Alex Malarkey is known for his controversial claims about a near-death experience he described in the book The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven. Published in 2010, the book details his alleged journey to heaven after a car accident when he was six years old. It gained significant attention and was marketed as a true story of faith and healing. In 2015, Alex publicly recanted his story, stating that he fabricated the account and that it was not a true representation of his experiences. This admission sparked discussions about the authenticity of near-death experiences and the impact of such narratives on readers and the Christian community.