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987 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
987 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
This is possibly the only religious book I will ever give 5 stars too. Normally I am annoyed by preachy things and skip over bible verses. But I eagerly ate them up to see for myself that this kids experiences matched details. I still have my doubts, but this story gives me hope. Every one should read this book.
I tore through this book in less than two days. One of our favorite passages in the Bible is when Jesus talks about having a childlike faith, the innocence of children, etc. That sentiment is very apparent in this story. I was nearly brought to tears on several occasions. Colton's story fills my heart with hope and joy, and I recommend it to anyone who is in need of comfort.
I believe this story happened as described and that the author is sincere in his storytelling, but I was disappointed with the simplistic writing style of the author. He is not an author by vocation, but his publisher would have done him a great service to have a co-writer on this book.
Oh wait--did I read this book already? No, that was "Proof of Heaven." Both of these books are disappointing to me. Why?
I want to believe that if there is an afterlife, that it is undescribable--that people who have a near-death experience would come back and say, "I could not even tell you what it was like because what it is like is nothing like what exists on earth."
I held off as long as possible not reading it until the chance to listen on audiobook for free on a long car trip found me. OK, I'll give it a shot...
I started out really liking Todd Burpo and his wife. They seem so nice! They meet playing softball! They have a really nice shared childcare/worklife. They're broke but they just pray about it instead of saying, "Whose idea was it to operate a garage door company as our main source of income??" When their kids get a 48-hour stomach bug, they don't scream at each other, "Don't you think we should take the kids to the ER already?" or "It's your turn to hold the towel!" or "I told you we should not have gone on this trip!"
And that's the problem--this book is ghostwritten. Even Colton seems not like a real boy, but a boy void of anything that would make him unlikable--or real.
Do I really want to go to a heaven where I have to fight dragons with swords? And I am really troubled by Colton's meeting his miscarried sister--if life begins at conception (I'm just making the assumption that their church believes so) then wouldn't we meet all of our unborn siblings, many of whom our parents wouldn't even know about? Why would we meet older people who look to be in their mid-twenties? And then why would the kids look like kids? Is there an age cut-off?
I give two stars for the description of hometown Nebraska life where you don't mind driving an hour to Wal-Mart, and everyone is nice. And patient. And gullible. And I don't necessarily think Todd Burpo and Colton made all of this up--they may really believe that's what Colton saw and that that what's heaven looks like. I also like the audio guys pleasant mid-Western voice. Only if you're really bored.
I want to believe that if there is an afterlife, that it is undescribable--that people who have a near-death experience would come back and say, "I could not even tell you what it was like because what it is like is nothing like what exists on earth."
I held off as long as possible not reading it until the chance to listen on audiobook for free on a long car trip found me. OK, I'll give it a shot...
I started out really liking Todd Burpo and his wife. They seem so nice! They meet playing softball! They have a really nice shared childcare/worklife. They're broke but they just pray about it instead of saying, "Whose idea was it to operate a garage door company as our main source of income??" When their kids get a 48-hour stomach bug, they don't scream at each other, "Don't you think we should take the kids to the ER already?" or "It's your turn to hold the towel!" or "I told you we should not have gone on this trip!"
And that's the problem--this book is ghostwritten. Even Colton seems not like a real boy, but a boy void of anything that would make him unlikable--or real.
Do I really want to go to a heaven where I have to fight dragons with swords? And I am really troubled by Colton's meeting his miscarried sister--if life begins at conception (I'm just making the assumption that their church believes so) then wouldn't we meet all of our unborn siblings, many of whom our parents wouldn't even know about? Why would we meet older people who look to be in their mid-twenties? And then why would the kids look like kids? Is there an age cut-off?
I give two stars for the description of hometown Nebraska life where you don't mind driving an hour to Wal-Mart, and everyone is nice. And patient. And gullible. And I don't necessarily think Todd Burpo and Colton made all of this up--they may really believe that's what Colton saw and that that what's heaven looks like. I also like the audio guys pleasant mid-Western voice. Only if you're really bored.
I don't really know how to "rate" this, or how to even discuss it. I don't think it was particularly well-written, and, viewed from a certain angle, it was borderline creepy. But well-intentioned and reverent, and I don't know how the material could have been handled any differently.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." ~ St. Thomas Aquinas
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." ~ St. Thomas Aquinas
It was a very sweet book about innocent faith. It was a quick read but I enjoyed it a lot. This book helps restore a lot of things in my my about my own faith and I am sure it has helped and will continue to help many people. Great book.
A very short easy read. The little boys story travels along and is highly relatable. I could have done without the parents reasoning behind writing the book and instead just heard from people along the way and ended with a grown up Colton. I don't know if the story is true, but it does lend itself to believability in some aspects like the portrait of Jesus. Not the best written book ever, but it is tender and honest. The parts where he talks about what it feels like to hear the story retold and the grittiness of feeling pain for someone you love who is ill or dying are my favorite. These feel authentic. A comforting read recommended by a friend. Enjoy and God Bless!
This book has circulated though the majority of my family. I was excited to read it and was astounded by what an impact it had on me. The simple writing and childlike descriptions provided though the book truly take you to a place that few books can take you...back to a childhood innocence and view of the world. Colton Burpo and his accounts of going to heaven and meeting God give readers a stronger hold on faith. The book made me laugh and made me cry. But ultimately it made me realize what was important in my life and how I could better strengthen my own faith.