Review Detail

Ptolemy Tompkins seems to have been bred for writing this book. Immersed in New Age thought and lifestyle from childhood, he nonetheless takes a highly analytical approach to his research and conclusions. By examining how the different spiritual traditions across the millenia have viewed death and the afterlife, he lucidly charts the common elements of ancient and traditional beliefs as well as the reports of near death experiences. Taken together they present an enormously convincing and encouraging argument for the continuance of life after death, and have important implications for how to live our lives today.

Respecting all traditions of over 5,000 years, Ptolemy shows where the common ground may be found. At a time of continuing tension and bloodshed in the name of religion, he holds out the hope that all the world’s faiths may evolve towards greater unity thinking without compromising their core integrity. He suggests that tolerance for others, rather than knee jerk denials or blanket condemnations are needed, and learning where our stories came from and how they diverged makes that the rational response.