The best books about the afterlife are Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls for what may happen between lives, Jeffrey Long’s God and the Afterlife for the near-death research, and The Tibetan Book of the Dead for the oldest map of what follows death.
Below are 15 books, grouped by what you want to know: sacred teachings, souls between lives, evidence and science, and contact with loved ones. Looking for near-death accounts? See our lists of the best near-death experience books and the best near-death experience stories.
Key Takeaways
- Start with your question. If it is “what happens?”, try the Tibetan texts or Newton. If it is “what is the evidence?”, try Long, Schwartz or Roach.
- Mix tradition with testimony. Sacred texts, case studies and personal stories each show a different side of the same question.
- Weigh the evidence with care. Some of these authors make bold claims, and scientists dispute several of them. We say where.
- Comfort counts. Books on after-death contact can be a gentle companion in grief.
- Hear from four of the authors. Dr. Jeffrey Long, Mark Anthony, Suzanne Giesemann and James Van Praagh have all joined us on the Next Level Soul Podcast.
What Are Books About the Afterlife?
Books about the afterlife explore what happens to consciousness after the body dies. Some come from ancient traditions, some from clinical research, and some from people who say they have experienced or received messages from the other side.
Different authors answer in different ways: a heaven, a bardo, a return to a spirit home, or a cycle of reincarnation. For the experiences that open this subject for many people, start with our guide to near-death experiences and our collection of near-death experience stories.
Afterlife Books at a Glance
| Book | Best for | Approach | Voice |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Tibetan Book of the Dead | The oldest map of death | Spiritual text | Tibetan Buddhist tradition |
| The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (Sogyal Rinpoche) | Facing death with less fear | Spiritual teaching | Tibetan Buddhist teacher |
| Seth Speaks (Roberts) | A channeled big picture | Channeled text | Jane Roberts as Seth |
| On Life After Death (Kübler-Ross) | A short, gentle read | Reflections | Psychiatrist |
| Journey of Souls (Newton) | Life between lives | Case studies | Hypnotherapist |
| Destiny of Souls (Newton) | More between-lives detail | Case studies | Hypnotherapist |
| The Afterlife of Billy Fingers (Kagan) | A personal story | Memoir | Sister and author |
| God and the Afterlife (Long) | Near-death research | Research | Physician |
| The Afterlife Experiments (Schwartz) | Testing mediums | Research | Psychologist |
| Spook (Roach) | A skeptic’s humor | Science journalism | Science writer |
| Imagine Heaven (Burke) | A Christian view of heaven | Faith and near-death accounts | Pastor |
| Hello from Heaven! (Guggenheim) | After-death signs | Collected accounts | Authors and researchers |
| Talking to Heaven (Van Praagh) | How mediumship works | Mediumship | Medium |
| The Afterlife Frequency (Anthony) | Evidence for contact | Mediumship | Medium and lawyer |
| Messages of Hope (Giesemann) | An unexpected medium’s memoir | Memoir | Retired Navy commander |
How Do I Choose an Afterlife Book?
Begin with the question you are carrying. If it is “what happens at the moment of death?”, pick the Tibetan texts. If it is “what is the soul doing between lives?”, pick Newton. If it is “is there evidence?”, pick Long, Schwartz or Roach. If it is “can I hear from someone I lost?”, pick the Guggenheims, Van Praagh or Giesemann.
A few simple guides help:
- Grieving? Try Hello from Heaven! or On Life After Death, and go gently.
- A skeptic at heart? Start with Spook or The Afterlife Experiments.
- Short on time? On Life After Death is brief and kind.
- Curious about rebirth? Our list of the best books on reincarnation picks up from here.
For reading across the whole path, see our list of the top spiritual books.
Sacred and Spiritual Teachings on Death
These four books come from spiritual traditions and channeled teachings, plus one gentle voice from the world of grief and dying.
1. The Tibetan Book of the Dead
Padmasambhava, translated by Gyurme Dorje (Penguin Classics, 2007)
This Tibetan Buddhist text, traditionally linked to the teacher Padmasambhava, guides the consciousness through the bardo, the in-between states after death. The Penguin Classics edition is the first complete English translation, by Gyurme Dorje with Graham Coleman and Thupten Jinpa, with an introduction by the Dalai Lama.
It is dense in places and beautiful in others. Read it slowly, and let the notes help.
Best for: Readers who want the oldest and most detailed map of death and rebirth.
2. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Sogyal Rinpoche (HarperSanFrancisco, 1994)
Sogyal Rinpoche presents Tibetan Buddhist teachings on living well, dying well and what follows, in a form meant for Western readers. It covers meditation, compassion and how to be with someone who is dying.
Allegations of abuse were made against the author in 2017, and readers can weigh that for themselves. The teachings remain widely read.
