True to its subtitle of ‘a short history of immortality’, this is a remarkable, erudite and even-handed treatment of the theme by an emeritus professor of archaeology and museology. The book is divided into four parts: bodily resurrection and the immortal soul, transmigration and transformation, longevity and legacy, and reflections on immortality. The author’s experience with indigenous peoples impressed on him ‘the limitations of a theoretical scientific perspective that dismisses such experiences as “constructs” that cannot be supported by objective evidence.’ Instead, his approach takes into account the impact of worldviews, cultural norms, goals and values on how the afterlife and immortality are regarded. The overall coverage is exceptionally wide-ranging, drawing on many classic studies with which I was familiar from my own research (though my own books and notably those of SGF Brandon do not feature in the bibliography). The chapter on journeys to heaven and hell covers many different cultures as well as the experiences of Swedenborg, comparing these to modern near-death experiences. The next part takes us on a journey through various cultural views on reincarnation, including its heretical appearance in Christianity, then the treatment moves on to indigenous traditions where death is transformation. The focus then turns to the search for an everlasting body, culminating in cryonics, but without mentioning the transhumanistic vision of uploading the contents of consciousness into cyberspace. Immortality of name comes next as a rather different meaning in terms of legacy and fame. There is then an excellent chapter on science and philosophy versus immortality, going through the various arguments against resurrection, the soul, reincarnation and animism, along with rejoinders. The sceptic Paul Edwards uses ‘circular arguments that presuppose materialism to be self-evidently true’, a structure of logic going back to David Hume involving accusing serious researchers like Ian Stevenson of intentional or unintentional deception. However, scientific materialism is equally subjected to scrutiny, and the discussion here would have been illuminated by William James’s distinction between different types of relationship between brain and consciousness in terms of productive/ emissive, transmissive and permissive – the books discussing filter theory in most detail – Irreducible Mind and Beyond Physicalism are conspicuously absent from the bibliography. The important point made by the author, though, is that there is no conclusive proof for any particular view, including the materialist scientific view. He further argues that rationality is present in views dismissed by materialists as irrational and unintelligible, since ‘they are all grounded in perfectly legitimate metaphysical philosophies about the nature of reality and how the world might work.’ He rightly highlights that the key issue is that psychic and transcendent experiences ‘do not fit into the materialist framework, which is only one of several possible worldviews’ – there is no unbiased standpoint without presuppositions from which one can arrive at an impartial view. Hence, he writes that the question of immortality ‘is not a clash of evidence, but of worldviews and their interpretation.’ (p. 284) We must resist the temptation of dogmatically universalising of our assumptions, as is the case with the ideology of scientism. We necessarily have to live with uncertainty and probability and at death, as CD Broad put it, wait and see or, equally likely for him, wait and not see. ~ David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer

Why read this book? One reason, as the author suggests, is because the reality is that the pursuit of immortality of one kind or another is an element in many cultures and religions. It is clearly of great significance to some individuals and looms large in myth, legend and literature. Our attitude to death and immortality says much about our values and how we treat others with different perspectives, and about the worldviews that fuel those attitudes. He gives a comprehensive base of information against which to evaluate, maybe question, our own opinions on this subject. ~ Progressive Voices , Review

The search for immortality is ages old — but would you really want to live forever? Perhaps it’s no coincidence that ideas and considerations of immortality arose initially towards the end of the Axial Age, approximately 800–300BCE, as the teachings of the great sages of that time, who included Buddha, Confucius, Socrates and Lao Tzu, were starting to be assimilated.... Now the eminent archaeologist Piotr Bienkowski, in his latest exemplary work, Where Airy Voices Lead: A short history of Immortality, engages authoritatively with the meaning and significance of the universal theme of immortality as it has coursed through human society from the ancient world down to the present day. I found it a deeply absorbing book, scholarly but easily accessible, impressive in its global range, finely attuned to the metaphysics of its subject matter, and convincing in its concluding argument that beliefs in an afterlife reflect the values of a particular society where the attitude towards immortality is governed by ethical choice. In short, I recommended it highly....... https://medium.com/@geoffjward/the-search-for-immortality-is-ages-old-but-would-you-really-want-to-live-forever-599fffa28145 ~ Geoff Ward, Medium.Com

Many readers will be surprised by the fact that a good number of widespread cultures who oppose each other on many issues have similar views on immortality. The author addresses this surprising fact and offers possible explanations. Not only is the book a serious, elucidating discussion of immortality, but it is also a great resource for readers who wish to extend their quest for more information on the topic. Bienkowski includes notes, a bibliography, an index, and a list of resources for further reading, thus creating a valuable resource, the perfect starting place for readers. Readers interested in the question of immortality, for or against, will find Where Airy Voices to be an integral element in their search for knowledge. It is recommended that all readers make sure to have a highlighter handy when they begin reading. It will be needed. ~ rougeskireads.com, Review

Where Airy Voices Lead is impressively global in scope, yet exceedingly nuanced in its appraisal and strikingly dispassionate in tone. Bienkowski’s history demonstrates that any culture’s afterlife beliefs reflect the values of that society. He challenges the reader by arguing that, although none of these types of immortality can be proved, equally none can be dismissed and are deserving of respect and investigation. He concludes that our attitude toward immortality is an ethical choice. ~ Brian Schmidt, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Mediterranean West Asian Cultures, The University of Michigan, author of Israel's Beneficent Dead

The best book currently available on the meaning of immortality and its interpreters through the ages. Learned, wide-ranging and wise, this is essential reading for the Hamlets among us! ~ Geoffrey Scarre, Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Durham University