Afterlife: An Investigation

by Colin Wilson

Book Overview

Is there life after death? This is a question that has intrigued mankind since the beginning of history. Now Colin Wilson, author of The Outsider and The Psychic Detectives, assesses the evidence for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385237669
• ISBN13: 9780385237666
• Release Date: September 1987
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

I didn't say it was possible- I said it was true!

_When Colin Wilson started the research for this book he was still a skeptic on the subject, by the time he finished it he was convinced in the reality of life after death. He isn't alone, for as this book shows over and over, even researchers that wish that there was no survival after death, who can see no logical reason for it, have been forced to conclude on the basis of the evidence that it is a fact. In his introduction to this second edition the author points out that after rereading his work he is more struck than ever by the consistency of the evidence. Case after case reveals a consistent pattern. All I can say is that after rereading it after five years, I still think that it is one of the best-written, most comprehensive books on the subject. _There is an incredible amount of evidence packed into this book. Swedenborg and Steiner (two scientific converts) are examined early on. They keep popping up since there is so much independent verification of their teachings by others. The entire 19th century phenomenon of Spiritualism is carefully reexamined (the Fox sisters, Daniel David Hume, Andrew Jackson Davis, etc.) Then the history and files of the Society for Psychical Research are also covered. This is also true for the Theosophical Society. This continues on to modern day research in out-of-body phenomenon and the near death experience. Actually, there is just so much information here, much of which even I was unfamiliar with, that this list doesn't do it justice. Some might say that he is just rehashing the old material. NO, that is not the case- he is re-examining the old material with a fresh and objective eye. You will be surprised at how much you thought you knew about these cases that is just plain wrong. _The evidence presented in this book should convince any reasonable person. "I didn't say it was possible- I said it was true." Sir William Crookes

Excellent Survey of 19th & 20th Century Psychical Research

Wilson's writing style is quite lively, which makes for enjoyable, fast-paced reading. Wilson's greatest strength in this book is his ability to describe, explain, and summarize many classic psychical cases, research, and other writings (ranging from the early 19th century to mid-to-late-20th century), including many of the most important ground-breaking works by key members of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). Wilson's research is extensive, and his analysis is convincing. His characterization of historical materials is even-handed and accurate, which should be readily apparent to those who have read the original cited works. (His writing encourages the reader to seek and absorb the classics he cites.) Whether you are just beginning to read "life after death" (or other psychic or paranormal) literature, or whether you are already well-versed in this field of study, you will enjoy Wilson's engaging style and exhaustive examination of a multitude of outstanding primary sources.

Good, Solid, and Worth Reading

When I started reading this book, I was expecting something else, instead I got alot more. The title doesn't encompass the richness of this book. There's so much more than just the after life. I learned alot, and it led me to alot of other books, people, concepts, and information. It's packed full of fascinating and detailed stories, which for me opened doors to other paranormal studies. I enjoyed every page, and will keep it for reference. Highly recommended !

The Book that Gets Me Interested in the Paranormal

One look at the book (reading the book title), you may think that it deals solely about reincarnation. Wrong ! It is more than that. It talks about cases covering possession, psychic double, seance, clairvoyance, etc. The arguments put forth by the author will set the mind of any skeptic rolling.This book ignites my interest and curiosity about the paranormal.

Reissue of the 1987 edition?

I'm pretty sure this is a reissue of Wilson's 1987 book by the same name ("Afterlife" -- one word). If not, someone please correct me. If so, it is an excellent introduction to the evidence for survival. This was written before he started churning out books on paranormal topics, and it is more thorough and serious than some of his more recent stuff. Unlike most modern writers in this field, Wilson gives due credit to some of the excellent work done in the early era of psychical research. This book steered me to several others from the 1800s, which I then acquired and found to be very worthwhile. Unless you are a closed-minded skeptic, you can't go wrong with this. Even if you have read widely in this field, it probably has some tidbits you didn't know about.