Best for: Readers who want practical guidance for facing death with less fear.
3. Seth Speaks
Jane Roberts (New World Library, 1994 edition)
Jane Roberts channeled a personality called Seth, and this classic covers death, the afterlife, reincarnation and the nature of reality. It was one of the early books of the modern channeling movement.
It asks for patience and rewards readers who enjoy big ideas. For more, see our guide to the Seth Material.
Best for: Readers open to channeled material and big-picture metaphysics.
4. On Life After Death
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (Celestial Arts, 2008 edition)
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the psychiatrist known for her work on the stages of grief, brings together her reflections on death, dying and what may come after. The book is short, and it is gentle with the reader.
Her view across the pages is that death is a transition and not an ending.
Best for: Readers who want a short, compassionate read from a well-known voice.
Souls Between Lives: Case Studies and Stories
These three books describe what people report about the time between lives, whether through hypnosis or a brother’s messages.
5. Journey of Souls
Michael Newton, PhD (Llewellyn, 1994)
Michael Newton was a hypnotherapist who guided clients into a deep state and recorded what they described about the time between lives. The book presents those case studies, from the moment of death to the return to a spirit home and the planning of a next life.
It is a bestseller with a devoted following. The accounts come from sessions with clients, so the book reads as a set of personal testimonies, not proof.
Best for: Readers who want a detailed picture of life between lives.
6. Destiny of Souls
Michael Newton, PhD (Llewellyn, 2000)
Newton’s follow-up adds new case studies and goes deeper into soul groups, guides and the work of the spirit world as his clients described it.
Read Journey of Souls first, since this book builds on it.
Best for: Readers who finished Journey of Souls and want more.
7. The Afterlife of Billy Fingers
Annie Kagan, foreword by Raymond Moody (Hampton Roads, 2013)
Annie Kagan writes about her brother Billy, who she says began sending her messages after he died. It is a personal, often funny memoir, with a foreword by Dr. Raymond Moody.
It reads like a story more than a manual.
Best for: Readers who like a personal story over a theory.
Evidence, Science and Near-Death Research
These four books ask the question as a researcher, a skeptic or a pastor would. They do not agree with each other, and that is part of the value.
8. God and the Afterlife
Jeffrey Long, MD with Paul Perry (HarperOne, 2016)
Jeffrey Long, the radiation oncologist behind the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation, draws on thousands of accounts to ask what near-death experiences say about God and the afterlife. It is his follow-up to Evidence of the Afterlife.
He argues that the accounts point to a loving source and an existence beyond the body. Scientists dispute his conclusions, so weigh the argument as you read.
Best for: Readers who want the research argument for an afterlife.
9. The Afterlife Experiments
Gary E. Schwartz, PhD with William L. Simon (Atria Books, 2003 edition)
Gary Schwartz, a psychologist at the University of Arizona, tested mediums under controlled conditions and reports results he believes deserve serious attention. The book walks through the experiments and how he designed them.
Critics have challenged the methods, which makes this a good book to read with a questioning mind.
Best for: Readers who want to see how mediumship has been tested.
10. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
Mary Roach (W. W. Norton, 2006)
Mary Roach follows the long, odd history of the search for evidence of a soul, from early experiments to visits with mediums and researchers. She is curious, funny and openly skeptical.
If you want a smart outsider’s tour of the field, this is the one.
Best for: Skeptics, and readers who like their science with a sense of humor.
11. Imagine Heaven
John Burke, foreword by Don Piper (Baker Books, 2015)
John Burke, a pastor, compares near-death accounts with biblical descriptions of heaven and asks what both suggest about the life to come. Don Piper wrote the foreword.
It speaks mainly to readers who want to see their Christian faith and these accounts in conversation.
Best for: Readers of Christian faith who are curious about near-death accounts.
Contact With Loved Ones: Mediums and Messages
These four books are about the hope many people carry after a loss, that the bond continues. Read them with an open heart and your own discernment.
12. Hello from Heaven!
Bill Guggenheim and Judy Guggenheim (ADC Project, 1995 edition)
Bill and Judy Guggenheim collected accounts from people who say they were contacted by loved ones who had died: a voice, a scent, a dream, a touch. They call these after-death communications. See also our guide to signs from deceased loved ones.
The book is a quiet, practical companion for anyone who has felt something they could not explain.
Best for: Readers who think a loved one has reached out.
13. Talking to Heaven
James Van Praagh (Berkley, 1999 edition (first published 1997))
James Van Praagh, a well-known medium, explains how he receives messages from the other side and shares stories from his readings. It became a bestseller when it first appeared in 1997.
He writes plainly, with a focus on love and the continuing bond with those who have passed.
Best for: First-time readers curious about how mediumship works.
