The Afterdeath Journal of an American Philosopher; The View of William James

This is the best book I have ever read on this subject. The information is intelligently presented and is evaluated by the subject (William James as channeled through Jane Roberts) who considers it in the light of his earthly experiences where he sees how he lived it, how he might have gotten more out of it and what he accomplished during his experience. I think it will be especially appreciated by those with a general interest in science and yet open minded as to the possibilities of "inner worlds" not usually recognized through our five senses. Those with fixed conservative views, whether religious/spiritual or scientific may have a hard time accepting it since James gives it straight as he reflects how his hopes for a melding between science and religion were dashed during his lifetime, and how each lost the chance to progress in what we call the science of the self. He is especially adamant about the negative effect of Freud's work on humanity through its effective robbing the individual of part of himself and not replacing the void that was left but leaving the "victim" to float in the seas of his own misery.I will mention that I have read many of Jane Roberts' books, both the "Seth written" and her own fiction. The "voice" and language of the channeled William James is unique and, except for a rare turn of wording or phrase, does not resemble those other works.

If you love the Seth material, you'll love this, though it's different in style and form. If you are not familiar with Jane Roberts and Seth, this is as good a space to start as any. I grant that it's not for people looking for sex, violence and explosions, or for those who dismiss the idea of after-death communication out of hand. (Why would you read this if you were?) My favorite part is the discussion of the "atmospheric presence." It's the most beautiful description of heaven I can imagine.

This is the best book I have read in a long time, and I read a lot all the time. It sparkles with keen intelligence, stunning insight and amazingly beautiful writing.I've known about Jane Roberts and Seth since the late 70s and have read all the Seth books, but it's only recently that I've been reading her other books, the non-Seth books, and am finding them truly amazing.In this book, Jane Roberts tunes into William James (the American philosopher) after his death. He is in the in-between stage where many people go when they die. There they synthesize their earth life, learn and plan their next incarnation . . .William James starts off by looking at himself as he was in life from his new perspective. He, later on, compares this perspective as coming from the person who is now the adult, compared to the child he was on earth -- his view is that expanded and that mature comparatively speaking. He describes his earth psychology from this new, broader perspective. Then he goes on to talk about the entire 19th century climate, social, political, psychological (with the emergence of Freud), religious and spiritual.His descriptions of Boston and the seances he attended (he was interested in the paranormal and attended seances as a way to glimpse into other realities), are the writing of a master. His insights as to the entire earth climate are eye-opening.The latter part of the book he devotes to talking about where he is and what he is learning.The book is filled with a sense of wonder at how miraculous and good creation really is and his regret that he didn't see that when he was alive (being melancholy and overly intellectual). Subsequently the entire book has an energy of incredible love, inspiration and soooo much light.Reading it I felt uplifted to states of incredible bliss and boundless love. I so wished it went on and on and on . . .As I've said, I've read a lot of Jane Robert's work. Seth, when he speaks, has his own style, rather old-world gentlemanly, though at times surprisingly direct. The Education of Oversoul 7 has its own writing style that's very much in the novel tradition. Jane Robert's writing is very, very intellectual. The writing of William James, ah, pure poetry! Sublime.More than highly recommended to those interested in this sort of material.

It's very interesting to view life through the eyes of someone who's now dead; his idea of what was really important and what'snot is a good lesson to one still living about how to reprioritize our own values.His description of what we can expect to experience after we die based on his own experience of death is also very educational.

This is a very interesting and informative book about what possibilities the after life can contain. Jane Roberts is most famous for channeling Seth, a personality from another dimension that writes books in how best to utilize the life we presently have. In this book Jane has tapped into the mindset of the 19th century writer/philosopher William James and how he views the after life and reflections on his life and times and tips to successfully navigate through our own. It is important to note that this is not James himself coming through her to dictate books but simply a meeting of the minds and a channeling of his perspective and worldview. There is some great information on what it is like to be dead. He says that he is in a place that is more sideways to where we currently are now in physical life. It is very uplifting material as are all the Roberts books.

Great great book. I will read it again.

Definitely a must read if you need a place to start after Seth Speaks.

This book is an great read if you are interested in learning about transition and life on the other side. The channeling sessions are truly amazing, however the vocabulary can be complex.

This is afterdeath thoughts of William James (WJ, American physician, psychologist, philosopher; 1842-1910) about Western culture and the afterlife … channeled through Jane Roberts (JR, American poet, author, psychic; 1929-1984). There's an introduction by Seth; JR channeled Seth in deep trance and her amanuensis was her husband Robert Butts (artist; 1919-2008).The book's a tour-de-force, at times soaring to wonderful descriptions of complex material. James shows a broad awareness of Western thought and talks e.g., about the inadequacies of Freudianism, materialism, science, evolution, and established religion. E.g., he argues the environment is co-operative, not dog-eat-dog; he says Freud was wrong to argue, and encourage the West to believe, that the self is flawed (as a result of accidents of evolution).Talking of the afterlife, James makes many thought-provoking comments e.g., that he has access to his other lives waiting to be reviewed and studied; that each environment is shaped by people's belief in it; that he senses a gentle all-knowing presence (in an environment where there is no evil); that “knowledge that I (WJ) possessed as a child I let go of deliberately” to later regain it as “thickness” is added to my (WJ's) awareness of reality; and “the atmospheric presence doesn't intrude”, we have to ask.The book's intellectual, once or twice long-winded; and doesn't discuss e.g., sex, the practicalities of mediumship, pain, the heirarchy (which some writers say oversees the afterlife), precognition. But it gives - more convincingly than most survival books - sight of a non-material milieu in which thought (and life) has multiple interwoven developing strands.