The Scientific and Medical Network (SMN) has honored The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near-Death Experiences with its coveted 2024 Network Book Prize. The UK-based organization presents this annual honor to the most impactful book published by an SMN member within the year.
The Self Does Not Die presents compelling research-backed evidence that consciousness is not a product of the brain. The book, published by IANDS in 2023, presents 128 carefully documented near-death experiences (NDEs). Each NDE is verified by medical professionals and other independent witnesses. And it’s an important work that challenges conventional views of consciousness and reality.
This acclaimed work was co-authored by Titus Rivas (a member of the IANDS Advisory Board), Anny Dirven, and Rudolf Smit. The publication was guided by Robert Mays, Chairman of the IANDS Publication Committee, who served as project manager throughout its development.
The SMN Book Prize, awarded annually since 1993, celebrates influential writing that bridges science, medicine, and spirituality. The Self Does Not Die qualified for the prize through Smit’s membership in the Network.
Critics have praised the book for its rigorous analysis and paradigm-challenging research. Reviewers and scholars alike have noted its value in expanding scientific discourse around near-death phenomena and nonlocal consciousness.
‘The Self Does Not Die’ Joins Another Important Work from an IANDS Advisory Board Member
The Self Does Not Die is now the second book by an IANDS Advisory Board member to receive the SMN Book Prize. Renowned cardiologist Dr. Pim van Lommel earned the prize in 2010 for his seminal work, Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of Near-Death Experience.
Van Lommel also holds honorary status with SMN, a distinction shared with luminaries such as Jane Goodall, Sir Roger Penrose, Jean Houston, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
This latest recognition underscores IANDS’ continued role in advancing credible, research-based exploration of NDEs and consciousness studies. It also highlights the growing respect these topics now command in academic, medical, and scientific communities worldwide.