14. The Afterlife Frequency
Mark Anthony, foreword by Gary E. Schwartz (New World Library, 2021)
Mark Anthony is a psychic medium and a lawyer, and he brings both habits to the question of whether the dead can contact the living. The book lays out how he says contact works and why he believes it can be tested, with a foreword by Gary Schwartz.
It is a good bridge for readers who want a medium’s voice with a thinker’s structure.
Best for: Readers who want a medium who also argues like a lawyer.
15. Messages of Hope
Suzanne Giesemann (One Mind Books, 2011)
Suzanne Giesemann, a retired US Navy commander, tells how a life of structure and discipline gave way to a surprising second path as a medium. The subtitle calls it the memoir of a most unexpected medium, and the tone matches.
It is steady and practical, a good fit for readers who distrust anything flowery. For more, see our guide to spirit communication.
Best for: Skeptics who want a grounded narrator.
An Honest View of Afterlife Books
No book can prove what happens after death. Scientists have not settled the questions raised by near-death experiences, mediumship or past-life memories, and several authors here make claims that others dispute. Sacred texts speak from faith, not from laboratory results.
Use these books as guides, not authorities. Keep what feels true and set the rest down. Nothing here replaces medical or mental health care; if you are struggling with grief, please reach out to a doctor or call or text 988 in the US.
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Hear It From the Guests
Prefer to listen? These Next Level Soul Podcast conversations feature authors from this list in their own voices.
What Near-Death Research Reveals with Dr. Jeffrey Long
Dr. Long shares what years of near-death experience research show about life reviews, distressing accounts and love. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
The Afterlife Frequency and Proof of the Spirit World with Mark Anthony
Mark Anthony, a psychic medium and lawyer, joins Alex Ferrari on the Next Level Soul Podcast. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
How to Speak With Your Loved Ones Beyond the Veil with Suzanne Giesemann
Suzanne Giesemann explains how to speak with loved ones beyond the veil and receive their messages. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
Life After Death and Beyond with James Van Praagh
James Van Praagh joins Alex Ferrari on the Next Level Soul Podcast to discuss life after death and beyond. Watch the full episode and read the show notes.
Watch More on Next Level Soul TV
Next Level Soul TV is our own home for films, series, audiobooks and teachings on these questions. Here are six to start with.
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.
Sources and Further Reading
Spirituality for the Rest of Us™
Movies, teachings and community on Next Level Soul TV.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the afterlife?
It depends on your question. Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls is a favorite for life between lives, Jeffrey Long’s God and the Afterlife is a strong pick for near-death research, and The Tibetan Book of the Dead is the oldest map of what follows death.
What is a good afterlife book for beginners?
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s On Life After Death is short and gentle, and Journey of Souls is easy to read and widely loved. Mary Roach’s Spook suits beginners who prefer a skeptical, funny guide.
What is the oldest book about the afterlife on this list?
The Tibetan Book of the Dead, a Tibetan Buddhist text traditionally linked to the teacher Padmasambhava, who lived in the 8th century. It describes the bardo, the in-between states after death.
Is there scientific evidence for the afterlife?
Researchers have studied near-death experiences, mediums and children’s memories of past lives, and the results are debated. Jeffrey Long and Gary Schwartz argue the evidence is worth serious attention, while Mary Roach takes a skeptical view.
Which books describe what happens between lives?
Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls are the best known, and both rest on hypnosis sessions with clients. Seth Speaks, a channeled text, also covers life after death and rebirth.
Which book is best if I am grieving?
Hello from Heaven!, On Life After Death and The Afterlife of Billy Fingers are gentle places to start. Read slowly, take breaks when you need them, and reach out for support if the feelings are heavy.
Are mediumship books reliable?
They share their authors’ experiences, and mediumship research is still debated. Enjoy the comfort they offer, and be careful with anyone who pressures you or charges large sums for messages.
Which authors on this list has Next Level Soul interviewed?
We have interviewed Dr. Jeffrey Long, Mark Anthony, Suzanne Giesemann and James Van Praagh. You can watch each conversation from the cards on this page.
Do these books agree with each other?
No. Traditions differ: some describe rebirth, some describe heaven, and some describe both. Treat each as a map from one tradition or one set of experiences, and keep what rings true.
Where do I find near-death experience books?
Our list of the best near-death experience books covers the foundations and the research, and our list of near-death experience stories covers first-person memoirs.
Are there good books on reincarnation?
Yes. Our list of the best books on reincarnation covers past-life regression, the research on children who remember previous lives, and the major traditions.
Can I explore the afterlife on Next Level Soul TV?
Yes. Next Level Soul TV has films such as Afterlife: What Happens When You Die and audiobooks such as The Life Beyond Death and Through the Gates: A Journey Through the Inner Planes of Death.
