What do you think?
Rate this book
Walking in the Garden of Souls: George Anderson's Advice from the Hereafter for Living in he Here and Now
For 27 years, George Anderson, widely considered the world's greatest living medium, has listened to those on the other side, gaining a unique awareness of what those souls want his millions of believers to know, to understand, and to accept. Now Anderson shares this wisdom-and offers an incomparable perspective on the questions faced in day-to-day life.
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
82 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 13, 2024
We will all go through the hard task of "losing someone" through death. But we can also have comfort by the signs they leave and by knowing we will see them again.
Things happen on the earth because they are a reality we must learn from, and there are very specific cards that are dealt to us to keep the right game in play. We must learn from specific challenges we are given by the Infinite Light and everything and everyone has a specific meaning and purpose. This is no game of chance, however; the rules have been cast in stone. Yet no matter what we think, there is a method to the madness of life on earth.
Things happen on the earth because they are a reality we must learn from, and there are very specific cards that are dealt to us to keep the right game in play. We must learn from specific challenges we are given by the Infinite Light and everything and everyone has a specific meaning and purpose. This is no game of chance, however; the rules have been cast in stone. Yet no matter what we think, there is a method to the madness of life on earth.
August 6, 2008
A very comforting look at the "other side" ~ what I learned from this book in short: 1) there are no evil spirits in the hereafter (the only evil that exists is on earth) 2) your pets will be there in heaven waiting for you (animals play a big role in helping people to the other side). 3) The souls in the hereafter care very much about us and want to help us with our purpose here.
June 15, 2013
The most comforting book I've read. A must read for anyone who is having difficulty dealing with a loss
March 2, 2011
Losing my dad just about 10 months ago was made bearable (even if a tad bit) after reading this book which gave me both hope and a sense of anticipation of the rewards that we all would reap once our time here is done and the lessons that have been mapped out been learned and applied.
George Anderson writes effectively and allows the reader to both embrace the work that he does and wish that he is our next door neighbor and we could easilly converse with special people in our lives whom we miss and has left us both changed and longing for our reunion with them.
George Anderson writes effectively and allows the reader to both embrace the work that he does and wish that he is our next door neighbor and we could easilly converse with special people in our lives whom we miss and has left us both changed and longing for our reunion with them.
April 4, 2023
love the concepts but the writing is a bit mushy
Rounding up from 3.7. I believe. I’ve read a bunch of his books and I’ve had personal experiences. Still I can’t give more than a C+ to the book bc I just think it’s not done well. Also, I wonder about why George boxes out how he talks to souls about subjects like religion and scientific discovery, etc…
Rounding up from 3.7. I believe. I’ve read a bunch of his books and I’ve had personal experiences. Still I can’t give more than a C+ to the book bc I just think it’s not done well. Also, I wonder about why George boxes out how he talks to souls about subjects like religion and scientific discovery, etc…
August 26, 2022
It was easy to get lost in the eloquence of the writing, until I found it too sticky sweet and repetitive. In summary, George states that all of our life's hardships serve a greater purpose. But he can't explain why humans must face excruciating traumas. "Trust me. It'll be well worth it (after you die)," he states in every chapter and nearly every page. He equates death with "graduation." I'm troubled by this terminology. It's a very outdated Christian perspective that offers no reconcilation for reasonable thinkers who grapple with the realities of horrendous evils. I'm offended by the teaching that, simply, traumas (e.g., rape, incest, sex trafficking, none of which are addressed herein) are for a greater good. Evil people are rewarded along with the rest of us, upon their passing. Not even one hail Mary's needed.
All spirits are suddenly enlightened after they pass. This isn't the case, as per psychic readings I've had with someone who's very credible (not only to me but to many others). My ex-husband is still a miserable, blaming soul, a decade after he took his life. Anderson even gives examples of atrociously abusive parents who kept insisting that their daughter forgive them. That's not "enlightenment," especially not when their only explanation for the abuse was the mother's mental illness and hatred of her daughter.
Furthermore, I find it irresponsible to portray death as the end all, be all. In death, we can't experience all that gives us joy on earth. We can't make the same marked changes in the world. Anderson calls suicide a "mistake". To simplify it to this word seems pithy. It's also contradictory to a book full of euphomisms about the incredible after-life we can all supposedly look forward to "graduating" onto.
It's unclear what Barone's role was in co-authoring this book. I would've liked to have learned from his support group experiences, rather than read page after page of George's repeated trite statements, along with very heavy scenarios that he doesn't seem to resolve in a compassionate manner. I wanted an increased understanding and answers to questions. Unfortunately, I'm now closer to skepticism.
All spirits are suddenly enlightened after they pass. This isn't the case, as per psychic readings I've had with someone who's very credible (not only to me but to many others). My ex-husband is still a miserable, blaming soul, a decade after he took his life. Anderson even gives examples of atrociously abusive parents who kept insisting that their daughter forgive them. That's not "enlightenment," especially not when their only explanation for the abuse was the mother's mental illness and hatred of her daughter.
