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Before: Children's Memories of Previous Lives
A fully updated 2-in-1 edition, with a new introduction by the author, combining Dr. Jim B. Tucker's bestselling books about children who remember past lives—Return to Life and Life Before Life.
These two books contain first-person accounts of Jim B. Tucker's experiences with a number of extraordinary children with memories of past lives, and expands on the international work started by Tucker's University of Virginia colleague Ian Stevenson.
Tucker's work has been lauded by the likes of parapsychologist Carol Bowman and Deepak Chopra, and has been described by some as quantum physics. His goal in each case of a child reporting memories of previous lives is to determine what happened—what the child has said, how the parents have reacted, whether the child's statements match the life of a particular deceased person, and whether the child could have learned such information through normal means. Tucker has found case studies that provide persuasive evidence that some children do, in fact, possess memories of previous lives.
Thought-provoking and captivating, the stories in Before urge readers, skeptics and supporters alike to think about life, death, and reincarnation and to reflect about their own consciousness and spirituality.
These two books contain first-person accounts of Jim B. Tucker's experiences with a number of extraordinary children with memories of past lives, and expands on the international work started by Tucker's University of Virginia colleague Ian Stevenson.
Tucker's work has been lauded by the likes of parapsychologist Carol Bowman and Deepak Chopra, and has been described by some as quantum physics. His goal in each case of a child reporting memories of previous lives is to determine what happened—what the child has said, how the parents have reacted, whether the child's statements match the life of a particular deceased person, and whether the child could have learned such information through normal means. Tucker has found case studies that provide persuasive evidence that some children do, in fact, possess memories of previous lives.
Thought-provoking and captivating, the stories in Before urge readers, skeptics and supporters alike to think about life, death, and reincarnation and to reflect about their own consciousness and spirituality.
505 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2021
135 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Jim B. Tucker
11 books41 followersJIM B. TUCKER, M.D. is Bonner-Lowry Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson with children who report memories of previous lives.
Dr. Tucker was born and raised in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in psychology in 1982, followed by a Medical Degree four years later. He then received training in general psychiatry and child psychiatry at the University of Virginia. After he completed his training, he stayed in Charlottesville and began a successful private practice in psychiatry.
Tucker has published two books--Life Before Life and Return to Life--and numerous papers in scientific journals. He has spoken before both scientific and general audiences and has made a number of television appearances, including Today, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning.
Dr. Tucker was born and raised in North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA degree in psychology in 1982, followed by a Medical Degree four years later. He then received training in general psychiatry and child psychiatry at the University of Virginia. After he completed his training, he stayed in Charlottesville and began a successful private practice in psychiatry.
Tucker has published two books--Life Before Life and Return to Life--and numerous papers in scientific journals. He has spoken before both scientific and general audiences and has made a number of television appearances, including Today, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 20, 2022
The children of some of my friends have talked about their past life experiences. It was rather eerie. For example at age 2, my friend’s daughter described in vivid detail being in a car crash and catapulting through the windshield. Details she would only know if she experienced it. And at age 3, my godson told his Mom, “I can’t believe you are the mother this time”, as he looked at her skeptically.
The first volume of this book is actually the book called Life Before Life, a collection of stories of children worldwide telling their experiences in the most previous life. The stories are well documented and every detail is verified by this academic department at the University of Virginia to prove the accuracy of the stories. Some are same family subjects and some are strangers. Most children start talking about previous lives at age 35 months and most quit talking about them around 7 years old.
Sometimes birthmarks of the subject are indicated in the death of a previous participant. For example, the current child may have birthmarks in the same place as the entry and exit gunshot wounds of the previous participant. This is especially found in cases of a violent or unexpected death.
If you want to learn more about actual cases of reincarnation memories, read this book! It is fascinating.
The first volume of this book is actually the book called Life Before Life, a collection of stories of children worldwide telling their experiences in the most previous life. The stories are well documented and every detail is verified by this academic department at the University of Virginia to prove the accuracy of the stories. Some are same family subjects and some are strangers. Most children start talking about previous lives at age 35 months and most quit talking about them around 7 years old.
Sometimes birthmarks of the subject are indicated in the death of a previous participant. For example, the current child may have birthmarks in the same place as the entry and exit gunshot wounds of the previous participant. This is especially found in cases of a violent or unexpected death.
If you want to learn more about actual cases of reincarnation memories, read this book! It is fascinating.
February 4, 2024
"It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection." Voltaire
There has been research conducted into the accounts given by children of having lived a previous life.
They are described in Life Before Life and in Return to Life.
This is a nonfiction book which presents as an insight into the research cases and thus I would recommend to those who enjoy complex theories and research.
In these case studies some children provided intriguing details and sometimes verifiable information such as recalling details of their parents' lives around the time of pregnancy. The information can become quite complex in regards to scientific theories venturing into quantum physics. "There's a reason why Max Planck, the founder of quantum theory, said he regarded consciousness as fundamental and he regarded matter as being derived from consciousness." The author provides an investigation into some of these cases with explanations to ponder. He also addresses the fact that there are many opposing views and speculations of such research. Some cross over the religious and spiritual beliefs of reincarnation and rebirth as well as karma. The Division of Perpetual Studies emerged as a new addition in academic psychiatry studies and research. The book ends with many references regarding the case studies and speculations.
