The Last Frontier: Exploring the Afterlife and Transforming Our Fear of Death
Assante is a bit unusual. Not only is she a medium; she has a PhD from Columbia, and her focus of study is Near Eastern history. That puts her in a position to understand the death traditions of the ancient world, and, of course, as a medium, she can speak directly to the dead. Even if not every reader believes that, Assante’s book offers many fascinating insights into death and dying. She covers not only near-death experiences but also discusses reincarnation, what death feels like, ways to empower yourself to “a good death,” and the role of religion in death practices. There is also much here about communicating with the dead, including plenty of anecdotal evidence. The conversational style and “insider” information make this easy to read, and though skeptics might laugh, those inclined to believe will find this account both comforting and useful. And, on more of a global level, the book’s concluding chapter, “What Would the World Look Like without the Fear of Death?,” is insightful and thought-provoking. --Ilene Cooper