Archives: Book Reviews

The Wisdom of the Soul by Ian Lawton

Reviewed by the Editor
In JRT Issue 21, 2007

 

This is the second book written by the author; his previous work was reviewed in the last issue of the Journal. This new work is a collaborative one in which he was assisted by the very able Andy Tomlinson, whose book Healing the Eternal Soul is also reviewed in this issue.

Ian’s background in research is paired with Andy’s skill as a trained and very experienced Past Life and In Between Life Therapist. Together they submitted questions to a carefully picked group of subjects who, as Ian states: “would be chosen by Andy, and would not claim to have any special gifts or access to special channels of higher wisdom—they … Read the rest

14 January 2007

Healing the Eternal Soul: Insights From Past Life and Spiritual Regression by Andy Tomlinson

Reviewed by the Editor
In JRT Issue 21, 2007

 

Whether you are teaching others the skill of PLRT or want to expand your skill base and knowledge in your own practice, this new book by Andy Tomlinson is a great teaching and learning tool.

Andy does a great job of covering the whole spectrum of soul healing through both past life regression and in-between life regression. Unlike some books on the subject that restrict their approach to healing only the energetic or spiritual bodies, Andy also addresses the physical body and its role in releasing and healing both current and past lifetime physical trauma.

He builds a case of validity of these healing techniques through a step by step approach. … Read the rest

14 January 2007

Passport to Past Lives: The Evidence by Robert T. James

Reviewed by Thelma B. Freedman, Ph.D.
In JRT Issue 20, 2005

 

Robert James has written a fascinating account of his extensive research projects and the findings from them. He first presented two brief overviews of his work in the pages of the Journal, V. VII (1993) and V. IX (1995), and spoke about it at the APRT Spring Conference of 1995 in Washington, DC, which focused on research. This book expands on his previous work and provides rich detail about his results.

Dr. James’ first research project was designed to test many of the claims that critics raise about past life regressions and therapy. Noting that some critics claim that most published regressions come from people in therapy for … Read the rest

14 January 2005

The Book of the Soul: Rational Spirituality for the 21st Century by Ian Lawton

Reviewed by Louis Siron, C.Ht.
In JRT Issue 20, 2005

 

I had the pleasure recently of reading “The Book of the Soul: Rational Spirituality for the 21st Century” by Ian Lawton.

You might wonder at the term “rational spirituality.” What does this mean? How can spirituality be rational? I had the impression of a subject that is typically faith based being defined in a logical factual way. As it turns out, that impression was not far off the mark.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, 1) rational: able to reason, not foolish or silly, sensible; synonym reasonable and 2) spirituality: spiritual nature, character, or quality.

Here we have a very unusual book; a book that fills a void in the literature … Read the rest

14 January 2005

Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins

Reviewed by Sydney S. Heflin, Ed.D.
In JRT Issue 19, 2004

 

 “Imagine…what if you had access to a simple yes-or-no answer to any question you wished to ask? A demonstrably true answer. Any question…Think about it.” So begins Dr. David Hawkins’ book, Power VS Force. Impeccably researched over 20 years, and with scientifically derived and objectively organized truths, the information in this book is like a bucket of ice water in the face of the discerning reader.

The author of many scientific papers, Dr. Hawkins co-authored Orthomolecular Psychiatry with Nobelist Linus Pauling. He also has an extensive background as a therapist and teacher. Extrapolating from the initial work of Dr. John Diamond in the late seventies, in the … Read the rest

13 January 2004

Return of the Revolutionaries: The Case for Reincarnation and Soul Groups Reunited by Walter Semkiw

Reviewed by Sydney S. Heflin, Ed.D.
In JRT Issue 19, 2004

 

Dr. Walter Semkiw is currently Chief of Occupational Medicine at Kaiser, San Francisco. Dr. Walter Semkiw’s new book, Return of the Revolutionaries, is an impressively extensive examination of the history and current literature on reincarnation; in just the first 86 pages. If only these first seven chapters were the entire book, this work would be a very valuable addition to the literature. However, those chapters are just an introduction to a new avenue of research, which will surely be met with delight, as well as controversy, in the field of reincarnation study. Frankly, this researcher/reviewer inclines toward the delighted end of that spectrum.

Cutting edge research is … Read the rest

13 January 2004

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Reincarnation by David Hammerman and Lisa Lenard

Reviewed by Janet Cunningham, Ph.D.
In JRT Issue 18, 2001

 

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Reincarnation is a book that should be in the waiting room of every past-life therapist…and in the hands of anyone who has ever wondered if they have lived a previous incarnation.

According to Carol Bowman, who wrote the forward, [this book] is the most comprehensive practical guide to reincarnation I’ve seen…It gives you the tools to distinguish real past-life memories from fantasy.

Using the “Idiot’s Book” format of simple, to-the-point language and eye-catching icons, Hammerman and Lenard have created an up-to-date informative and extensive volume that covers the questions most asked by clients (and even practitioners!).

Just a few of the important themes include:… Read the rest

12 January 2001

Shadows on My Mind: A Psychologist Explores Reincarnation and PSI by Marie Gates

Reviewed by Janet Cunningham, Ph.D.
In JRT Issue 18, 2001

 

Marie Gates’ earliest memory in this life was of her death as an adult woman in a Catholic hospital. Her book describes her search to understand the memories and to verify, if possible, some of the details that she learned through past-life regressions. She describes several paranormal experiences she had such as synchronistic events, vivid dreams, and precognitive knowing.

There are elements that are confusing in the reading of Gates’ book. One example is when she becomes obsessed over a being called Mohari. The experience comes in a dream, which she later attempts to understand through past-life regression. In sharing the overlapping in her mind between her lifetime as … Read the rest

12 January 2001

Soul Samples: Personal Exploration in Reincarnation and UFO Experience by R. Leo Sprinkle

Reviewed by Barbara Lamb, M.S., M.F.C.C.
In JRT Issue 17, 1999

 

Leo Sprinkle has written a thoughtful, inspiring book from his long years as a university professor, a scientific researcher of unusual human experiences, a philosopher, and a helper/healer of thousands of persons.

The objective of the book, in Leo’s words, is “to offer one person’s views of the journey of the soul, the significance of UFO activity, and the role of the individual person in human evolution…Thus I share with any reader these personal events that have helped me to learn to love myself, others, and life itself, to become aware, and to acknowledge the interactions of humans, Extraterrestrial beings and higher beings.”

The book shows his own … Read the rest

11 January 1999

Looking for Carroll Beckwith: A True Story of a Detective’s Search for his Past-Life by Robert L. Snow

Reviewed by Linda Adler, L.C.S.W.
In JRT Issue 17, 1999

 

Police Detective Robert L. Snow had never given much thought to reincarnation and past lives; it wasn’t within his frame of reference. His life was concrete and dealt with only what could be proven. However, a friend challenged him to test his beliefs and recommended a psychologist for regressive hypnosis.

When Snow regressed to his life as the painter, J. Carroll Beckwith, he found the experience so vivid and realistic he began to question what it was. Convinced it was all his imagination, Snow was determined to find a “logical” explanation for what he had experienced. Using police investigative techniques, he embarked on a quest to disprove the evidence … Read the rest

11 January 1999