I was with Eben Alexander the first time he told his story in public, long before he wrote the book. It was not a profound experience in comparison to many near death experiences. It also changed as I have heard it many times.
His experience was no proof of heaven. I know Eben and we have many mutual friends, including his wife’s friend that he claims to have seen during his experience.
I do read souls and have for many years. I can tell if a person’s story has merit or not by the feeling of emotion attached to the stored memory they retrieve when they tell their story. There are very unique attributes associated with a true near death experience. For example, if a person meets Jesus or a Divine Being(angelic), the profound Love is unmistakable. It comes back full blast every time you think of the experience.
The soul is separate from the physical body, but not in the way these people describe. Jesus described it correctly.
Most of the folks are not ready for that. Nor reincarnation either.
It is not difficult to believe that Dr Alexander, who is apparently a brilliant but strongly conflicted man, had a life-altering experience when he became severely ill and was out into a coma. That sort of thing would shake anyone. But it seems he may have begun to exaggerate and embellish his experience, adding details as time passed and the experience became more remote. To some extent we all do this. His financial problems may have spurred him to capitalize on his memories, and to make a book out of a neurological event requires a bit of padding. For me the tip-off is that the scenes and experiences he describes are not consistent with what others who have had near-death experiences relate. Different souls have slightly different scenarios but this one is anomalous and disturbing. As you note, the joy and peace and love that are the gift of a real encounter with Jesus are not apparent in him.
He seems like a very troubled man, and I hope he will come to Christ before he really dies.