This book is the culmination of more than two decades of researching and reporting on the phenomenon of "Shared Death Experiences," which are similar to near-death experiences, but, as their name suggests, experienced along with the dying person by one or more individuals.

As a 17-year-old, carefree youth, the author had a ski accident that nearly paralyzed him. While lying unconscious on a mountainside in Lake Tahoe, Peters experienced a near-death, out-of-body experience that he discussed with no one, but that changed the course of his life. During this NDE, he felt aware that every moment, every word we say, and every act in which we participate, matters greatly -- and was horrified to realize that he had wasted his life. He begged God for another chance, which he was granted. Peters went on to graduate from Berkeley, study theology as a graduate student, work as a Jesuit volunteer in impoverished countries around the world, work with dying AIDS patients in San Francisco, and then to join the Zen Hospice project in that city. During this time he developed a rare blood disorder and experienced a second NDE, and he also experienced his first shared-death experience when he, along with one of his dying hospice patients, floated together above their bodies and shared a knowing smile of understanding shortly before the patient's death.

At an Omega Institute event the next year, he heard Raymond Moody, who had named and been expanding on "near-death experiences" for some years, give a talk on "shared-death experiences," which Peters then realized he had experienced himself. He went on to attract patients interested in end-of-life therapy to his practice and to devote his life to collecting the stories of those who have had such spiritual experiences at their loved ones' deathbeds (or remotely as their loved ones died, often without their direct knowledge). Peters worried he was committing career suicide by forming a support group to look at the subject of life after death, but then, seeing how much relief he brought people able to finally talk about their experiences, he eventually formed his own research group, The Shared Crossing Project, dedicated to collecting shared-death experience stories.

Peters has now collected and cataloged hundreds of stories from people who shared their loved ones' NDEs. As their loved ones died, they saw their loved one's spirit leave their body... or experienced a vision in which they traveled with their loved one partway toward the light... or turned their loved one over to others who had already passed. The experiences are more varied than most NDEs though they share many common phenomena, with all including at least some of the following:
* a vision of the dying person (as approximately two-thirds of these SDEs are remote),
* heightened sense of awareness and slowed or stopped sense of time,
* a vision of other deceased relatives or pets,
* a vision of the spirit leaving the body,
* seeing a brilliant luminous light.
* some vision of heaven or a beautiful place,
* some obstacle barring them from going further with their dying loved one.

This book will be a comfort to those looking to be reassured that our spirits go on after our bodies expire, but for those looking for scientific support for such hopes, there is little here to carry them beyond the anecdotal. Still, you have to ask yourself, why would this man make up hundreds of stories sharing a common theme if they hadn't actually been told to him (or in a few cases experienced by him directly)? To my mind, these shared experiences provide lovely support for our best hopes of an afterlife. Or, to quote one of the people whose stories are shared in the book, "Life has not been easy since [my loved one died]. But I [now] know the truth, that there’s more, that we all die, and that this will be gone, and that there’s something a lot deeper." Even if you haven't had such an experience yourself, reading all of these experiences gathered together in one book may help you gain the faith of someone who has.

I thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an advance-reader copy of the ebook for my review.

This is a very good book and we'll written with the author's own account of experiencing someone's else departure. I experienced my mother's passing, but in a different way. I flew from Portland, OR to Jackson, MS heading to Belzoni, MS and at 8:45pm my heart fluttered and my mother's life force left my body. It felt as if someone snatched a piece of my heart out of my body and left me grasping for air. My brother-in-law pull over and asked me what was wrong. I just asked what time and told him to remember it. Once we arrived home, my mom's lifeless body laid there. The Coroner told my brother-in-law that he pronounced my mom deceased at 8:45pm, the exact time I grasped for air.

I highly recommend this book for anyone grieving and would like to have some information ar their hand to help them understand what we experience when a love one passes.

William J Peters has given his readers a treasure of a book in At Heaven's Door. With personal stories and research, Peters delves into the ways the living can journey with the dying into the afterlife. For those of us who have experienced loss, this book will bring some sadness, healing, comfort, confirmation, hope, and joy as you read the stories. I hope Peters writes another book as he hears and experiences more stories like these he included in his book. Outstanding read!

Heartwarming and Intriguing

In his book, At Heaven's Door end of life therapist William J. Peters shares his experiences and examination of SDE, shared death experiences.

As an end-of-life therapist working at a hospice center, he had his own shared death experience while interacting with a patient. He was perplexed and stunned. He began seeking out other people who encountered similar experiences.

Within this book is a heartfelt collection of his inquiries, research, and examination. Meeting people worldwide and finding out shared death experiences isn't as uncommon as we may think.

Mr. Peters is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project. He is highly thought of as the leading expert in shared death experiences.

I favorably recommend this book. What is a shared death experience? Who has them? Have you had one? Come along in Mr. Peter's journey to find out more about this extraordinary phenomenon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.


Author: William J. Peters
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Number of pages: 256
ISBN# 9781982150426

At Heaven's Door by William J Peters was a little different than what I was expecting. However, it was an intriguing read. I am giving three and a half stars.

