Mary Neal

Mary Neal is an American orthopedic surgeon and author known for her bestselling books about near-death experiences, particularly "To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again." Neal gained prominence after publishing accounts of her near-death experience in 1999, when she was submerged in a kayaking accident in Chile. During this incident, she claims to have experienced spiritual phenomena and interactions with divine beings while clinically dead for approximately 30 minutes. Prior to her writing career, Neal practiced as an orthopedic surgeon in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She received her medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine and completed her surgical residency at the University of Southern California. Beyond her books and medical practice, Neal has appeared on numerous television programs and speaks regularly about her experiences. She has written multiple works on spirituality and near-death experiences, including "7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life."

Readers value Neal's medical background and scientific approach to discussing her near-death experience. Her books draw both believers and skeptics, with most reviews focusing on "To Heaven and Back." Readers appreciate: - Clear, straightforward writing style - Balance of medical expertise with spiritual content - Personal authenticity in describing events - Concrete details about her experience - Practical life lessons derived from her journey Common criticisms: - Too much focus on daily life events - Not enough detail about the spiritual experience - Some readers find her tone clinical - Questions about memory accuracy after trauma Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.7/5 from 4,800+ reviews Goodreads: 4.1/5 from 12,000+ reviews "Her medical background adds credibility," notes one Amazon reviewer. "But I wanted more about heaven itself," counters a Goodreads review. Most critical reviews come from readers expecting more supernatural elements. Positive reviews frequently cite Neal's calm, measured approach to extraordinary events.

To Heaven and Back: A Doctor's Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again (2012) An autobiographical account of Neal's near-death experience after a kayaking accident in Chile, including her medical perspective as an orthopedic surgeon.

7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life (2017) A follow-up book examining the practical life lessons Neal derived from her near-death experience and subsequent spiritual journey.

7 Lessons from Heaven Study Guide: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life (2019) A companion workbook to Neal's second book, containing discussion questions and exercises related to the concepts presented in the main text.

Don Piper Writes about his near-death experience and the spiritual revelations he encountered during 90 minutes in heaven. His accounts share similar themes to Neal's about faith, transformation, and divine encounters.

Betty Eadie Chronicles her near-death experience and spiritual journey in multiple books focused on the afterlife. Her work explores similar themes of divine love and life purpose that Neal discusses.

Eben Alexander A neurosurgeon who documented his near-death experience and subsequent spiritual awakening while in a coma. His medical background provides a scientific perspective on near-death experiences comparable to Neal's medical insights.

Anita Moorjani Describes her near-death experience during a cancer journey and the spiritual understanding she gained. Her work focuses on healing and life transformation themes that parallel Neal's experiences.

Howard Storm Shares his transformation from atheist to Christian following a near-death experience. His books examine the spiritual impact of near-death experiences and faith conversion similar to Neal's work.