Furthermore, I find it irresponsible to portray death as the end all, be all. In death, we can't experience all that gives us joy on earth. We can't make the same marked changes in the world. Anderson calls suicide a "mistake". To simplify it to this word seems pithy. It's also contradictory to a book full of euphomisms about the incredible after-life we can all supposedly look forward to "graduating" onto.
It's unclear what Barone's role was in co-authoring this book. I would've liked to have learned from his support group experiences, rather than read page after page of George's repeated trite statements, along with very heavy scenarios that he doesn't seem to resolve in a compassionate manner. I wanted an increased understanding and answers to questions. Unfortunately, I'm now closer to skepticism.
June 28, 2008
I actually was blessed to meet George Anderson, and I confess that where once I was a skeptic, he made a true believer out of me. He is a medium, and has been since his earliest memories. This book came out six years after we met, and although it is quite different from his earlier work (We Don't Die, and We Are Not Forgotten), it is a must have for those in need of a spiritual alignment. Anderson writes with a clarity and sense of purpose as he offers his advice for helping us to live in the "now." It's a good message, and an impactful read.
March 7, 2011
Very soon after losing my husband, I needed hope and reassurance that he was ok and that we WOULD be together again! George Anderson's book helped me through the darkest hours of my life...and I still go back to it when I need comforting.
Read
January 1, 2009I love Mr Anderson, the real deal. Read this if you are curious, skeptic or need confirmation.
January 23, 2009
good book if you are looking for answers spiritually.
March 23, 2010
This was an amazing, very thought provoking book.
October 3, 2012
I was truly surprised by how much I liked this book. If you have lost someone you love to death I strongly recommend this read.
August 6, 2016
I feel blessed to have been gifted this book. So many little reminders I needed to hear.
September 25, 2023
I listened to George Anderson's TV Show many years ago and was placed on a waiting list to attend one of his sessions; however, I was never contacted for a reading. Recently, I was browsing through a secondhand bookstore and was compelled to purchase this book. Although this is a very hopeful book that can foster the healing process after the death of a loved one, the credibility of the author should be brought into question. There are people who had readings with George who never gained any validity int the presence of their deceased loved ones. Many feal that George is a charlatan who uses trickery to obtain information into his clients. In the final analysis, any assessment of the author's abilities would have to be up to the personal experience of the client.
December 15, 2020
First book on mediumship. Was curious after a friend experienced a loss and sought help from a medium. The message throughout the book was consistent, but a little repetitive. Perhaps this is necessary since the loss in each described situation is so great. The insight is interesting if you keep an open mind. In this sting of curiosity, I’m also listening to his “lessons from the light,” which is a much longer book. So far, I found that book to contain more details.
June 26, 2025
A great review of what it's like to be a medium. Also talks about what he's learned about the hereafter while being a medium. A super read. Middle half of book spends a lot of time talking about loss and bereavement. Probably a good read some someone who has lost a loved one.
March 18, 2019
Too much details about other people’s stories. But still fascinating
March 2, 2025
Very interesting book with a message full of faith, hope and love.
December 23, 2022
really good book to read after a loss
May 24, 2018
== Soul solace for the bereaved ==
This is a book primarily intended to bring solace and comfort to the bereaved about loved ones who have passed on, especially to parents who have lost children. George Anderson is a medium, an intermediary, between the soul of the departed and his/her relatives or friends who seek confirmation of the continuation of life after death. Anderson insists that he be uninformed about the circumstances of each case connected with those who seek his help. He does not want to prejudice his opinion and attitude when souls come forward with messages for those who seek answers to their state in the “Garden of Souls” (as Anderson terms the heavenly dimension).
Astoundingly, Anderson states that in the twenty-seven years since he became a professional medium he has yet to experience no soul coming forward to provide communication. This is contrary to what some other mediums have experienced, in cases where there “was no one at home” to speak from the other side. Anderson hears the “voices” of the souls but these are not audible to others. He also occasionally “sees” apparitions of the departed but similarly these are not visible to others. Although Anderson comes across as a genuine “soul whisperer” – not a charlatan – it does take a heaping helping of faith and trust by his clients who seek his help (and the readers of his books) to believe one hundred percent in his credibility.
I did a lot of skimming and skipping while reading this book. For those who may already have accepted (before picking up this book) that there can be legitimacy in the phenomena of mediumistic communication there is really nothing new, preposterous or startling revealed by Anderson. Although the subject is phenomenally two-dimensional – the here, and the heavenly – the book seems rather one-dimensionally bland in how the material is presented. From other books I have read, all is not non-conflicting accommodation, characterized by sentiments of sweetness and light, for many souls who arrive on the “other side.” Reportedly, some souls can be in states of confusion, amnesia and disconcertion until they become acclimatized and are gradually guided to a placable state, if they so choose; some will choose to linger in a prolonged comatose disoriented state. But not so according to Anderson: as soon as passing over, souls become enlightened and are imbued with love and concern for others. Thoroughly comprehending their own fate they are instantly able and willing to assist people on this terrestrial globe to see the Light – mostly with feel-good platitudes and Ann Landers perspicacity. That is what I meant by the book being one dimensional. There seems to be an answer for everything and that answer is, to use a modern cliché, “Don’t worry, be happy!”