Shared crossings are not something I had ever heard of before so this was very new, exciting information to me. The numerous stories in this book are amazing and very comforting. The first third of the book contains some very difficult (heartwrenching) ones so please be prepared. If you are open and ready to hear about ‘shared death experiences’ this is truly a wonderful, eye-opening book.

In addition to reading this much appreciated copy from the publisher, I have already ordered and talked about this book to many! We all are here for a finite amount of time and we can not micro manage what happens when we pass and who and how those moments are shared with. It’s a sacred and profound part of our lives. This book is a collection of manh who have had powerful moments with those they love. It’s a book to be read with reverence and awe. Highly recommend!!

Fascinating. Might not be for everyone, but I've always found these types of books incredibly intriguing and thought provoking, at least if you're open minded. Well worth a read.

This intriguing title reflects a fascinating exploration of what is termed “Shared Death Experiences” (SDEs). This is not a book for everyone – it requires a certain level of openness to phenomenon beyond what our physical senses define as reality. Most of those who have had such experiences categorize themselves as “spiritual,” not religious.

The author is a practicing psychotherapist who founded the Shared Crossing Project “…to raise awareness and educate people about the profound and healing experiences available to the dying and their loved ones at the end of life.” This book is a compilation of his research findings – the defining features of SDEs – as well as a wealth of stories illustration his findings.

Death and dying is a topic that engenders mild to severe discomfort for most people in our culture. Even among the medical community, this natural part of the life cycle is not easily embraced. While gains have been made in recognizing certain characteristics of the dying process through individuals who have shared their near death experiences (NDE), little attention has been given to family, friends and caregivers who have shared the death process with another. Indeed, these experiences are so far outside the “norm,” that people have been reluctant to share what they have seen, heard, felt or sensed either at the bedside or remotely. Overall these experiences have provided comfort and often an abiding sense of peace to those who have had them. They reported less fear regarding death and the dying process, a lessening or even elimination of grief and a conviction in a benevolent post-death existence. Very few people felt their SDE was a negative experience; when this occurred they were associated with being dismissed or scorned by others when the experience was shared.

The research reflected in this book began in 2013, but the phenomenon was first reported in 1926! Data was collected through both written reports and interviews. The challenges of gaining recognition for and acceptance of such personal and, what are considered at this time, extraordinary experiences are many. This is very “soft” science and subject to much speculation. As more data comes to light, perhaps more people will be freer to not only witness, but also participate in the dying process with another. Death may always be a mystery, but it may increasingly become an interpersonal experience rather than a solitary event.

The book is divided into thirteen chapters focusing on many aspects of SDEs: glimpsing Heaven; moving into the Light; receiving comfort; becoming a guide; sensing angels; sharing the SDE with others; and preparing for death. I found it helpful to read a chapter or two at a time and then to reflect on the content before re-engaging with the book. The text is clear and well-organized, unfolding smoothly from chapter to chapter. The Appendices provide helpful information for readers who want to pursue the topic in more depth.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Shared death experience is not always talked abut in books but it exists.. It occurs when another person who is with the dying or is close emotionally experiences what the dying person does as they pass from this world. The stories in this book are well written and the subject matter so interesting that it is hard for me to believe I havent really read of it before. Mr Peters book gives many anecdotal stories of the experiences they ahd while their loved one went into the light . SOme saw the same relatives the dying saw and others had stories that are too amazing to be summarized. They ahve to be read, This book is for anyone who is curious about what happens after we pass from this world.

For some, this book will give clarification for the meaning of death -- for those with an open mind.

William J. Peters starts as though you're sitting in a comfortable chair and the therapist asks: "What brings you here?" Well, it's a complex topic about death and dying.

There has been a number of books recently published about near-death experiences but this one takes a different approach. It is from the point of view with a person that is having a profound experience with someone that is dying - someone they know well. It could be a visualization, an out-of-body experience or a sense of knowing that someone has just died. This book presents several back-to-back eye-opening cases in various forms.

I found the most interesting story was from the author with his personal experience with his father's passing. Earlier in his career, he was inspired by Raymond Moody, known for his books on the afterlife and near-death experiences. Peters has followed his research and developments with a group he has created: "Shared Crossing Project" which he now directs. It focuses on the end-of-life process with the person that has experienced an extraordinary moment with someone dying. With his team, he has generated piles of research and cases included his own.

This is not a book for everyone. Many will dismiss it with their religious views. And, no one knows for sure what happens to someone that dies. Yet, the people that have experiences feel like they know some gigantic secret which feels real. Most people believe in some form of the afterlife and most have a difficult time addressing what it means.

I found the stories easy to read and interesting which makes me want to learn more about the research process. It took me awhile to read as I kept pausing to rehash my own experiences. The book will be one of the few resources available for those that have questions about the complexities of death. Peters also provides the reader with the website for "Shared Crossing Project." It includes an expanded version of his bio.

My thanks to William J. Peters, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of January 11, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "At Heaven's Door" and all opinions expressed are my own. Unfortunately, I just could not finish this book. It sounded so interesting when I read the description. It may be just me, I thought I would find some insight since my husband just passed away.