The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul

by Michael Egnor, Denyse O'Leary

A neuroscientist and surgeon makes an argument for the existence of a spiritual human soul in this eye-opening book.

Many scientists and doctors believe that there is no such thing as the soul. That there is no part of us that persists beyond death. We are not spiritual in any respect. We are made up of cells and tissue, and completely controlled by a material organ in our the brain. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Michael Egnor makes the case—based on 40 years of practice and over 7,000 brain surgeries—that science has gotten it all wrong. 

The human brain is incredible, mysterious, and powerful. But it’s not what makes us who we are. The soul does that. Drawing on the most important research studies in neuroscience, Dr. Egnor presents evidence that the brain alone does not explain the mind. He explores, using modern neuroscience and his vast surgical experience, how inside every damaged brain there is a thinking, feeling person with a spiritual soul that transcends the brain. He also uses fascinating case studies to show how research on conjoined twins who share parts of their brains, on patients in deep coma who are still able to communicate with people around them, on near-death experiences, and on artificial intelligence all make a scientific case for the existence of the spiritual human soul.

Engaging, thought-provoking, and groundbreaking, The Immortal Mind shows here that some aspect of who we are is spiritual and immortal, transcending the physical body. 

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Medicine

272 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the views of a neurosurgeon, I was looking forward to this as I find the subject fascinating.

Having performed many surgeries and observed the behaviours of many patients with various brain conditions, Michael Egnor is categorical is saying that there are clearly capabilities humans have which do not come from the brain. He has seen people operated on for seizures, those with a split brain who still have cohesion of thought. There are many instances of people with parts of their brain removed who function normally or almost so. He is convinced that brain plasticity does not explain this. There is also a personal anecdote (a very odd one) of him hearing a voice when he was at a chapel with fears of his youngest son being autistic. His son later developed well and he regards this as a miracle. He has observed comatose patients and those who have had near death experiences. He also makes a strong pitch for free will.

While evolution suggests we acquired our powers over time with a large measure of luck, Michael thinks otherwise – strongly separating humans from animals (with no evidence which I entirely disagree with). He points out that though many neuroscientists seem to be moving towards a view that we have no free will, there is not enough evidence to reach this conclusion (I agree). He goes on to suggest how meaningless such a world would be since none of us will be responsible for our actions – neither good nor bad. This is also discussed in detail in Robert Sapolsky’s book “Determined” and I am inclined to agree with his view that truth must stand on its own even if we are uncomfortable with it. Sapolsky also discusses the positive aspects of this, and that we can always find a way to cope. The lesson I most take from my own observations and reading is how vital it is to keep young away from material which will prejudice them one way or the other and instead encourage them to embark on their own quest keeping universal values in mind.

This book is quite different from all other accounts I have read from neuroscientists. In that, it looks like Michael holds an independent and brave opinion. I appreciate that, as with lot of things unknown about our universe, brains & behaviours, it is important to be open to possibilities. There is a lot of speculative content based on his life experiences, but the book does a fairly decent job of providing a diverse set of viewpoints. I found the book interesting though there in many cases Michael seems to jump to conclusions based on his own beliefs. Nevertheless, a book with interesting content which is thought provoking.

Thanks to Netgalley, Worthy Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Jessica Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A neurosurgeon explains his interpretation of the immortal mind. In a corpus callosotomy the brain is split in half to stop seizures. Mainly the left hand would experience alien hand syndrome, and it would move on its own for a time afterwards before correcting itself. Even when the brain is split in half the mind still acts the same. Thusly mind is something other than the brain. Unity of mind despite split brain is interesting.

Left side of brain speaks and writes. Right is spatial relationship and nonverbal. Left hemisphere moves right whereas right moves left. An apple to the left side knows what the object is but - left vision of it is controlled with right so verbalizing the word apple doesn’t work.

The neurosurgeon removed more than half of a patient’s cerebellum. This same patient became an athletic scholar. Quite a feat when over half of the part of the brain known for balance, was removed from him.

Mind has a continued existence past death. Human soul is unified and present in whole. The mind can burst forth suddenly in a ravaged brain. During a near death experience (NDE), a patient who was brain dead during an operation on the brain was in the tunnel. Her family told her to not get closer to the light or she won’t go back into her body.

At the end of the surgery she didn’t want to go back into her body. The surgical suite was playing Hotel California, “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave”. She found it very mean to sense it at that time. The surgeon admitted to her later that they did play that song.

Frontal and parietal lobes change thru meditation. Identity theory proposes the mind is the brain. But a neuroscientist can tell you that is not the truth. People can think deeply in a coma and can sometimes answer questions.

