William James (1842–1910) was an American psychologist, philosopher, and one of the leading thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often regarded as the father of American psychology, he was instrumental in developing the philosophical school of pragmatism and was a pioneer in functional psychology. His influential works, including The Principles of Psychology and The Varieties of Religious Experience, explored consciousness, free will, and the psychology of religion. James emphasized the practical consequences of belief and the fluid nature of human experience. His ideas continue to shape modern psychology, philosophy, and the study of religion.
About the editor:
Gregory Shushan, PhD, is the leading authority on near-death experiences and the afterlife across cultures and throughout history. He is the author of The Next World: Extraordinary Experiences of the Afterlife, Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions, and Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations. Currently Visiting Fellow at University of Winchester, and Research Fellow at the Parapsychology Foundation, Dr. Shushan was previously Honorary Research Fellow at the Religious Experience Research Centre at University of Wales, Perrott-Warrick Researcher at University of Oxford’s Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, and Scholar-in Residence at the Centro Incontri Umani (The Cross Cultural Centre), Ascona, Switzerland. He has lectured at universities in the UK, Ireland, and Switzerland and has given numerous talks on his research in nine countries.
“The Parapsychology Association Book Committee has elected Gregory’s book, Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions, for the PA Book Award. This Award recognizes books in the field of parapsychology that make significant contributions to science and to the cultural conversation about the implications of parapsychology.”
