Book Review : Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife

"Proof of Heaven doctor faced a $3 million malpractice lawsuit when he 'fell into a coma'" This was a newspaper headline from shortly after the book came out. I would actually recommend people read this book, if only to see how far some people will go to make a bit of money. This guy smells like fraud all over, right down to his ridiculous bow tie. It's staggering how many people have bought this book and given it great reviews. People are so desperate to believe in an afterlife of some kind. I personally recommend that we start focusing on this life, because probably it is the only one you've got! I believe that Eben is taking advantage of people's "need to believe" in order to make a great deal of money for himself. I note that he has been asking for sizeable "donations" via his website.

As a meteorologist I was fascinated, particularly when reading Chapter 21 The Rainbow, at how wonderfully the weather seemed to change according to the stages of his illness. I wouldn't have thought about it that much, had it not been stressed several times in the book. It was a lovely sunny day, the day before he went into hospital, then it rained solidly while he was in a coma, then Ta-da! a rainbow popped out shortly before he awoke. I thought, how wonderful, but surely this is too good to be true! Sadly it was too good to be true. Out if interest I contacted Lynchburg regional airport and asked if they had records for Lynchburg for November 2008. Yes they did. It is true that the day before he went to hospital was sunny. However the day when he said it started raining was cloudless. The next day was also sunny and dry. And the next day was foggy but...dry! Then it did rain significantly for two days (not five as said in the book). Now the day of the rainbow is interesting. It was clear and frosty in the morning (30F) and then a fine and sunny DRY day. No rain at all! Now dont you need rain to get a RAINbow?

(P.39 "The people sang and danced around in circles." That actually made me laugh out loud. Doesnt sound like my idea of heaven! I am fairly convinced he made up large portions, if not all, of the book.) Anyway given these, well, large distortions of the truth regarding the weather, I would place serious doubt on his Heaven testimony. Maybe he exaggerated all that as well? It is very likely. In a courtroom his credibility would be destroyed by this point. As a scientist I need the whole truth and nothing but the truth to believe in someones "story". It seems that the scientist Dr. Eben got a little bit carried away with his beautiful dream.