A person is seriously ill or involved in an accident and their heart stops beating; for a brief time they are clinically "dead." Once revived, the victim has a remarkable tale to relate: typical narratives include feelings of great peace, out-of-body travel, tunnel sensations, life review, and bright lights. These phenomena, often referred to as "near-death experiences," have spawned an entire pop industry dedicated to plumbing the depths of their mysteries, and they continue to inspire heated debate and raise fascinating questions about the nature of life and death. But most observers assume that there are only two ways to interpret the near-death experience: in the religious terms of life after death, or in the medical terms of the mechanics of the brain. In Experiences Near Death, however, Allan Kellehear presents a revolutionary new approach to the field of "near-death studies," one that examines these episodes as they relate to the specific cultures from which they arise, helping us to understand what these visions are as a cultural and psychological response and why they occur. Kellehear compares near-death experiences from all over the world--India, China, Guam, America, Australia, and New Zealand--revealing not only the similarities among them, but also the pertinent differences that can tell us much about the way people from different cultures view their world. He recounts, for example, a near-death experience from Guam where people fly through the clouds to make invisible visits to living relatives; he compares experiences from hunter-gatherer societies to urban American ones; and in a fascinating discussion of the bestselling children's story The Velveteen Rabbit, Kellehear examines its remarkable similarities to the Western near-death experience. He concludes that these visions are brought on by a profound experience of crisis, and are similar to visions brought on by other trauma such as bereavement, being lost at sea, or trapped in a mine. People who have lived through these events, Kellehear notes, often see visions which are identical to those encountered during near-death experiences. Indeed, he finds that the near-death experience is a common reaction to a deep sense of separation from others, and he includes it within a much larger group of human experiences. In addition, Kellehear provides an extensive look at community reactions to near-death experiences, and he also offers an indepth examination of much supposedly unbiased academic research into NDE. (In one eye-opening chapter, for instance, he reveals some of the controversial reasons why neuroscience writers try so hard to have their theories accepted by the public). The near-death experience continues to attract the attention of the popular press, but there have been few serious studies of this often contentious subject. Now, in Experiences Near Death, Kellehear uncovers intriguing evidence that sheds new light on a phenomenon that has fascinated and mystified us all. These experiences force us to reflect on issues of personal significance (like hope and happiness) and show us how the many different perceptions of the near-death experience have become relevant to the anxieties and questions of our times.

Experiences Near Death: Beyond Medicine and Religion

Religion & Spirituality

Kellehear, Allan

Occult & Paranormal

Oxford University Press

This book argues that a good public health researcher is someone who is familiar with the latest methodological developments in the health area, whether these be quantitative or qualitative, empirical or library-based. It begins with an historical survey of the major public health methods, and traces their evolution. The authors go on to discuss the full range of methodologies--simple and epidemiological surveys, observational methods, randomized control trials and othe outcome measures, interviews, focus groups, and secondary and meta-analysis. The final chapters provide an introduction to qualitative methods and semiotic techniques. Each method chapter contains a review of relevant studies, and discusses advantages and disadvantages, practical principles, and ethical issues.

The Public Health Researcher: A Methodological Guide

Daly, Jeanne

Gliksman, Michael

Health, Fitness & Dieting

The Inner Life of the Dying Person (End-of-Life Care: A Series)

This unique book recounts the experience of facing one's death solely from the dying person's point of view rather than from the perspective of caregivers, survivors, or rescuers. Such unmediated access challenges assumptions about the emotional and spiritual dimensions of dying, showing readers that―along with suffering, loss, anger, sadness, and fear―we can also feel courage, love, hope, reminiscence, transcendence, transformation, and even happiness as we die. A work that is at once psychological, sociological, and philosophical, this book brings together testimonies of those dying from terminal illness, old age, sudden injury or trauma, acts of war, and the consequences of natural disasters and terrorism. It also includes statements from individuals who are on death row, in death camps, or planning suicide. Each form of dying addressed highlights an important set of emotions and narratives that often eclipses stereotypical renderings of dying and reflects the numerous contexts in which this journey can occur outside of hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. Chapters focus on common emotional themes linked to dying, expanding and challenging them through first-person accounts and analyses of relevant academic and clinical literature in psycho-oncology, palliative care, gerontology, military history, anthropology, sociology, cultural and religious studies, poetry, and fiction. The result is an all-encompassing investigation into an experience that will eventually include us all and is more surprising and profound than anyone can imagine.

