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What a brilliant science writer is Daniel Williams. He has written about the complex phenomenon of near-death experiences in layman's terms [Sept. 10]. I had a cardiac arrest in 2003 and was resuscitated by well-trained paramedics. I did not have a near-death experience, just the total blankness of a deep sleep. I believe NDEs are caused by malfunctions of consciousness arising from an oxygen-starved brain. The forms NDEs take are influenced by culture and by religious beliefs. I don't think any non-Christian, for example, would see a tunnel lit by brilliant white light and a Christ-like figure in a white robe.
George Varghese,
Nairne, South Australia

Near-death experiences provoke so much interest because we desperately want to know what is on the other side. From a philosophical and theological standpoint, I would like to suggest that NDEs involve an overwhelming arousal of the imagination, memory and emotions that heightens our capacity to encounter our deep, archetypal humanity. NDEs may very well be a personal encounter with our spirit and even the spirits of our loved ones. NDEs suggest that our spirit is a mysterious force that sustains us through crises and can bedazzle us with experiences we find difficult to explain.
Glen Morrison,
Lecturer in Theology,
University of Notre Dame, Perth

A near death experience is the ultimate fight-or-flight response from a brain experiencing a massive adrenaline rush. This ignites a cascade of neuronal activity, producing a sound-and-light show of our past experiences. As these energy waves subside, time appears to be stretched, allowing a longer than expected experience of this vivid imagery.
Gajinder Oberoi,
Hobart

Your article on NDEs was a sober yet uplifting account of these very important experiences. I have been concerned by lay portrayals that misuse neuroscience and give false scientific hope despite ample room for spirituality. You brought in highly divergent views and struck a reasoned balance between what science knows, what it might know and what it doesn't know — a difficult task indeed.
Kevin R. Nelson, M.D., Professor of Neurology,
University of Kentucky,
Lexington, Kentucky

Embracing the Silver Strands
Thanks to Anne Kreamer and TIME for the article on whether women should color their hair [Sept. 10]. I'm 57 and started dyeing my hair in my mid-30s. When I turned 50, I decided that since I'd been a grandma from age 39, it was time I looked like one. Coloring your hair is a pain in the arse, as the Irish say. Your roots grow out in a week or two, and you have to touch them up or look like a skunk. Surely women have become liberated enough to do what they want. But if they decide to fake it, they should use a lighter dye to make it look more natural.
Lisa Singer-Hamilton,
Cincinnati, Ohio

I am 38 years old, and I don't understand what the big deal is over going gray. I've been getting steadily balder since I hit 30, and my remaining hair is becoming gray. When I was growing up, my father made and serviced toupees. I thought they were ugly and reflected the wearer's insecurity. I feel the same way about hair dye for men and women. Being who you are rather than putting up some kind of façade shows much stronger character. By all means, dress well, and stay healthy and fit. But dyeing your hair is right up there with dressing like a teenager when you are 40. For those who claim it's different for women, I respectfully reply that it shouldn't be — and perpetuating the supposed difference won't help.
Steve Rummel,
Chicago

I read "The Gray Wars" with smug amusement. When my glorious mane of auburn hair started turning gray more than 15 years ago, I tried to maintain it artificially and was mortified by the black and purple results. I had it hacked off, and that was the end of the bottle for me. Today I am 51, long divorced, gray-haired and chunky, but I'm still very sexually active. I work out, ride a motorcycle and travel extensively. My life is good because I make it good. Boomers need to realize that if we fulfill our life expectancy, we will be gray much longer than we were brunet, blond or auburn. Embrace the silver. People will choose to be around you if you are adventurous and love life. You can't buy that kind of happiness in a bottle.
Kathy Pippin,
Cookeville, Tennessee

Like most of the women in my family, I grayed very young — the white hairs at my temples appeared in my 20s. I rushed for the dye bottle and dutifully touched up my roots for the next 20 years. Three years ago, at the age of 40, I simply got tired of it and stopped. I hadn't seen my real color for two decades and wondered what I was in for. I was delighted to see an interesting salt-and-pepper mix with a few pure white streaks around my face, which I call nature's highlights. I think it's sexy, and I'm blessed with a husband who thinks so too. It's not hair color that earns you respect; it's belief in yourself.
Violet Forsyth,
Lawrence, Kansas

Mending Limbs and Lives
I enjoyed reading about the prosthetics designed to help amputee animals keep moving [Sept. 3]. This article implies that work with animal prosthetics exceeds advances in human ones. As an 82-year-old amputee, I've witnessed fantastic advances in prosthetic design. My current artificial leg uses electromagnetics and scanning to fit the specific contours of my stump. Prosthetics specialists are to be commended for the time, analysis and effort they put into getting each patient moving effectively — and for realizing that no two patients have exactly the same needs.
Bing Grindle,
Roanoke, Virginia

Strength Through Suffering
David Van Biema's article on Mother Teresa was a spiritual meditation in itself [Sept. 3]. His insights and parallels with other mystics of the church, especially John of the Cross, come through effortlessly. As for Mother Teresa, she took a vow of poverty, in her case manifested as spiritual poverty. She demonstrated that our greatest crosses turn into our greatest strengths.
Tom Prendeville,
Dublin

The face of Mother Teresa on your cover said it all. It revealed that what she wrote about the darkness in her soul for almost 50 years was the truth. Thank you for giving us the outstanding portrait of that much admired, mysterious nun. The sadness of the whole world seemed mirrored in those eyes.
Father Albert Herold,
Order of Saint Benedict,
Mtunzini, South Africa

More True Romance
Perhaps Belinda Luscombe needs to expand her parameters a bit on what is considered a "romantic movie" before declaring the genre a lost art [Sept. 10]. In 2005 an acclaimed and beloved film was released detailing a heartbreaking love story. It earned $170 million worldwide, was nominated for eight Oscars and won three. That film was Brokeback Mountain. I was surprised that neither it nor The Notebook rated a mention, as those films are the two highest-grossing romantic dramas of the past several years.
Dean Backus,
Hillsboro, Oregon