We recommend for first-time readers of Dr. Ian Stevenson the two books he wrote for the layperson: Children Who Remember, and Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect, plus the new book about Stevenson, Old Souls: The Scientific Search for Proof of Past Lives. We list his other books for serious students of the paranormal or reincarnation who want to get as close as possible to the source of this incredible body of work.
Clicking on the book title will link you directly to Amazon.com where you can order.
A special page of links to Stevenson articles and cases.
(Return to the Ian Stevenson gateway page for more information.)
(Go to the Library for more articles on Children's Past Lives.)
For the Beginner ddd
Old Souls: Compelling Evidence from Children Who Remember Past Lives Tom Shroder
This book is not by Ian Stevenson, but it's the only book written about him. Tom Shroder follows Dr. Stevenson on some of his research expeditions to India and Lebenon and documents the adventures of the legendary past life researcher in search of evidence. It also discusses Stevenson's struggle to be accepted by the mainstream medical and scientific community.
This is a very readable, entertaining book--an easy introduction to Stevenson's work and ideas (despite some flaws). But it is not a substitute for reading at least some of Stevenson’s own books.
ddd
Children Who Remember Previous Lives: A Question of Reincarnation
This is the most accessible of Stevenson's writing. It summarizes his research findings, gives a sample of cases, and showcases Stevenson's main ideas and theories about the phenomenon of children's past life memories. If you want to discover what Ian Stevenson's work is all about, but only want to read one book, read this. Also available by mail from the University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; 804-924-3468. www Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect
A summary of Stevenson's much larger two volume magnum opus, Reincarnation and Biology (see below) which presents more than two hundred solved cases that included birthmarks or birth defects. In each case the child was born with a physical mark or deformity that corresponded closely to a wound, often fatal, or scar on the body of the deceased person the child remembers being. See the birthmarks article posted here for a sample of this kind of case. Birthmarks are physical evidence of reincarnation that can't be dismissed! This book is in paperback and affordable.
For Serious Students of Reincarnation: eee
Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation: Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged The seminal work on children's spontaneous past life memories, and essential reading for anyone seriously interested in research of this phenomenon. These are full-blown cases, not summaries, and the best way to get a taste of Stevenson's full methodology and detailed reporting.
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Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects Volume 1: Birthmarks*
More than two hundred solved cases that included birthmarks or birth defects. In each case the child was born with a physical mark or deformity that corresponded closely to a wound, often fatal, or scar on the body of the deceased person the child remembers being. See the birthmarks article posted here for a sample of this kind of case.
This two-volume set has 2265 [no, that's not a typo] small-print pages of mind-numbing detail, exhaustive argument, charts, and graphic photographs--including some from autopsy reports. This is not light reading (and not cheap)! But it is the real stuff, the closest you'll get to reading Stevenson's actual research files. With these volumes Stevenson makes it much harder for critics to argue that this phenomenon isn't real.
*(etiology means "concerned with the causes and origins of disease")
baa European Cases of the Reincarnation Type
One of Dr. Stevenson's most recent books (the guys well over 80 and still producing these revolutionary tomes). Some of the cases are not as strong as the Asian ones, but it does show that the phenomenon occurs in every part of the World.
More raw cases, some of which are summarized in Children Who Remember Previous Lives.
Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume I: Ten Cases in India. University Press of Virginia, 1975.
Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume II: Ten Cases in Sri Lanka. University Press of Virginia, 1978.
Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume III: Twelve Cases in Lebanon and Turkey. University Press of Virginia, 1980.
Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume IV: Twelve Cases in Thailand and Burma. University Press of Virginia, 1983.
If any of these books become hard to get through Amazon, they can be ordered directly from the University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA; 804-924-3468.