One Sentence Summary
To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story by Mary C. Neal is a spiritual and religious memoir about a doctor’s near-death experience and journey through the afterlife.
Book Genre
Memoir, spiritual and religion.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of the book is a spiritual journey and a personal account of spiritual discovery and faith in God. The book describes the author’s experience of the afterlife, including her encounter with angels, a glimpse of Heaven, and how she returned to life with an expanded faith.
Key Ideas
- Near-Death Experience – The book gives a vivid account of the author’s near-death experience and her passage through the afterlife.
- An Unshakable Faith – Despite her challenges, Mary maintained her faith in God and recognized Him as the source of her strength.
- Life-Changing Experience – Through her story, Mary shows how the power of faith can change a life.
- Belief in Angels – The author narrates several occasions where angels saved her life and guided her through her journey.
- Heavenly Experiences – Mary shares her experience of Heaven and the beauty of the afterlife that she could never forget.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- First Part – The first part of the book gives an account of Mary’s near-death experience and her journey through the afterlife, including her encounters with angels and her trip to Heaven.
- Second Part – In the second part of the book, Marry recounts how her life was changed by the spiritual revelations of her near-death experience, and how it gave her strength and hope in difficult moments.
- Third Part – In the third part, Mary seeks to provide advice to others on how to find meaning and purpose in their lives by embracing faith in God.
Key Takeaways
- Near-death experiences can be powerful life-changing events.
- An unwavering faith in God can give strength and hope in difficult times.
- Angels are with us in times of need.
- Heaven is a beautiful place, filled with love and light.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Mary C. Neal, MD is an orthopedic spine surgeon and author. She has written three books based on her personal and spiritual journey. She has worked as an administrator in metaphysical organizations and is currently a leader in the spiritual growth and research field.
Target Audience
This book is aimed at those who are interested in spirituality, spirituality seekers, near-death experiencers, and those searching for answers to their spiritual questions.
Publisher and First Publication Date
To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again: A True Story was published by WaterBrook, first published in 2009.