Enoch Burke

The publisher allegedly wanted honest reviews for this book so they ran a giveaway on LibraryThing. I was interested to read on the topic so I entered and I won. Although my address is automatically sent to publishers when I win, they requested my address again and asked to make sure I would give an honest review. I said I would and waited. Then they sent another email asking about my religious beliefs, which is not a part of the giveaway and was not mentioned as a stipulation. So right there red flags went up. Now, months later, no book. I guess my refusal to share my beliefs with them disqualified me from reading the book. In other words, they don't want honest reviews, they want tailored reviews to their own belief system.

Be warned, if a publisher is unethical in how they seek reviews (the LibraryThing giveaways make clear that if a reader wins the giveaway they are to receive the book, but this publisher has no qualms about disregarding the rules put in place on that site, thus unethical at best) and refuses to honor their agreement (again, the LibraryThing giveaway agreement and, by extension, the agreement with winners of the giveaway), then they must be either ashamed of their book or they want to skew reviews by screening who reviews it. If they want to screen reviewers then try being honest about it and don't run a giveaway on an open site and just distribute copies to friends, family, and selected like-minded people.

Judging by the reviews that have been posted, apparently by people who at least admit to having the same belief system, this book is both theologically suspect and lacking in any type of sound argument. Maybe I should thank them for not sending a copy, I tend to be too fair sometimes and might not have been as harsh as the other reviewers have been.

So, again, beware of both this publisher and this book. They are unethical and dishonest under the guise of seeking "fairness."… (mais)

I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Having read it I can honestly say it has provoked considerable discussion.

However, this was not positive discussion. There is a significant difference between theological disagreement and ad hominem attack. This book is largely the second. To list as one of the reasons why someone is a heretic that their son has a tattoo is ridiculous and offensive and this is just one of many, many attacks.

I was left with a sense of real sadness at the smallness of the author's God. How hard it must be to be under the yoke of a God so cruel as the one shown here.

Usually I give my unwanted books to a charity shop. This one is going in the bin. I don't want someone else to pick it up and be left with the negative understanding of God shown in it.

During the reading of this book I counted all the ways I am apparently a heretic. Each time I came across one I felt closer to God. That's a very sad indictment of this books contents… (mais)