Parenting & Relationships

Columbia University Press

Visitors at the End of Life: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Near-Death Phenomena

About 30 percent of hospice patients report a "visitation" by someone who is not there, a phenomenon known in end-of-life care as a deathbed vision. These visions can be of dead friends or family members and occur on average three days before death. Strikingly, individuals from wildly diverse geographic regions and religions--from New York to Japan to Moldova to Papua New Guinea--report similar visions. Appearances of our dead during serious illness, crises, or bereavement are as old as the historical record. But in recent years, we have tended to explain them in either the fantastical terms of the supernatural or the reductive terms of neuroscience. This book is about how, when, and why our dead visit us. Allan Kellehear--a medical sociologist and expert on death, dying, and palliative care--has gathered data and conducted studies on these experiences across cultures. He also draws on the long-neglected work of early anthropologists who developed cultural explanations about why the dead visit. Deathbed visions conform to the rituals that underpin basic social relations and expectations--customs of greeting, support, exchange, gift-giving, and vigils--because the dead must communicate with us in a social language that we recognize. Kellehear emphasizes the personal consequences for those who encounter these visions, revealing their significance for how the dying person makes meaning of their experiences. Providing vital understanding of a widespread yet mysterious phenomenon, Visitors at the End of Life offers insights for palliative care professionals, researchers, and the bereaved.

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

About 30 percent of hospice patients report a “visitation” by someone who is not there, a phenomenon known in end-of-life care as a deathbed vision. These visions can be of dead friends or family members and occur on average three days before death. Strikingly, individuals from wildly diverse geographic regions and religions―from New York to Japan to Moldova to Papua New Guinea―report similar visions. Appearances of our dead during serious illness, crises, or bereavement are as old as the historical record. But in recent years, we have tended to explain them in either the fantastical terms of the supernatural or the reductive terms of neuroscience.\nThis book is about how, when, and why our dead visit us. Allan Kellehear―a medical sociologist and expert on death, dying, and palliative care―has gathered data and conducted studies on these experiences across cultures. He also draws on the long-neglected work of early anthropologists who developed cultural explanations about why the dead visit. Deathbed visions conform to the rituals that underpin basic social relations and expectations―customs of greeting, support, exchange, gift-giving, and vigils―because the dead must communicate with us in a social language that we recognize. Kellehear emphasizes the personal consequences for those who encounter these visions, revealing their significance for how the dying person makes meaning of their experiences. Providing vital understanding of a widespread yet mysterious phenomenon, Visitors at the End of Life offers insights for palliative care professionals, researchers, and the bereaved.

The Inner Life of the Dying Person

The Unobtrusive Researcher: A guide to methods

What does graffiti reveal about social behaviour? Where can you find out about Australian social values without doing your own survey? There is more to social research than surveys and in-depth interviews. The Unobtrusive Researcher looks beyond the limited accounts people provide of themselves to examine society at a deeper level. Written in a clear, easy to read style, The Unobtrusive Researcher is a practical guide to a range of methods that can supplement and, at times, even replace conventional social research. It is essential reading for new and experienced researchers in the Social Sciences, Education, Communication Studies and Cultural Studies. Methods discussed include: library and archival work audiovisual sources observation techniques material culture the use of cameras and computers 'Witty, clear and concise.a remarkable overview of the field.' - Professor Bryan Turner, Deakin University 'One of the few guides to research methods which takes on board the implications of poststructuralist theory for research, The Unobtrusive Researcher will be useful both for practising researchers wanting to broaden and update their approaches, and those at the very beginning of learning how to do research.' - Professor Ann Curthoys, University of Technology, Sydney

Reference

Routledge

Compassionate Cities - Kellehear

Once it was difficult to see end of life care beyond conventional medical intervention, but hospice and palliative care introduced a more holistic approach, providing quality of life for the dying and their families. This ground-breaking work takes end-of-life care beyond these palliative boundaries, describing a public health vision that involves whole communities adopting a compassionate approach to dying, death and loss. Written by a leading academic in the field of death and bereavement, this text outlines the historical, political and conceptual basis of compassionate cities, providing a community development model for end-of-life care. Moving away from infection control and health promotion Allan Kellehearinvites us to think of a third wave movement of public health, joining empathy, equality and action together as practical policies. Presenting a radical new perspective to death, ageing and public health, Compassionate Cities is essential reading for academics and professionals alike.

Compassionate Cities: Public Health and End-of-Life Care

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kellehear, Allan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Kellehear, Allan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kellehear, Allan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Experiences Near Death: Beyond Medicine and Religion

The Public Health Researcher: A Methodological Guide

The Inner Life of the Dying Person (End-of-Life Care: A Series)

The Inner Life of the Dying Person (End-of-Life Care: A Series)

Visitors at the End of Life: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Near-Death Phenomena

Visitors at the End of Life: Finding Meaning and Purpose in Near-Death Phenomena

The Inner Life of the Dying Person

The Unobtrusive Researcher: A guide to methods

Compassionate Cities: Public Health and End-of-Life Care

Compassionate Cities - Kellehear