Verified Near Death Experiences
Proof of an Afterlife
"The narrative is well-written, detailed, and conveys the essence of my Near-Death Experience beautifully." Ingrid Honkala
Near-Death Experiences with Startling Verification
In Verified Near Death Experiences: Proof Of An Afterlife, there are thirty individual profound near-death experiences, each one coupled with startling, irrefutable moments of verification that challenge our understanding of life, death, and the afterlife. These are not just personal accounts of journeys into the unknown – they are stories backed by verifiable facts that couldn’t have been known in any ordinary way.
From detailed descriptions of events that occurred while the experiencers were clinically dead, to vivid insights about loved ones and places they had never visited, these stories raise fundamental questions about consciousness and the boundaries of human perception. Each chapter reveals how these individuals experienced moments of divine connection, profound insight, and mystical encounters, all while providing irrefutable evidence that supports the authenticity of their experiences.
A compelling exploration of the veridical nature of near-death experiences, this book offers a powerful testament to the possibility that death is not the end, but perhaps only a doorway to a deeper truth. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about life and the afterlife as you delve into the extraordinary and sometimes inexplicable world of near-death experiences.
Are we more than our bodies? Is death truly the end? And, if so, what comes next?
‘Verified Near Death Experiences: Proof Of An Afterlife’ will leave you with more questions than answers—but it will forever change the way you view life, death, and what lies beyond.
Review
Compelling collection of evidence-based experiences demonstrating the separation of consciousness and brain/body
Author and highly respected podcaster, Simon Bown, clearly identified a gap in the market for those interested in NDEs, but who are specifically seeking ‘veridical’ evidence from others or confirming circumstances related to the experience. In other words, the NDEs that Bown presents here are both personally persuasive and evidentially compelling.
He presents about 23 cases for analysis as well as several historical accounts. Some are widely known to researchers, and listeners to Bown’s podcast (Our Paranormal Afterlife, formerly The Past Lives Podcast) may be familiar with some too. Each main case (a chapter) has an overview of the individuals and their experiences from their own perspective, followed by a section he calls, ‘Verification Events’. These often summarise information witnessed by others, including medical staff in hospitals, or family members.
A puzzle for science
The book, available on Amazon worldwide, opens with a quote from Dr Peter Fenwick, a consultant neuropsychologist from King’s College in London that after an NDE, “you come out with clear, lucid memories. This is a real puzzle for science. I have not yet seen any good scientific explanation which can explain that fact.”
Considering each of the cases from a sceptical framework, I found most, if not all, to be extremely convincing, underpinned by Bown’s introductory quandary outlined on page 3:
“If consciousness truly arises from the brain, how can individuals in a state of deep unconsciousness or even clinical death report detailed, accurate knowledge about their surroundings or events that took place far away?” This book does not attempt to answer this quintessential question; instead, it presents cases that even rigid thinkers would be hard pressed to explain away.
NDEs defined, including ‘veridical’ experiences
Before summarising the main arguments against the validity or truthfulness or NDEs, it’s worth defining what NDEs are – experiences documented throughout history and across all cultures from people who have been declared clinically dead or on the brink of death. NDEs are often “characterized by vivid sensory perceptions, encounters with spiritual beings, out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and a sense of profound peace and love.” (page 1)
Bown defines a veridical NDE as “a case in which a person gains accurate, verifiable knowledge about events or details they should not have been able to perceive under normal circumstances especially given their critical physical state.” (page 2) Examples are seeing specialised medical tools or personnel, or seeing aspects of the room or hospital unknown to them; and sensing people’s feelings or conversations that were afterwards confirmed.
Scientific materialism and why it’s relevant
The cases presented in this book challenge traditional ‘materialist’ scientific paradigms that see consciousness merely as a byproduct of brain activity. Materialism is often regarded as a view that ‘the truth’ is limited to what we can measure or detect with our human senses.
Scientific materialism asserts everything in the universe, including phenomena like consciousness and life itself, can be explained purely in terms of physical matter and natural processes via a logical assessment of empirical evidence.
What the cases show us
Bown’s selection of cases here cover patients in deep coma, cardiac arrest, or otherwise incapable of sensory perception – and yet they report witnessing events or conversations that occurred during their unconscious state.
