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Rating: 
Summary: Important topic marred by amateurish writing
Review: I have to agree with another reviewer regarding the substance of this book, or lack thereof; this is a fascinating topic and although the author included some interesting case studies her overuse of irrelevant filler and 'homey' writing style was a real turn-off. If you're looking for a credible, objective analysis of the DBV phenomenon and original research,look elsewhere.You're much better off reading "What They Saw at the Hour of Death", which is where this author got most of her information.Disappointing...
Rating: 
Summary: A MUST FOR THE SPIRITUALLY CHALLENGED
Review: If a spiritually-challenged friend or relative -- one who has difficulty believing in survival of consciousness at death -- indicates that he or she is ready to let a little light penetrate the ego, you might want to consider giving this book as a gift. It offers much food for thought.Evidence of survival comes to us in different ways -- near-death experiences, mediumship, past-life regression, and astral travel being the most often cited in recent years. However, the Death Bed Vision (DBV) is one that is equally strong and not so fully explored in recent publications. Sir William Barrett of England wrote the best-known book ("Death-Bed Visions")on this subject in 1926. But before him, astronomer Camille Flammarion's 1922 book offered a comprehensive report on DBVs. In 1977, Osis and Haraldsson researched the subject and reported on it. Now, Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon brings us up to date. She cites many of the best case studies of Barrett, Flammarion, and Osis, but add her own interesting, intriguing and informative research, including several personal experiences that are very convincing. DBVs inlcude reports of the dying seeing deceased loved ones waiting for them as well as glimpses of the "other side," reports by bedside witnesses who have observed spirits in waiting, and other witnesses, including doctors and nurses, who have seen the spirit body leave the earthly shell. The non-spiritually-challenged should also find this book very helpful and reinforcing. It will give them some indication as to what to expect or look for when friends or relatives prepare to cross over, and, of course, what they can look for when it is their time to graduate to the realms of higher vibration. Having read several hundred metaphysical books, I'd have to put this in the Top 10. I intend to give copies to my two daughters, both registered nurses. For anyone who notes that all of my Amazon reviews are five-star, I should comment that I don't do a review unless I think the book rates five stars. This one rates more than five stars, but the rating system doesn't allow for more. If you don't read this one, it's your loss.
Rating:
Summary: Offers affirmation for the dying and those who love them
Review: It has seemed to me for a number of years that there is a kind of secret society among those of us who have sat with people we love who are dying, who have died. It is a holy time, in the sense that it is a time set apart from the ordinary routines and tasks. This is not to imply that it is an easy or enjoyable period at all; indeed, one may feel suspended in or out of time. The clock ticks away, but noon no longer means lunch, necessarily, and the dawning day may mark the end of a long night shift at a bedside. This book honors the experiences of those who have sat beside the bed and, most importantly, of those _in_ the bed. It reports the variety of visions, dreams, serendipities, and expected or unexpected occurrences that attend dying. It normalizes the events many of us are skittish about acknowledging, much less discussing. In doing so, it offers a significant amount of consolation both for the things we have seen and for the individual encounter with death that awaits each of us. It is possible that some readers of particularly fundamentalist religious persuasions would take offense at some of the ideas examined here. To them I say only that with this book, as with anything in life, it's best to take what you find useful and to leave the rest behind. As a person of deep religious faith and convictions, I can truthfully say that I found nothing here that would cause me to contravene my religion's beliefs and practices. On the contrary, this book causes a deep gratitude to rise in me for the gift of faith and for the healing presence of love.
Rating: 
Summary: A nice book, but a little behind the times
Review: The book needs more actual stories and less hypothesizing about the meaning of the few stories that are included. The author invests a lot of words and time trying to persuade readers that there is life after life. I'd suspect that the people who read this book aren't questioning the eternality of life - but would like to hear more about the "death bed visions." It's an okay book but it needs more meat and substance. It reads more like a book that was written 20 years ago, when the interest in angels and spiritual beings was just beginning. And it's written in very simple and conversational language. It reads like a letter from a friend who's met some interesting people who had death bed visions. The scope and circle of the experiences is quite limited and it's a little too simple for my tastes. Yes, I believe we're in the company of angels and spiritual beings and I believe there is life after life. I want to know more about what these people saw and heard and felt. I wanted more case studies and personal stories. The author seems to spend a lot of time and words convincing us of the reality of the spiritual realm of existence. It's an okay book and I'd recommend it, if you have time to read several books. But along these lines - I'd more highly recommend "Hello From Heaven." That book seems more powerful and well-written and researched than "One Last Hug Before I Go."
Rating:
Summary: EXELLENT READING
Review: This book provides far more than just research. There are some very intriguing parallels to all the documented cases. This book is written in a way that it maintains the interest of the existing "Believer" and captures the interest of the curious and perhaps skeptic. Every reader can relate to some witnessed event in this book. Perhaps not aware of what may have taking place at the time....now enlightened. I found this refreshingly real and hard to put down Especially in comparison to other popular books about the afterlife that had a commercial edge and were almost trying to "sell" a belief. Dr. Carla has an impressive fan club of people like myself that respect her for her Spiritual insight and general wisdom of well being. I actually reccommend all of her books. She's pretty multi-tasked!
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Summary: The most credible of all on this topic.....and the afterlife
Review: This book provides far more than just research. There are some very intriguing parallels to all the documented cases. This book is written in a way that it maintains the interest of the existing "Believer" and captures the interest of the curious and perhaps skeptic. Every reader can relate to some witnessed event in this book. Perhaps not aware of what may have taking place at the time....now enlightened. I found this refreshingly real and hard to put down Especially in comparison to other popular books about the afterlife that had a commercial edge and were almost trying to "sell" a belief. Dr. Carla has an impressive fan club of people like myself that respect her for her Spiritual insight and general wisdom of well being. I actually reccommend all of her books. She's pretty multi-tasked!
Rating:
Summary: heartfelt rehash of others' research
Review: This is a passionate book offering hope, love and peace for everyone on the planet. If we live long enough, each of us will be bereaved and in the end, one out of one of us will die. Dr. Wills-Brandon has done her research well. This is an important book for anyone interested in evidence of an afterlife. The author weaves together deathbed visions, near death experiences, and after death communications.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This is the first book I read on the subject and I really liked it. Dr. Carla lists tens of Death Bed Visions which are indeed convincing and beautiful. They make you realize that death is not that horrible and frightening at all. The dying person sees deceased relatives, angels, and loved ones and actually wants to go to them. They see the wonderful light that awaits for them on the other side and they see that [over there] there is nothing to be afraid of. After you read this book you will understand how unfair it is that society does not accept the DBVs and the death subject in general. How our own religion rejects them, and wonder why, since they preach that death is not the end! Let alone the scientists (and stay away from most of them) who always find a...scientific answer for every question. But as beautifully stated in the book already, if those visions are only by-products of the dying brain, how come the dying person sees only deceased ones, and never loved ones who are still alive? I only wish I had this book when my beloved grandmother died and was so much frightened of death. I would be able to explain her a few things I learned from this wonderful book, and provide her some comfort. It is amazing. It proved that we don't die alone at all, but a beloved deceased person or persons are there, waiting to help us make it to the other side and we are happy to reunite with them!
Rating:
Summary: EXELLENT READING
Review: This was an excellent book. Very easy to follow and very interesting. I wish she would write another. A must read regarding Death Bed Visions.
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