Mysteries of the "Other Side"

reviews by Sophia de Sade

The Afterlife Experiments

Gary E. Schwartz

Explore the macabre curiosities of dying from scientific, metaphysical and paranormal perspectives. From the post-mortem life of cadavers to the mysteries of the "Other Side" and all of the psychic mediums in-between, these books promise a shamefully intriguing exploration of that eternal question... What happens after we die?

Arizona University professor, Gary Schwartz attempts to implement a sound scientific procedure to test his theory of that the consciousness of an individual exists beyond their physical death. Oh great, another professor gone mad after one-too-many lonely nights in the lab? Well not exactly, the author is a little eccentric to say the least, however the exploration of this topic is both intriguing and factually driven. Schwartz's work has appeal to anyone interested in the study of mediums, and is written in a manor that could be used as entertaining fodder for the hardcore agnostics, confirmation for crystal wearing "new-agers" yet most pertinently, offers a revealing glimpse into the world of paranormal study for those with an open mind.

Schwartz gives a narrative recount of his rational, quest and critical analysis of psychic mediums ability to discern information about the deceased relations of the previously unknown subjects. His experiments are set in a rigorous process of eliminating any fraudulent factors in the psychics ability by seeking out unknown subjects, comprehensive fact checking and sound documentation of the results. Even if no one is convinced of a mediums ability to make contact with the dead, this book gives a thoughtful exploration of paranormal phenomena and speaks in an academic friendly manor about subject matter usually reserved for the occasional sèance.

Life on the Other Side

Sylvia Browne

Ok, so this is a Sylvia Browne novel, yes the infamous psychic medium with constant appearances on the Montel Williams show and acclaimed grocery-store paperback author. However, the immense popularity her most famous book, Life on the Other Side, speaks to the appeal of her personality and for those willing to suspend criticism, garners explanations concerning departed loved ones and an exploration of the afterlife.

The novel speaks as a semi-autobiographical work concerning her discovery of her own psychic abilities, ghosts, spirit guides, soul mates, near death experiences and the highlight of this novel, the Other Side. Her description of the Other Side, or a spiritual world that coexists with our own reality, takes a pluralistic foundation with no set religious doctrine, and importantly includes both the concepts of reincarnation and her own perceptions of Heaven, The Holding Room (purgatory) and the "Left Door" (hell) as transitional places between lives.

Frankly, I was very compelled by her descriptions and how they incorporated nearly universal imagery of the afterlife in a new age or modern context. I would recommend this book as it epitomizes the spiritual yet not decidedly religious thinking that is very relevant in modern American conceptions of death and the afterlife.

Stiff

Mary Roach

Mary Roach's Stiff is an incredibly entertaining history of cadavers, their important contributions to scientific discoveries, forensic anthropology, and cultural norms concerning the relationship to the remains of the dead. Mary Roach's approach to death is a very candid, almost excruciatingly detailed examination of the post death experience from the corpse's viewpoint.

Haven't we all at some point wondered what exactly will happen to our bodies if donated to science? She approaches this with humor and rather shocking answers, "Kindly, dying southerners willed their bodies for the betterment of science, only to end up as practice runs for nose jobs?"

However humorous in observing medical and funerary professionals treatment of physical remains, she also gives insight into how contemporary western culture views the actual body in relation to the proper death etiquette. She illustrates the powerful conflicts of opinion in both the medical and ethical appropriateness of organ transplant and medical experimentation on cadavers. If you can stomach some of the excruciating detail, this is a very enlightening take on the importance of being dead.