There has been research conducted into the accounts given by children of having lived a previous life.
They are described in Life Before Life and in Return to Life.
This is a nonfiction book which presents as an insight into the research cases and thus I would recommend to those who enjoy complex theories and research.
In these case studies some children provided intriguing details and sometimes verifiable information such as recalling details of their parents' lives around the time of pregnancy. The information can become quite complex in regards to scientific theories venturing into quantum physics. "There's a reason why Max Planck, the founder of quantum theory, said he regarded consciousness as fundamental and he regarded matter as being derived from consciousness." The author provides an investigation into some of these cases with explanations to ponder. He also addresses the fact that there are many opposing views and speculations of such research. Some cross over the religious and spiritual beliefs of reincarnation and rebirth as well as karma. The Division of Perpetual Studies emerged as a new addition in academic psychiatry studies and research. The book ends with many references regarding the case studies and speculations.
August 3, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book to read & review!
This is 2 books in 1; both talking about children with past life memories. Both books take a scientific approach to the concept, so I wouldn't consider this a casual read. The first book focuses on past life cases and looking at them scientifically - going through what could and couldn't be the cause of the memories. While I appreciated the unbiased look into these cases, I found the writing a bit hard to read through on my end.
The second book started out more conversational when talking about more past life memory cases. Then came the whole chapter on quantum physics that I really could not understand. I ended up skipping it because it was beyond my reading comprehension.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the cases and not being fed information to believe one thing or the other. I like to make my own decisions on things. I found the writing to be too dry for my own personal tastes.
This is 2 books in 1; both talking about children with past life memories. Both books take a scientific approach to the concept, so I wouldn't consider this a casual read. The first book focuses on past life cases and looking at them scientifically - going through what could and couldn't be the cause of the memories. While I appreciated the unbiased look into these cases, I found the writing a bit hard to read through on my end.
The second book started out more conversational when talking about more past life memory cases. Then came the whole chapter on quantum physics that I really could not understand. I ended up skipping it because it was beyond my reading comprehension.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the cases and not being fed information to believe one thing or the other. I like to make my own decisions on things. I found the writing to be too dry for my own personal tastes.
May 7, 2024
Before: Children’s Memories of Previous Lives by Jim B Tucker MD
544 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Essentials
Release Date: April 13, 2021
Nonfiction (Adult), Parenting, Families, Religion, Spirituality, Past Lives, Reincarnation, Children
The book is divided into the following chapters.
1. Children Who Report Memories of Previous Lives
2. Investigating the Cases
3. Explanations to Consider
4. Marked for Life
5. Remembering the Past
6. Unusual Behaviors
7. Recognizing Familiar Faces
8. Divine Intermission
9. Opposing Points of View
10. Conclusions and Speculations
The author discusses past lives and reincarnation. The organization researches and investigates claims by parents of children who claim to have lived before. He tells of the challenges the group faces with fraud, false memories, and other actions that could cause or interfere with the children’s experiences. If you believe in past lives, this is an interesting read.
544 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Essentials
Release Date: April 13, 2021
Nonfiction (Adult), Parenting, Families, Religion, Spirituality, Past Lives, Reincarnation, Children
The book is divided into the following chapters.
1. Children Who Report Memories of Previous Lives
2. Investigating the Cases
3. Explanations to Consider
4. Marked for Life
5. Remembering the Past
6. Unusual Behaviors
7. Recognizing Familiar Faces
8. Divine Intermission
9. Opposing Points of View
10. Conclusions and Speculations
The author discusses past lives and reincarnation. The organization researches and investigates claims by parents of children who claim to have lived before. He tells of the challenges the group faces with fraud, false memories, and other actions that could cause or interfere with the children’s experiences. If you believe in past lives, this is an interesting read.
January 5, 2024
I'm fascinated by reincarnation so this book had been a very interesting read. I like that the author wrote it with an objective view, with scientific reasoning. The structure was not too bad, but towards the end, it seemed a little repetitive (due to the book being a combination of his two previous books). I would recommend it to those who would like to read about reincarnation or is pondering about the idea of life after dead.
May 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book as it explored a topic I’m intrigued by… Reincarnation… But also because it related it to science and challenged my views of scientific theory. I also learned quite a bit about physics. I’m stingy with four stars, but it was close.
February 26, 2023
Nothing but case histories, enough to pose questions, but no hint of any answers.
August 18, 2024
This was recommended by folks in my Theravada Buddhist community. It could have been an article. Felt a lot like the author was justifying the validity of the research when the kids’ stories are fascinating on their own. I fully understand what it means to be a researcher and to need funding, but some of the hypotheses are just weird and untestable. Just let the mystery of it all be just that rather than spend so much time justifying your methods of analyzing case studies.
February 2, 2022
Fascinating accounts of children recounting previous lives. Does consciousness survive physical death? Books like this raise more questions than they answer, but the questions are absolutely fascinating and shouldn't be relegated to the "fringe".
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
Highly recommended.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
Highly recommended.
July 21, 2023
Absolutely fascinating
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews