tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439131496421668469.post6249378337755361235..comments2023-11-05T06:03:00.626-06:00Comments on Whitticisms: Proof of Heaven - Book ReviewKathy Whitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05721440501446019216noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7439131496421668469.post-92082696087635677222013-06-20T22:03:13.225-05:002013-06-20T22:03:13.225-05:00Your review surprises me, Kathy. Here's mine:...Your review surprises me, Kathy. Here's mine:<br /><br />I read this book at the behest of a friend who knows I'm a committed Christian. Because the book is a testimonial and makes truth claims, the credibility of the author is critical in evaluating what he says.<br /><br />The first thing I noticed in reading it is signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder on page after page; Alexander asserts his exceptionalism from beginning to end, sometimes subtly, sometimes obviously. I decided to check out his background on healthgrade.com, a website which helps prospective patients find a qualified doctor. The opening page on Dr. Eben Alexander III warns "It's important to do your research before making an appointment with this provider."<br /><br />His background includes two malpractice suits in 2007 after performing surgery on the wrong sites, and in both cases he attempted to conceal what happened -- in one case retroactively altering the original diagnosis to make it appear he hadn't erred. He faced medical board sanctions and reprimands in 2009 and 2010 in three states (MA, VA and NC), and was ordered to attend classes in professionalism and medical ethics. He never mentions any of this in the book -- published in 2012, so it wasn't ancient history while he was writing it.<br /><br />Further evidence of his lack of credibility is the book's title: that it's `proof` of an afterlife. Not even a bad scientist would make this claim: Scientific proof requires that a hypothesis can be tested, and the results can be replicated by other scientists -- that's Science 101. What his experience, if we can believe it, proves is that the brain is a mystery we are only beginning to understand.<br /><br />If Alexander had said, "This is true for me, I can't prove it, but I believe it completely," I would be inclined to put more faith in what he says in spite of my reservations.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13728675555869141034noreply@blogger.com