Some describe common events familiar to NDE story enthusiasts, such as witnessing events from ceiling height, a calmness or sense of pervasive love/presence (sometimes referred to as God or Source), meeting with deceased loved ones, telepathic communication, panoramic 360-degree vision, seeing themselves as a light or ‘orb’, a union with other souls or entities, thought-related instant travel, and a familiar feeling of ‘coming home’ to a place so beautiful that it defies language. Most of the ‘visitors’ sharing their experience did not want to return to their life Earthside, but all did, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
Many NDE-ers participated in a ‘life review’ in various formats, where they alone judged the value and impact of the life they had lived so far. Some experiencers saw life in other, more frightening or depressing dimensions, where inhabitants appeared ‘stuck’. It’s important to note that they all had the opportunity to ascend, or be rescued by compassionate ‘helper souls’.
Most, if not all, of the people profiled in the book experienced life-changing repercussions from their NDEs. They report being told of the purpose of their experience as a catalyst for change, greater spiritual foundations, and sharing this understanding with others – ‘helping to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual realms’. (page 242)
Many reported experiencing catastrophic injuries that mysteriously resolved or healed in unexpected ways that baffled their medical teams. Some predicted or saw events that unfolded in the days or years ahead. Despite the many positives of their NDE, most people needed months or years in their physical life here on Earth to integrate what they’d ‘lived’ in another dimension.
Favourite quotes
“Time was not a consideration as it no longer existed. Everything was happening at the same moment. There was no past or future, just the eternal now.” (page 24)
She (Deborah) received the message that the events could not harm the immortal souls. The soul was eternal and intact and nothing could ever destroy it… this is who we all are… our purpose, the essence of our creation.” (page 25/27)
“Moments of selflessness, care and connection were the true measures of his (George’s) journey.” (page 43)
“He (Tibor) saw his own body lying on the bed below…it’s like you take your clothes off and don’t care about them.” (page 57)
“Looking back on it, it felt more like a night’s sleep, yet it also seemed like lifetimes had passed.” (Andrew, page 195)
“As the light descended, it enveloped Franco, immersing him in a state of pure ecstasy…Gradually he realised that the light itself was composed of individual spiritual beings, each radiating an incredible brightness. (page 84)
The arguments against NDEs, or proposed explanations
Early in the book Bown summarises the main explanations proposed by those who refute the validity of NDEs. This section is interesting in itself, and yet each of the cases presented in the book cannot be explained away by any of these theories. Suggested explanations range from residual brain activity, hallucinations or the influence of drugs/medication, to quantum consciousness theory. (This proposes that consciousness may not be confined to the brain but instead may operate on a quantum level, allowing it to persist even when brain function ceases – the idea that the brain acts more like a receiver of consciousness rather than its generator.)
I hadn’t heard of the Survival Hypothesis, which argues that consciousness can survive bodily death and that veridical NDEs are glimpses of this post-mortem state; or Philosophical Dualism, which is the notion that the mind and body are separate entities. This theory suggests that the soul, ‘self’ or consciousness could continue after the body dies. The veridical NDEs presented here provide evidence that this theory may have legs.
Food for thought
This is an enjoyable, engaging book that’s highly accessible for the average person interested in topics like the survival of consciousness, and what near-death experiences may tell us about an afterlife, or even what may happen after our bodies die. I found it an absorbing, well-researched collection that adds to the global literature presenting a convincing case for the likelihood that consciousness exists independently of the brain.
As Bown says, “veridical NDEs remind us that even in the face of death, the mysteries of human consciousness and the nature of reality may extend far beyond what we currently understand.”
By Anne-marie Taplin
23 March 2025 (advanced reader)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Simon Bown is the host of two influential podcasts, a clinical hypnotherapist, and an author specializing in topics related to consciousness, reincarnation, and the afterlife.
He has produced over 800 podcast episodes, engaging with leading experts and scholars in the fields of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), reincarnation, and the continuation of consciousness. His podcasts, The Alien UFO Podcast and Our Paranormal Afterlife, have collectively garnered over 6,000,000 downloads, with Our Paranormal Afterlife reaching No.1 on the UK Apple Podcasts spirituality chart.
Simon holds a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy and is certified in Past Life Regression Therapy. He has conducted hundreds of past life regression sessions, specializing in guiding individuals through these therapeutic processes.
His research is informed by personal experiences with paranormal phenomena, including psychic flashes, UFO sightings, and other unexplained occurrences. These experiences have contributed to his academic interest in the nature of consciousness and its potential existence beyond the physical body.
In addition to his work in podcasting and hypnotherapy, Simon is an avid bass guitarist and science fiction writer.