The brain is meat. The mind is the software. The brain is the hardware. Computation is not the mind. The mind has feelings. Computation is absent of feeling. We evolved for survival. Our mental states are real experiences.

The human soul is not in the brain - the human soul is spiritual. Marriage is the union of two immortal spirits. None of us could stand before the reviews of our lives at the end of our lives in peace - at the end of our lives what we have done is for better or worse. I have much to answer for, in what I have done.

We cannot enter eternity justified by our own lives. I have not lived a single day that would make me proud before God. I need to be forgiven. I need to put my trust in someone who bore my sins and I need to accept his grace. We are embodied spirits who need God’s love and forgiveness, now and for eternity of the immortal soul.

An octopus is a nine brain invertebrate with quite a unique mind. Birds compute as well as primates in scientific studies, but the brain is much different. The nature of mortality is a signature of our humanity. Conscience is the eye of the Spirit.

Mind in a metal shell is not far off from mind in a meat shell. Machines could have consciousness. It is the matter of computations. Conscience computers are pegged for introduction into our world by 2029. Computer radiologists are in our future.

[Daniel Thurston · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard to assign a rating to this book. I liked most of it, and the neuroscience and philosophy aspects were interesting. The religion was palatable on the whole, but a few spots rankled; for example, when Egnor in the early chapters prays for his infant son to be "miraculously saved" from the horrible fate that is autism and turned into a child "capable of knowing and loving his parents", which seemed like limited thinking for a neurosurgeon and rather insensitive. I also had a hard time with some of his jumps to conclusions regarding political topics like abortion.

[Grayson VanDyke · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I'm actually sympathetic to the dualist idea that the mind and brain are separate from each other, this book didn't do much for me.

I felt the introduction was really bad. It at least succeeds in giving a strong indication of where the author is coming from, but I was unimpressed with his logic, skeptical of his personal story, and frankly didn't like the tone-deaf way he talked about autism.

The anecdotes about what the brain could perceive under various and extreme conditions were easily the most compelling part of the book. However, that's only the first third of the book. The rest makes very weak arguments for the immortality of the mind/soul. Then it becomes a sermon on why there's a God and regurgitates a bunch of christian apologetics that I've heard a thousand times. Nothing new. He finally makes some very political statements at the end which he says he arrives at through his conviction that humans DO have souls. But I don't even think his conclusions track even granted with the assumption that humans do have souls. Overall, I was very unimpressed.

[annie cusack · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I really hate to give this book a low review — I was very excited for it. I will not go into specific details; however, I will say, this author’s religious beliefs and political opinions tainted many of these chapters, and their arguments. I have read plenty of papers and some books on the philosophy of consciousness/awareness, and one’s religious/political views are unnecessary to make valid claims.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a free ARC of this book.

[Matthew Cammarato · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this powerful argument for the existence of the soul, Michael Egnor and Denyse O’Leary utilize reason, logic, and their own experiences in neurosurgery to provide a compelling testament for the mind as a separate component of the brain. Drawing from patients with a wide range of neurological experiences, the authors present their case in opposition to less convincing and, ultimately, unsubstantiated theories to prove that there is more to the brain than meets the eye. While neurological case history drives the foundation of the book, their expertise in neuroscience is also used to discuss such topics as free will, philosophy, and artificial intelligence, bringing a unique mindset to a predominantly materialistic approach to theories and ideas regarding these subjects. Would highly recommend!

[Philip Vallone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful eye opening Book

The word of God, the Bible has revealed this truth in a narrative matter of fact way. The authors of this book proved it by scientific facts. Bravo!!

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit scary as in the ‘fear of the unknown’ is scary. Some well accepted scientific theories are presented and then proved false. To me it reinforces that science is fluid and that what once was thought to be true may not be entirely true today. A very interesting book that also answers some questions about immortality and the existence of God. Then there’s the chapter on AI and conscious computers which made my head spin. This book definitely made me think. Although I do agree with much of the authors’ beliefs, in the Conclusion there were a number of topics that I do not agree with and don’t feel they gave any rational for. All in all a very interesting book.

[K.C. Phillips · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a doctor's scientific exploration on the nature of consciousness/meaning of life, a la "breath becomes air", "man's search for meaning," or "being mortal", all of which I've adored. But there is a difference between reading about someone's supernatural experiences and being preached at.
My sus alarms started going off very early on when he kept dropping mentions of Christianity like it was the only religion that existed... and in skimming through some later chapters, I found confirmation of the religious bait and switch via several passages, including a firm assertion about life and conception and Egnor's argument that "breaking God's moral law has grave consequences," and that this is "an absolute scientific truth".

