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983 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
983 reviews for:
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo
3.66 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
slow-paced
I didn’t really know what to make of this book. I appreciated the author’s willingness to be transparent about his family’s experiences. But I have many questions. I wonder how much the author’s vocation (pastor) influenced the trajectory of his son’s story. I don’t feel right about rating the book, but it really wasn’t my cup of tea. At least it was short.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Vomit
I liked the beginning when it was explaining the time leading up to the experience, but once it got into religion it was very hard to read. The father/author is a pastor, so I had a hard time not seeing this book as incredibly influenced.
This was an amazing story. It's hard to dispute the truth, Colton speaks of facts that there was no way he knew prior to his "visit" to heaven. And then to have them validated by the story of a little girl who he didn't know. Crazy!
It was a quick read, but a powerful one indeed. Not only does it put life in perspective, it also puts dying right out in the open for all to see, even if you may not want to. Upon reading the first couple of chapters when Colton is sick and the parents are worried, I can't help but wonder what his hospitalization would have been like if a Child Life Specialist was there to help normalize the experience and help his family through it. Though the power of prayer seemed to help, I think extra support could have been beneficial.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. A little boy who, in surgery, dies and visits heaven, only to come back and tell his parents things that they had never told him! It's remarkable really, and though some people won't believe it, I wholeheartedly think it's true. I know that children have huge imaginations, but there are some things that you can't just make up. Colton knew exactly where his parents were and what they were doing when he was under anesthesia getting surgery. I mean that's not something his parents would have told him right after he woke up. That and the many things listed in the synopsis made me believe. It's okay if you don't believe it though, I think it really depends on where you are in your life and your attitude while reading this life-changing book.
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and even Satan are among the individuals that Colton meets in Heaven, a place filled with spectacular colors and lost loved ones. The part that really blew me away began when Colton described what Jesus looked like in Heaven. Every time his parents saw a picture of Jesus in a book or online, they would ask him if this one was Jesus, and Colton would quickly say no and come up with something that was different about him, until finally he saw a painting a little girl had done, a little girl who had said she met Jesus as well. The book even includes the painting, and it is amazingly beautiful. The only thing that bothered me was the Final Battle, which ends up destroying the world... a bit scary if you ask me.
Seeing as how Colton met loved ones who had passed away, it makes you think there is someone greater than us looking down on us and guiding us... that our loved ones are safe, and that we will see them again someday. It's a powerful read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, with a deep meaning, or if you're in a sad place in your life - this book has a way of making you think that in the end, everything is going to be alright.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. A little boy who, in surgery, dies and visits heaven, only to come back and tell his parents things that they had never told him! It's remarkable really, and though some people won't believe it, I wholeheartedly think it's true. I know that children have huge imaginations, but there are some things that you can't just make up. Colton knew exactly where his parents were and what they were doing when he was under anesthesia getting surgery. I mean that's not something his parents would have told him right after he woke up. That and the many things listed in the synopsis made me believe. It's okay if you don't believe it though, I think it really depends on where you are in your life and your attitude while reading this life-changing book.
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and even Satan are among the individuals that Colton meets in Heaven, a place filled with spectacular colors and lost loved ones. The part that really blew me away began when Colton described what Jesus looked like in Heaven. Every time his parents saw a picture of Jesus in a book or online, they would ask him if this one was Jesus, and Colton would quickly say no and come up with something that was different about him, until finally he saw a painting a little girl had done, a little girl who had said she met Jesus as well. The book even includes the painting, and it is amazingly beautiful. The only thing that bothered me was the Final Battle, which ends up destroying the world... a bit scary if you ask me.
Seeing as how Colton met loved ones who had passed away, it makes you think there is someone greater than us looking down on us and guiding us... that our loved ones are safe, and that we will see them again someday. It's a powerful read, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, with a deep meaning, or if you're in a sad place in your life - this book has a way of making you think that in the end, everything is going to be alright.
If you have not read this book, READ it. As the mother of two boys, I found tears running down my face through a lot of ths book. I highly recommend.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I think this is an INTERESTING story, but I have to think that somehow the liturgical influences of his father must have had influence on his out-of-body dreams and memories (they seem all too in agreement of much theological biblical interpretations) though I WISH that some animal pets (my recent loss of my cherished Ibizan Hound - Brynn - for example) do accompany us in our eternal experience (though I do NOT relish the thought that all the animals in my life's experience such as slaughtered live stock are NOT included)?
I marvel that there seems to be no anger over the mis-diagnosis of the appendix symptom!
I marvel that there seems to be no anger over the mis-diagnosis of the appendix symptom!
Sorry but I did not like this book. I don't believe it happened at all!!!!!