Sebastian Junger, an acclaimed author and war correspondent known for *The Perfect Storm* and *War*, shares his profound near-death experience caused by an aneurysm. He discusses visions of his deceased father and explores the implications of near-death experiences on our understanding of life and reality. Junger contrasts his rational upbringing with his experiences of derealization and telepathy during these critical moments. His insights challenge conventional views on mortality and invite reflection on the mysteries of existence.
42:32
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Junger's Near-Death Experience
Sebastian Junger felt sudden abdominal pain while talking to his wife.
This was later diagnosed as a ruptured pancreatic artery aneurysm.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Vision of Deceased Father
While in the ER, Junger saw his deceased father above him.
His father seemed to beckon him towards a dark pit below, but Junger resisted.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Premonitory Dream
Junger had a vivid dream of being dead and unable to communicate with his family.
This dream occurred two days before his near-death experience.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, Dr. Eben Alexander describes his near-death experience (NDE) while suffering from a rare case of bacterial meningitis. During his seven-day coma, Alexander claims to have journeyed beyond this world, encountering an angelic being and the Divine source of the universe. His experience transformed his views on life, philosophy, medicine, and the existence of God and the soul. The book details his medical recovery as a miracle and explores the implications of his NDE on his understanding of consciousness and the afterlife. Despite scientific criticism, Alexander's story has been widely read and discussed, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of science and spirituality.
In My Time of Dying
Sebastian Junger
Sebastian Junger's "In My Time of Dying" delves into his near-death experience, exploring themes of mortality, consciousness, and the possibility of an afterlife. The book recounts Junger's personal journey of facing his own mortality after a near-fatal aneurysm. He interweaves his personal narrative with extensive research on near-death experiences, examining various scientific and philosophical perspectives. Junger challenges conventional understandings of death and consciousness, prompting readers to contemplate the nature of existence beyond the physical realm. The book concludes with a thoughtful reflection on the profound impact of his experience and the enduring questions it raises.
Sebastian is an author, journalist, and war correspondent. He’s been a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, and his debut documentary, Restrepo, was nominated for an Oscar. He’s the author of many bestsellers, including The Perfect Storm, War, Tribe, and Freedom. His latest: In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife. It’s a fascinating account of his own brush with death — and how it changed his understanding of the universe and its mysteries.
A brilliant writer and indefatigable reporter, he’s also a Cape Cod neighbor. For two clips of our convo — the universal features of near-death experiences, and the mysteries of quantum physics — see our YouTube page.
Other topics: growing up near Boston; his New Age mom and physicist dad; becoming a war correspondent and witnessing death; losing his photojournalist friend Tim Hetherington; Sebastian’s atheism and rationalism; his vivid account of nearly dying from an aneurysm in the woods of Cape Cod; the novel way a doctor saved him at the last second; visions of his dead father beckoning him to the other side; his vivid dreams over the following months; the “derealization” of believing you’re dead; how NDEs defy natural selection; the telepathy of some NDEs; how centrifuges can reproduce NDEs; the disciples’ visions of Jesus after death; the book Proof of Heaven; the Big Bang; consciousness; panpsychism; stories vs. explanations — and why humans need both; Dostoevsky and his mock execution; how NDEs are similar to psychedelics; Michael Pollan; Pascal; Larkin’s “Aubade”; and the last trimester of life.
Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Jon Rauch on the tribalism of white evangelicals, Ross Douthat on the supernatural, Evan Wolfson on the history of marriage equality, Yoni Appelbaum on how America stopped building things, Chris Caldwell on political upheaval in Europe, Nick Denton on the evolution of new media, and the great and powerful Mike White, of White Lotus fame. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.
The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan 