It was supposed to be neuroscience, but it's propaganda, and that freaking sucks, man, cause consciousness is such a cool topic! I would love to read the experiences in the book, but those assertions I've already read make me skeptical about Egnor's scientific rigor and fully disillusioned about his intentions in conveying them.

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's another science book for those of us who think about the "science fringe" (according to the materialists). IMO there's nothing more fascinating than the observations which can Not be explained by the Scientists with their mainstream science. Spiritualism/religion and science often overlap at the chicken-and-egg conditions of abiogenesis and cosmology and life before and after death etc... those subjects which ask, if the Universe has everything And was not eternal then what happened before it began. I know a little about set theory and know when cataloging books the authors of the catalogs got into a big problem with where to catalog the catalogs. Math is suppose to be exact but when it gets into logic/reason there are muddy areas. And we know from Godel that math is incomplete because depending on you axioms (base assumptions) you can prove Anything. QED

[Alexis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first chapter was enough for me. Definitely felt like a slap in the face to anyone with autism or with it in their family. The author basically believing his son almost had it because he "didn't see" god. I didn't feel like I could trust this author after seeing what a strong bias he had right from the beginning.

[Bob Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Searching

Dr. Egnor is not speculating, philosophizing, or engaging in wishful thinking (pun intended) when he claims that there is more to being human than the materialists dismiss by presupposition. Human beings are integrated bodies and souls. He offers compelling scientific evidence to support the claim. And the implications that accompany that claim are powerful … and, yes, eternal. A fascinating read and a convincing solution to the mind-body “problem.”

[Truthlover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book is one of the best I’ve ever read in philosophical anthropology. I’ve read many books in philosophy. This book should be required reading for anyone serious about knowing the relationship between the soul and the brain.

[Shane Neilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Immortal Mind is one of the most fascinating and personally meaningful books I've encountered in quite some time.
Having survived a catastrophic brain injury at ten years old in 1975, I've spent much of my life reflecting on questions that Michael Egnor and Denyse O'Leary explore throughout this remarkable book. What makes us who we are? Is consciousness simply a product of the physical brain, or is there something more to our existence that science has yet to fully understand?
These questions became particularly meaningful while writing my own memoir, AFTER SURVIVAL, which reflects on more than fifty years of life following an injury doctors did not expect me to survive.
What I appreciate most about The Immortal Mind is the authors' willingness to challenge conventional thinking about consciousness, personal identity, free will, and the human soul. Dr. Egnor's extensive neurosurgical experience brings a fascinating perspective, while Denyse O'Leary helps make complex scientific and philosophical concepts accessible.
The discussions surrounding severe brain injuries, consciousness, and the relationship between the physical brain and our sense of self resonated deeply with me. They encouraged me to reconsider aspects of my own recovery and the extraordinary life I've been privileged to experience.
I also appreciate the exploration of faith and the possibility that our existence has a spiritual dimension extending beyond our physical limitations.
While I believe some of the authors' conclusions go further than the scientific evidence alone can establish, that doesn't diminish the importance of the questions they raise or the value of exploring them.
What resonates most deeply is the recognition that a person's identity, worth, and capacity to influence others cannot be measured simply by physical ability or neurological condition.
My own experiences have taught me that surviving a devastating injury is only the beginning. What follows is a lifetime of choices, relationships, consequences, faith, forgiveness
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in neuroscience, consciousness, faith, and the enduring mystery of what it means to be human. Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, it offers plenty worth considering.
For me, its greatest value lies not in claiming to have answered every question, but in encouraging us to keep asking them.

[Paul H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rigorous, honest, pithy, & grounded in philosophy of mind

What a book! Michael Egnor’s The Immortal Mind was mind-blowing to me. I cannot recommend it more highly to scientifically minded readers. It achieves so much with such brevity, clarity, and readability.

As someone who has tried hard to understand the literature on neuroscientific findings concerning free will, I found the book striking because many literature reviews usually, or perhaps almost always, do not foreground the kinds of details Egnor discusses here. In particular, Wilder Penfield is not usually introduced as a central figure in these discussions. Instead, Benjamin Libet and those associated with Libet-like findings tend to receive disproportionate attention.

This book is also a gem for readers who want to make specifically neuroscientific sense of near-death experiences (NDEs), especially regarding how one might conclude that such experiences are reliable.

