Transformed By the Light: The Powerful Effect of Near-Death Experiences on People's Lives

The field of NDEs and metaphysics is drowning in a sea of lying charlatans, all looking for fortune and fame. Dr. Morse's scientific rigor and integrity is a real breath of fresh air. Yet the book is an easy read and exciting. I've never hi-lighted so much. Out of the 6 NDE books I've read so far, it's my favorite.

I have read so many of these books and studied so much on this subject I should have an honorary degree by now if there was such a thing. :) Seriously though, Dr Morse' books are the most well studied on the subject of near death experiences as he has does his dedicated research for many years bed side, both medically and psychologically. The authors books have given me insight to my inner soul. Reading and studying these books gives me the feeling of inner peace. Less fear of the unknown. Less fear of the inevitable aspect of the conclusion of life, death. As I am a believer in God, this gives me a heightened sense of peace in my soul that there is a "higher place" that the soul goes as the body is at it's final resting place.

I really loved this book. I have had the unique problem of having had an experience that can only be attributed as a near death experience and a huge miracle. I wanted to be reading about near death experiences but found most books appealing more to people's need for some kind of spiritual sense than to scientific explanation. While both ends are needed, most books tend to be a spiritual base instead of looking to science and logic. This book was a god-send as it looked at experiences objectively from a scientific light!!! I would highly recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!

I've read many books on Near Death experiences over the years. In fact, I have over twenty of them on the bookcase beside me as I write this. Yet, I keep coming back to this one volume (I believe that this is the third time that I've reread it.) The reason for this is that it is the most "scientific" of the studies available to the general reading public. One would expect this of a book written by a practicing medical doctor. It is scientific, yet it is objective- this is no deconstructionist hatchet job. It is a true research study conducted with impressive thoroughness. The results are presented in the text in non-technical, non-statistical language, though the full paper with all the statistical results is included in the appendix.First of all, this Transformations study takes the existence of NDE's as a proven fact. The author's previous research with the near death experiences of children left no doubt as to that (see his_Closer to the Light_.) This book deals with the lasting, measurable effects of the near death experience on people who experienced it in childhood (less of a chance of popular culture contamination.) A comprehensive battery of tests were applied to both NDE survivors and control groups (Ellsworth Profile of Adaptation of Life Survey, Greyson Value Survey, Greyson Near-Death Experience Validity Scale, Templer Death Anxiety Scale, Reker-Peacock life Attitude Profile, Greyson Negative Near Death Experience Survey, Neppe Subjective Paranormal Events Questionnaire, Neppe Temporal Lobe Sensitivity Inventory, Etc.) In addition, the participants complete medical and psychiatric histories were examined, as was a survey of their complete lifestyle and personal history. This was a very comprehensive in-depth study of a type not attempted before or since.The results showed that the NDE survivors had significantly lower death anxiety and a higher zest for life. Verifiable psychic ability was four times higher than the general public. There were also indications that long-term conventional intelligence increased as a result- as well as creativity increase. The anecdotal sketches also demonstrate especially clearly that humanitarian and altruistic behavior was nearly always at a high level as a result of exposure to "the Light."Why should we care about such research? Well, it tends to comfort those who hear about it, especially the sick and dieing, even though they have not had the experience themselves. It also tends to drive home our interconnectiveness as human beings and the need to treat each other with fairness, justice, and respect. It refutes the mechanistic concept that life is without purpose or reward. Oh yes, there is also the fact that it is the objective, verifiable, truth....

I loved this book. A Seattle pediatrician reports on the near-death experiences of children he has treated. As one child explained, she didn't know who the person in the light was; she thought it was Santa Claus. Dr. Morris writes from a non-religious standpoint by including explanations by Stephen Hawking. The scientific explanations indirectly confirmed my faith.