extra.
Where to Start: Which Book Fits You?
| If you want | Start with |
|---|---|
| The foundation of NDE research | Life After Life by Raymond Moody |
| A scientist’s view of consciousness | Consciousness Beyond Life by Pim van Lommel |
| Data from thousands of accounts | Evidence of the Afterlife by Jeffrey Long |
| A personal story of healing | Dying to Be Me by Anita Moorjani |
| A spiritual, faith-centered account | Embraced by the Light by Betty J. Eadie |
| A love story that crosses the veil | We Met on the Other Side by Scarlett L. Heinbuch |
Research and Classic NDE Books
Life After Life
By Raymond Moody | 1975
The book that popularized the phrase near-death experience. Physician Raymond Moody gathers accounts from people who were revived and describes the elements they have in common, from leaving the body to a being of light.
Consciousness Beyond Life
By Pim van Lommel | 2010
Dutch cardiologist Pim van Lommel reviews his research on cardiac arrest survivors, including a well-known study published in The Lancet in 2001, and asks whether consciousness may extend beyond the brain.
Evidence of the Afterlife
By Jeffrey Long with Paul Perry | 2010
Radiation oncologist Jeffrey Long draws on a large collection of accounts to describe what experiencers report and why he finds the evidence compelling. Dr. Long has been on the show: hear his findings on the largest study of near-death experience aftereffects.
Lessons from the Light
By Kenneth Ring with Evelyn Elsaesser Valarino | 1998
Psychologist Kenneth Ring, a pioneer of NDE research, explores the lessons experiencers bring back and how those insights can be used in everyday life.
Personal NDE Stories
Embraced by the Light
By Betty J. Eadie | 1992
Betty Eadie describes dying after surgery, meeting beings of light and what she says she was shown. It became one of the best-selling NDE books of its era. Hear her tell it in her own words in her interview with Alex.
Saved by the Light
By Dannion Brinkley with Paul Perry | 1994
Dannion Brinkley recounts being struck by lightning in 1975, his experience and the changes that followed.
Proof of Heaven
By Eben Alexander | 2012
Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander describes a week-long coma and the realms he says he experienced. Skeptics have debated his account, and many readers find it moving. Listen to him in his full episode.
Dying to Be Me
By Anita Moorjani | 2012
Anita Moorjani shares her journey from a cancer diagnosis to a coma, an experience she says changed how she sees life, and her recovery. She tells her story in her episode on the podcast.
To Heaven and Back
By Mary C. Neal | 2012
Orthopedic surgeon Mary Neal tells of a kayaking accident in Chile and the experience she describes afterward.
We Met on the Other Side: A True Love Story
By Scarlett L. Heinbuch
A near-death experiencer shares a love story and what she has learned about love that carries beyond death. She is a guest in this episode.
Popular Stories That Reached Millions
Heaven Is for Real
By Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent | 2010
A father describes what his young son said he saw during an emergency surgery. The book started many family conversations about heaven.
90 Minutes in Heaven
By Don Piper with Cecil Murphey | 2004
Pastor Don Piper recounts a car accident, being pronounced dead and what he describes experiencing.
How to Read Near-Death Experience Books Well
Each author brings a worldview, and accounts differ in their details. Read with an open mind, notice what the stories share and keep what resonates. If you are in grief, a gentle story may help more than a data-heavy book. If you are curious about consciousness, start with the researchers.
Afterward, you may want to reflect or journal. A practical question many readers find helpful is, what would I do differently today if I believed love was the point? Take one small action that answers it.
Watch: Three Authors Share Their Stories
These authors talk about their books and experiences in their own words.
Dr. Jeffrey Long: The Largest Study of NDE Aftereffects
Dr. Jeffrey Long shares findings from the largest study of near-death experience aftereffects, covering over 800 people, and what experiencers describe about love and the life review. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
Anita Moorjani: Healing and the Truth of Existence
Anita Moorjani tells Alex Ferrari what she says she experienced during a coma in 2006, from reunions with her father and best friend to a new understanding of karma. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
Scarlett Heinbuch: A Love Story Beyond Death
Scarlett L. Heinbuch, author of We Met on the Other Side, shares her near-death experiences, an out-of-body moment and what she has learned about love. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
Watch More on Next Level Soul TV
Next Level Soul TV brings together full episodes, courses, movies, series and audiobooks, ad-free. Join Next Level Soul TV and keep exploring.
Go Deeper with Next Level Soul
- Near-Death Experience Stories: 19 Real Accounts
- Near-Death Experiences: The Complete Guide
- Shared Death Experiences
- Terminal Lucidity
- Spirit Guides and How to Communicate with Them
- NLS Mastery: Beyond the Veil with Julie Ryan
- Near-Death Experience in the glossary
- The full spiritual glossary
Sources and Further Reading
Spirituality for the Rest of Us™
Movies, teachings and community on Next Level Soul TV.
Go Deeper with NLS Mastery: Beyond the Veil
A grounded exploration of what lies beyond death and how that understanding changes how we live. Julie Ryan teaches it in Beyond the Veil, part of NLS Mastery. Watch the course preview below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best near-death experience book to start with?
Many readers start with Life After Life by Raymond Moody for the foundation, or with a personal account such as Dying to Be Me by Anita Moorjani for a story of healing.
Who wrote the first near-death experience book?
Raymond Moody popularized the term near-death experience in his 1975 book Life After Life.
What are the most popular NDE books?
Popular titles include Embraced by the Light, Proof of Heaven, Heaven Is for Real, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Dying to Be Me and To Heaven and Back.
Which NDE books are written by researchers?
Life After Life by Raymond Moody, Consciousness Beyond Life by Pim van Lommel, Evidence of the Afterlife by Jeffrey Long and Lessons from the Light by Kenneth Ring are research-based.
Are near-death experience books real accounts?
They are personal accounts and research collections. Readers weigh them in different ways, and some have been debated by skeptics. Take what resonates.
Which NDE books have authors who have been on Next Level Soul?
Betty Eadie, Eben Alexander, Anita Moorjani, Jeffrey Long and Scarlett Heinbuch have each been guests. Links to their episodes appear above.
Are there NDE books for grief?
Many readers turn to personal accounts like Embraced by the Light and We Met on the Other Side for comfort. Choose a story that feels gentle and hopeful.
Are there children’s NDE books?
Heaven Is for Real tells a father’s account of his young son’s experience. It is written for adults and families.
Do these links cost extra?
No. View on Amazon links are affiliate links. Next Level Soul may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Where can I hear near-death experiences instead of reading?
Our near-death experience stories page gathers 19 accounts with full episodes, and you can watch ad-free on Next Level Soul TV.