I have a few minor reservations. First, I am still not sure whether a probabilistic universe, given quantum mechanics, means anything directly for free will, and this makes me want to learn more about the issue. Second, I will need to learn more about the book’s discussion of creativity. Third, the claim that there is little or no empirical evidence for Darwinian random evolution would have benefited from a more substantial, though still brief, literature review. Lastly, although every point in the conclusions at the end was hard-hitting, some of them felt a bit more proclaimed than derived from the preceding arguments. I admit, however, that this may simply reflect my own need to follow the argument more carefully or to read more closely between the lines.

Still, I found the book to serve its goals and achieve its argumentative qualities at a level well above what can often be found elsewhere. Overall, I found it rigorous, honest, pithy, and well-grounded in philosophy of mind, unlike many other books that approach the soul from a neuroscientific perspective.

[Larry White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silenced Minority

It is a disgrace that in modern scientific circles your credibility is endangered if you dare to depart from a presumptive materialistic worldview, no matter the evidence otherwise. This is Darwin’s great curse upon scientific inquiry. Dissent must be silenced. Fortunately, there are a few courageous people in the scientific community who are true to the pure scientific method of following where the evidence leads. Accomplished neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor is such a person. In his excellent book, “The Immortal Mind”, Egnor examines the factual evidence thoroughly and without limiting preconceptions to arrive at a conclusion that the existence of a human soul best explains what can be observed, and that is the essence of objective scientific investigation.
Drawing on his own extensive experience in neurosurgery as well as that of colleagues, Egnor shares remarkable stories of the differences between materialistic brain function and the independent human mind. These cases will be unfamiliar to most readers and astounding in the evidence they reveal. The fact that they are not otherwise well known seems to be an outcome of the way the predominant materialist worldview has suppressed successfully anything that points beyond materialism.
Egnor is a believer and not reluctant to bring his beliefs, including beliefs in Scripture, into his conclusions, but his conclusions stand up rigorously to objective scrutiny and are not derived from presuppositions, unlike so many from the materialistic scientific worldview. His conclusions support his beliefs and are not forced to fit them.
This is an excellent book for believers who are made to feel by a dominant materialistic worldview that their faith is not supported by facts. And it is excellent for those of a materialistic predisposition who are unafraid to explore objectively all the evidence.

[Evelyn Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was very interesting when it focused on the brain and the sometimes amazing capacity to retain the ability to think even when much of the brain might have been destroyed or missing. Then the author veered into the Christian view of souls, making strong claims that our consciousness makes us more special than any animal or plant because they do not have creative abilities. And atheists? Bah, he really believes they are eternally lost. Sigh. I grew tired of all the theories trying to support his Christian ideas, and wanted him instead to go back to science to help him narrow in on what is it in our brain that allows us to understand art, metaphors, the meaning of numbers, etc. And if consciousness determines the existence of our souls, what of severely retarded people, with no more understanding of the world than an animal. He would argue they still have a soul. Maybe, but how are they different than animals or plants, other than that they have a human form? His philosophical ideas did not convince me.

[William Drehmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a well-written book covering a difficult subject. The author is a neurosurgeon who is admittedly a Christian. He describes what caused his conversion from atheism over a few pages. He then proceeds to discuss the topic of consciousness. Who are we ? Just a collection of thoughts emanating from our brain or is there something that is separate from the brain, the soul. Through his and other neurosurgeons/neuroscientists efforts to study the brain and the mind, he comes to the conclusion that 1) the brain deals with material things, memories, movements of the body, speech, hearing etc, but NOT abstract thought i.e. it is the mind that allows us to consider what 2+2 implies, not just that the answer is 4), 2) The mind is immortal. People who don't want anything proven to be "spiritual" try to come up with various solutions/studies that prove the material brain is the cause of an immaterial mind, but those studies all come up short of proving their point. This book made me use my "mind" to make sense of it. :)

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book hoping for an open minded scientific approach to the concept of souls but it ended up being heavily religious. The author made jumps in logic and sometimes got bitchy. He included Christianity in his reasoning, making it so I could no longer trust that ANY of the information he gave wasn't cherry picked or coerced. He lapsed into cult-speak, especially in the conclusion, where he dog whistles with what could be construed as anti racism and equality but turns out to be dogmatic agenda pushing. He outright condemns gender affirming care as 'mutilation of their God given bodies,' he calls a scientist brilliant DESPITE being atheist, and he declares life at conception to be a scientific fact though he NEVER ACTUALLY PROVED IT beyond religious input.