Anderson uses the word “God” sparsely and I can understand why. That name has too much bad baggage. For many it has become synonymous with qualities of ignorance, exclusivity, cruelty and injustice. So, he instead uses “Infinite Light” which is the anglicized form of the mystical Hebrew “Ain Soph Aur.” I think that works well but his book only skirts around the complexity of a multidimensional divine existence. However, love, peace and comfort is what most people seek – especially after bereavement – and Anderson’s messages from the Garden of Souls provide solace in abundance.
This is a book primarily intended to bring solace and comfort to the bereaved about loved ones who have passed on, especially to parents who have lost children. George Anderson is a medium, an intermediary, between the soul of the departed and his/her relatives or friends who seek confirmation of the continuation of life after death. Anderson insists that he be uninformed about the circumstances of each case connected with those who seek his help. He does not want to prejudice his opinion and attitude when souls come forward with messages for those who seek answers to their state in the “Garden of Souls” (as Anderson terms the heavenly dimension).
Astoundingly, Anderson states that in the twenty-seven years since he became a professional medium he has yet to experience no soul coming forward to provide communication. This is contrary to what some other mediums have experienced, in cases where there “was no one at home” to speak from the other side. Anderson hears the “voices” of the souls but these are not audible to others. He also occasionally “sees” apparitions of the departed but similarly these are not visible to others. Although Anderson comes across as a genuine “soul whisperer” – not a charlatan – it does take a heaping helping of faith and trust by his clients who seek his help (and the readers of his books) to believe one hundred percent in his credibility.
I did a lot of skimming and skipping while reading this book. For those who may already have accepted (before picking up this book) that there can be legitimacy in the phenomena of mediumistic communication there is really nothing new, preposterous or startling revealed by Anderson. Although the subject is phenomenally two-dimensional – the here, and the heavenly – the book seems rather one-dimensionally bland in how the material is presented. From other books I have read, all is not non-conflicting accommodation, characterized by sentiments of sweetness and light, for many souls who arrive on the “other side.” Reportedly, some souls can be in states of confusion, amnesia and disconcertion until they become acclimatized and are gradually guided to a placable state, if they so choose; some will choose to linger in a prolonged comatose disoriented state. But not so according to Anderson: as soon as passing over, souls become enlightened and are imbued with love and concern for others. Thoroughly comprehending their own fate they are instantly able and willing to assist people on this terrestrial globe to see the Light – mostly with feel-good platitudes and Ann Landers perspicacity. That is what I meant by the book being one dimensional. There seems to be an answer for everything and that answer is, to use a modern cliché, “Don’t worry, be happy!”
Anderson uses the word “God” sparsely and I can understand why. That name has too much bad baggage. For many it has become synonymous with qualities of ignorance, exclusivity, cruelty and injustice. So, he instead uses “Infinite Light” which is the anglicized form of the mystical Hebrew “Ain Soph Aur.” I think that works well but his book only skirts around the complexity of a multidimensional divine existence. However, love, peace and comfort is what most people seek – especially after bereavement – and Anderson’s messages from the Garden of Souls provide solace in abundance.
July 24, 2022
Confirmed
I had the experience of light at the end of the túnel, found so much peace after that and thought a lot better is in the afterlife ; this book confirmed my experience was real and helped me to be more tolerant and patient in my journey here on the earth .
I had the experience of light at the end of the túnel, found so much peace after that and thought a lot better is in the afterlife ; this book confirmed my experience was real and helped me to be more tolerant and patient in my journey here on the earth .
August 13, 2022
A medium writes about his experiences with communicating with the dead for his clients but also random people he meets. It gives insight to where our souls go after death. At times it is repetitive.
January 11, 2021
I just loved it :) I can't get enough of Pyschic Mediums and the wisdom the have the privilege's of having. I admire how much they use their gift to help and heal others. For 27 years, George Anderson, widely considered the world's greatest living medium, has listened to those on the other side, gaining a unique awareness of what those souls want his millions of believers to know, to understand, and to accept. Now Anderson shares this wisdom-and offers an incomparable perspective on the questions faced in day-to-day life.
March 5, 2013
Life changing book... I read this after losing someone, and felt so much closer to them even though they were no longer on this earth. I now feel less afraid of death. Easy to read, not at all "Sylvia Brown-ish"... very comforting and awe inspiring. One of my all time faves.
to-sort
December 1, 2008amazon.com
September 24, 2008
great book
February 7, 2012
Amazing book, for anyone dealing with losing someone they love. Can't say enough good things about it. Highly recommend it. Have read a lot of books, this has to be one of the best.
March 23, 2014
Comforting book. I enjoyed the other book I read by George Anderson better as it had some readings that he did and what he learned specifically from them.
May 19, 2015
Very enlightening and comforting.
October 22, 2014
A wonderful understanding for the hereafter. Comfort for those who are grieving. And hope for us all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews