Pocket Guide to the Afterlife: Heaven, Hell, and Other Ultimate Destinations

"Fearless, deep, and snarky. And did I mention funny? Oh my goodness this guy is funny."
Dean Nelson, author, God Hides in Plain Sight, and director, Writer′s Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma

Where do we go when we die? Will we have personal chats with God on fluffy clouds? What are the odds I will be devoured by a demon? Life′s deepest mysteries question what happens when life is over.

With Pocket Guide to the Afterlife, Jason Boyett becomes your tour guide to the Great Beyond. From the profound to the profane, from the light at the end of the tunnel to your ascension to the celestial void, here′s everything you need to know this side of the everlasting Unknown, including

What to expect upon arrival in destinations like Heaven, Purgatory, and the Chinvat Bridge

Whether your understanding of the Christian Hell comes from the Bible or from an Italian poet

Which dream scenarios you′ll want to avoid because they predict your impending demise

Why defibrillators are so important when it comes to having near–death experiences

Pondering your eventual demise has never been so much fun.

Introduction.

Chapter 1: The Cosmic Lexicon (A Glossary of the Hereafter).

Chapter 2: Great Moments in Eternity, Part 1 (A Timeline: 2000 B.C.E. to 1563).

Chapter 3: Great Moments in Eternity, Part 2 (A Timeline: 1743 to Present Day).

Chapter 4: Geography of the Beyond (Where You Might Go).

Chapter 5: The Bible on Heaven (A Scriptural Tour of Glory).

Chapter 6: The Bible on Hell (A Holy Trek Through the Fiery Pit).

Chapter 7: The Afterlists (Cataloging Kingdom Come).

Selected Bibliography.

The Author.

Jason Boyett is not a professional theologian or historian but that hasn′t stopped him from writing this book. His work has appeared in a variety of publications as well as on his blog (www.jasonboyett.com). He lives in Texas with his wife and children.
The Pocket Guide Series explains complex religious subjects with a lethal dose of educational hilarity, guided by the author′s insatiable curiosity, humor, and gentle irreverence. The Pocket Guide series includes Pocket Guide to Sainthood, Pocket Guide to the Bible, and this book. Discover more at www.pocketguidesite.com.

Who says death can′t be funny? Boyett, the author of two other Pocket Guides ( to Sainthood and to the Bible), has a gift for irreverent, humorous prose that is also quite informative. This guide is a hodge–podge mix of factoids, kitsch and jokes about what various religions teach regarding what happens after we die. The author covers a wide swath of material, from Mayan and Aztec religions to the invention of the defibrillator and its connection to increased near–death experiences. Boyett also takes a walk through the Bible to highlight what it states about heaven and hell and who is likely to end up in each. The Lettermanesque Afterlists are quite amusing such as 18 symbols of death throughout the ages and 11 highly attractive synonyms for heaven. The author should be commended for the user–friendly layout and for laboring to explicate non–Western religious traditions to a largely Western audience. Here′s hoping this pocket guide series does not die off anytime soon. (Aug.) ( Publishers Weekly, June 8, 2009)