This book can FEEL like scientific proof of a soul, but it only is for those seeking an echo chamber.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating view into the peculiarities and mysteries of the human brain and mind. I learned a lot about how the brain works and what science has yet to explain. My favorite aspect of the book was the many miraculous anecdotes—near-death experiences, people whose brains were separated or who lost most of their brain matter and still thrived. They were incredibly awe-inspiring.

As a religious person, Egnor's various jumps to conclusions made sense to me. But I can understand how secular readers would be disappointed by the lack of "hard evidence" for the soul. The evidence Egnor presents is mostly in the gaps in scientific explanation, though I have no idea how some of the revived-from-death anecdotes could be explained by anything other than some kind of afterlife for the mind.

[Jose Legaspi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The soul explained.

I did the Camino de Santiago three years ago. The walk was simple enough. I took physical steps one-at-a-time. Physical needs were met: ate and rested. It provided time to reflect and contemplate. The words within this book, verbalized one of the points I gained. Physical needs and exertion to go from one place to the other have been part of human kind and all animals from the “dawn” of organic life. Consciousness and reason led to contemplations which have been essential for the existential protections of human kind. Yes. The mind, the soul, the subsequent concepts of compassion and the understanding of the wherewithal requires intelligence, but also faith in order for all humankind to survive.

[Joe]

Excellent book. Does a good job of making his thoughts readable and understandable. He does not take us too deep into neuroscience that we get lost and I appreciate that.

2 things I take away from this book:
1) we have no idea what consciousness is. So programming this into a computer looks very far off if able to be done at all.

2) The mind is not the same as the brain. We have been told for decades now that we are just meat machines. The brain is the hardware and the mind is the software. This book does a good job of blowing that logic up. For one thing now one can really locate the mind. Massive parts of the brain can be missing and the mind is not terribly affected.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating chapters on the distinction between the brain (physical) and mind (spiritual) - considering such neurological cases as split brain surgery and no evidence for split consciousness, patients missing or losing parts of their brains without dramatic effects, and conjoined twins), as well as the last two chapters on AI (in the context of computers and LLMs not being capable of consciousness) and the implications of humans having an immaterial mind (e.g., human dignity). The middle chapters seem off topic, delving into materialism and darwinism, and even though I agree with the biblical worldview, his defense of creation science is less credible from an old earth perspective.

[Bozhidar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am extremely impressed with the writing style and the captivating story at the beginning, which motivates you to sit down and read more and more of the book every day, even when you are at the end of your strength. Amazing theories, sincere beliefs, interesting cases from practice, and a lot of explanations. Special thanks to Mr. M. Egnor and journalist D. O'Leary for all the truths related to the meaning of life! If you want to dive into the world of neurosurgery and metaphysics, this is the perfect book for you!

[Marie Sonnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! The author makes a strong case for the mind being something spiritual and much different from the brain. My 4-star rating is reflective of the book starting much stronger than its conclusion although the chapter on AI was interesting. The point that AI has hallucinations because it treats all data it is fed as equally authoritative regardless of its origin is hugely important for future development of AI.

[Donn Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the reviews almost as interesting as the book. For those who have already made up their mind that evolution explains it all, nothing they read or hear is going to change their mind. If this book doesn't give them pause, then they are not ready for any further "conversation" on the subject.
At any rate, Dr. Egnor gives a pretty thoughtful and interesting argument for the "mind" (soul), and I hope others will approach it with an open mind.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introspective look at how the brain and the soul seem to be separate entities, studies on "near death" experiences that can't be explained by anything other than a greater being. Science only explains so much, and then we have to see some things as divine, the author explains how he went from atheism to Christianity from his experiences with patients and the OR. A couple spots got a little too involved and wordy, but overall really liked the perspective and how he tied it all up at the end.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating content. Very glad I read it.
I was bummed with the format and approach. This book failed to have a strategic purpose and instead tried to “split the baby” so to speak. It was both a scientific treatise and a personal memoir, but mixed in a way that left both lacking. It would have had a much bigger punch if the writer had lead with the empirical data and then wrapped it up with the personal conclusions/beliefs of the doctor based on that data.

[Julio A Borges · Rating 5 out of 5]

razon y fe unidos

Este libro explica de manera sencilla y fascinante distintos ejemplos neurológicos que nos llevan a la convicción que más allá de los aspectos biológicos y anatómicos hay una unidad humana por encima de la materia que es digna,racional y libre. El materialismo positivista se queda muy corto en sus explicaciones. Muy buen libro.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a neurosurgeon and former atheist. His work & experience with over 7000 patients has convinced him that our minds (souls) are separate from our physical brains and distinguish us from all other living things. And that we were created that way by an intelligent designer God. Lots of interesting case studies.