Immortal Remains: The Evidence for Life After Death

Rating:
Summary: Highly insightful analysis of the evidence for survival
Review: A reviewer on this page was obviously frustrated by the lack of a conclusion in 'Immortal Remains'. But the response, "I don't know", or "I'm not 100% sure", is a perfectly good one when investigating a diverse and complex subject such as survival after death. A book like Braude's, which grapples in great conceptual depth with ostensible evidence for survival and the various hypotheses that have arisen around this evidence, will not seem at all palatable to people with presupposed opinions on the issue. In any case, the current evidence for survival is not strong enough that one can fully commit oneself to any particular hypothesis.

Prof. Braude, to his credit, fully explores some of the best ostensible evidence for survival without any evident bias or coyness. He compares it against the evidence for psychic functioning among the living, motivated ESP, hidden capacities, creativity, linguistic skills, dissociation, and considers whether, and to what extent, they can help explain cases such as Runki's Leg, Mrs. Piper's trance mediumship, Cagliostro, Patience Worth, Sharada and others.

In the best cases the evidence is so remarkable that, ultimately, one must adopt either survival or super-psi (coupled with other abilities) as the most likely interpretation. But how do we decide? This is where Braude's book really shines through. He fully explores both hypotheses in their strongest and most plausible forms.

Although most cases end in a stalemate between survival and super-psi, Braude hesitantly favours survival since super-psi would inevitably suffer from "crippling complexity" - i.e. super-psi requires multiple casual chains which would be vulnerable to a huge array of obstacles, unlike the survival hypothesis which requires only the integrity of a single causal connection between the psychic subject and a post-mortem individual.

Whatever difficulties people find with Braude's analytical style, books like his are essential to advance the study of this vital issue and give it the intellectual and philosophical depth it deserves. Essential reading.

Rating:
Summary: A Springboard For Further Inquiry
Review: Professor Braude surveys a sizeable body of research that has unfortunately passed through history generally neglected by the field of psychology and even (strangely), to some degree, contemporary parapsychology. This represents a poor state of affairs, for this body of work presents, at the least, prima facie evidence for phenomena that defies current understanding in mainstream science. Much of this research constitutes the qualitative data on which the field of experimental parapsychology was born, and given the replicability problems still inherent in the field, it might be wise for some in that field to at least refresh themselves with some of the early work and take stock of how things compare in present times. How one chooses to interpret this research, however, is ultimately a subjective process, but Braude deftly provides arguments supporting various theories.

If one "learns nothing" from this book, as one reviewer puts it, then it is hardly the fault of Braude. One who is unfamiliar with this phenomena may find them too incredible to be sufficiently considered in a single book. Braude, however, provides references by which one may follow through if one chooses. Through this book, the ball is placed firmly in the reader's court as to what he may choose to do. He may choose to ignore it or place it aside, as many have both in past and present times; or he may, as John Beloff said, "choose to play", and by doing so continue the game through further inquiry. The choice, then, rests on the shoulders of the reader, and Braude amply provides the fundamental underpinnings for further inquiry into perhaps the most complex, puzzling questions to ever be asked by man.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Read, Fascinating Subject
Review: Stephen Braude takes us on a fascinating tour of what he believes to be the best evidence for continuing life after death. Ever in search of truth, not comforting imagery, he examines skeptical responses to such evidence, adding some of his own based on his knowledge of human psychopathology. Yet, he is hardly a dogmatic skeptic: he finds that some of the most stunning cases stand up well against attack and call forth reasonable belief in immortality.

This book is not for everyone. It is written in a rigorous style (Dr. Braude is a philosophy professor) that may turn off those seeking easier new-age reads. Personally I wish Dr. Braude had looked more at broad-based phenomena in the culture (near-death experiences, visions of departed loved ones, ESP capabilities) that suggest that consciousness may be non-local and exist in disembodied form. Braude, instead, focuses on a limited number of canonical (and somewhat astounding) cases, some dating back to the 19th century. Nonetheless, his recounting and assessment of these cases is fascinating, meticulous, objective, and intelligent, and forms a great addition to existing literature. His references to such literature also provides a quick introduction to other serious authors in the field.

A book I highly recommend to those interested in exploring perhaps the most important question of all: does the human soul transcend death?