My Sunday Book Review is for David Kessler’s – Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms – Who and What You See Before You Die. Kessler has co-authored books with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross who wrote about death, dying, and grief, most notably – On Death and Dying, where she talks about the five stages the dying go through. And in this book, Kessler shares his experiences with the dying, discussing what they see and experience as they near death.
It’s no surprise how this book grabbed my attention because I was curious to learn what others have witnessed with their dying loved ones, and an important read to aid in the grief book I’m currently writing. I too have personally witnessed my husband specifically, waking in the middle of night and raising his hands in the air as he called out his dead daughter’s name, five days before he left this earth. I knew then he was nearing the end. And it wasn’t the first time I’d witnessed the act.
Blurb:
David Kessler, one of the most renowned experts on death and grief, takes on three uniquely shared experiences that challenge our ability to explain and fully understand the mystery of our final days. The first is “visions.” As the dying lose sight of this world, some people appear to be looking into the world to come.
The second shared experience is getting ready for a “trip.” The phenomenon of preparing oneself for a journey isn’t new or unusual. In fact, during our loved ones’ last hours, they may often think of their impending death as a transition or journey. These trips may seem to us to be all about leaving, but for the dying, they may be more about arriving.
Finally, the third phenomenon is “crowded rooms.” The dying often talk about seeing a room full of people, as they constantly repeat the word crowded. In truth, we never die alone. Just as loving hands greeted us when we were born, so will loving arms embrace us when we die. In the tapestry of life and death, we may begin to see connections to the past that we missed in life.
While death may look like a loss to the living, the last hours of a dying person may be filled with fullness rather than emptiness. In this fascinating book, which includes a new Afterword, Kessler brings us stunning stories from the bedsides of the dying that will educate, enlighten, and comfort us all.
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My 5 Star Review:
What happens in the final moments, hours, even days in a life approaching death? Kessler has worked with hospice and the dying and crime scenes. In this book he shares his experiences with the dying, as well as testimonies from the medical professionals and loved ones who’ve witnessed the phenomenon of the dying, sharing their first-hand accounts about death-bed visions.
As one who has experienced these visions myself, I was compelled to read this book. Kessler says that enough people would rather not talk about the things they’ve witnessed, but he’s gathered a few who were willing to share.
Kessler begins with his own telling of his childhood, losing his mother at a young age and then witnessing the dying of his father sharing that his mother came to visit him the night before he died. He continues by sharing that his father was in a depressed state and hadn’t spoken for days until he had ‘the visit’, and then he died.
Kessler says this book is about hope because ‘the end’ isn’t just about meds and machines keeping one alive, but the beautiful parts about dying. The visits, the transition, and the crowded rooms that many in their last hours see are the experiences we will learn about in this book. Kessler encourages the grievers to speak openly about what they’ve witnessed without fear because it adds to the perspective of death.
“Life ends, but love is eternal.” Truest words.
This book will bring up many commonalities witnessed of the dying. All of which I have personally witnessed more than once myself. From conversations between the dying and the dead, to out of the blue, hands reaching up high as though opening arms to someone and calling their names, there is scientifically no proof, yet there are an awful lot of people, just as myself who’ve witnessed these happenings.
The veil is thin for those soon to be on their next journey from this life, and perhaps that’s why only the dying can hear and see the dead, while loved ones sit with them in awe of what they are witnessing, yet unable to see into the next world as the dying can. We don’t see what they see, merely just their responses and words.
Death-bed visions are often witnessed by remaining loved ones. While some choose not to admit what they saw and others are in awe at some of what they’ve witnessed, the fact is it is part of the transition. Of course there is no scientific proof, just spiritual proof, and for the many who’ve witnessed these happenings.
©DGKaye2025
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