Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Yeah right. This is such an amateurish attempt at writing that it falls into the same trap over and over. Here is the process:
1. start chapter with boring description of a typical mid-west life
2. insert "revelation" spoken by young son
3. measure "revelation" with common-sense and fail
4. conclude, "it must be God then"
5. Rinse--repeat
Of course the boy's father is a pastor so where could the son get this ideas of heaven from? DUH!
1. start chapter with boring description of a typical mid-west life
2. insert "revelation" spoken by young son
3. measure "revelation" with common-sense and fail
4. conclude, "it must be God then"
5. Rinse--repeat
Of course the boy's father is a pastor so where could the son get this ideas of heaven from? DUH!
Outside of the endless syntax and grammatical errors (why does any average Todd/Sonja presume he/she can write???), I found the story simple, void of any sophistication or mystery, and completely biased to one faith. Are Muslims who read this book supposed to ignore their lifetimes of loving and selfless devotion to Islam, and say "Christianity's right because a three year old said heaven is for real!" This is why I say that I found this book subjective: there's no explanation or justification to anyone or anything outside of what the three year old Colton would have you believe of his visions.
I'm no stranger to faith, so don't presume that my disdain for this book is due to my being an Atheist. I'm not. I actually have countless years of my life devoted to worshipping, and thus do have faith...loads of it. But this supposed true story offered nothing new to those of us who are learned on near death experience or afterlife stories. If anything, this story was relayed in an excruciatingly simple and elementary way. (Just because your 8th grade teacher told you once that you wrote a decent essay, does NOT mean you should write a book!) Consequently, despite my belief in an afterlife, I found many opportunities within the pages of this book to re-wet my eyes by rolling them.
Another issue I have with this book is the blind faith that the parents in this story rest on a three year old. To me, the parents (Todd and Sonja), although well-meaning, were overly indulgent. And, their blind faith in their three year old's stories were easily explained by their level of religious ignorance. Evidently the Protestant faith has very lenient regulations in initiating preachers - are they even ordained??? Is the knowledge of these preachers vetted at all, or can anyone wake up one day, state that they were "called to preach", and soon thereafter given their own parish?? And so with such a seemingly sketchy canvas, I couldn't buy into sweet Colton's colorful delusions...er, stories. My faith and trust aren't earned so easily.
I gave the book two stars simply to nod to the fact that the Burpo's story meant well by attempting to offer a message of hope. But in reading into the story, I found a lot of discrimination and judgment, which to me is bad.
Furthermore, this story of unjustified blind belief illustrates what terrifies me most about my fellow humankind: most will believe any story that seamlessly and simply offers hope in an otherwise complex universe. (Thinking you've answered one of life's big questions through a simple explanation is an actual psychological impairment to which people occasionally fall victim.) Because the vast majority of believers innately subscribe to anything that captures their intrigue and fancy without first empowering themselves by educating themselves on a variety of religions and belief systems, they're testimonies of faith fall flat to educated ears. Quite frankly, I think the Burpo's are examples of gullibility and ignorance, rather than enlightened and wise missionaries and soothsayers.
And so, I found this story uninspiring because for me the source is not only unproven, but also inconsistent: young Colton never died! So, how can a being have a NDE if he/she doesn't ever die? (He/She cannot.) And if he/she doesn't die, but experiences what Colton the three year old did, then what's the difference between a delusion, fantasy/dream or NDE??? There's a big difference. Colton's experience actually read more like an intuitive dream, rather than a NDE.
Bottom line: cute kid with vivid imagination, loving but delusional parents, and well-intended message despite being completely preachy, unfounded, biased and subjective. (I'm so glad I borrowed, rather than bought this book!)
I'm no stranger to faith, so don't presume that my disdain for this book is due to my being an Atheist. I'm not. I actually have countless years of my life devoted to worshipping, and thus do have faith...loads of it. But this supposed true story offered nothing new to those of us who are learned on near death experience or afterlife stories. If anything, this story was relayed in an excruciatingly simple and elementary way. (Just because your 8th grade teacher told you once that you wrote a decent essay, does NOT mean you should write a book!) Consequently, despite my belief in an afterlife, I found many opportunities within the pages of this book to re-wet my eyes by rolling them.
Another issue I have with this book is the blind faith that the parents in this story rest on a three year old. To me, the parents (Todd and Sonja), although well-meaning, were overly indulgent. And, their blind faith in their three year old's stories were easily explained by their level of religious ignorance. Evidently the Protestant faith has very lenient regulations in initiating preachers - are they even ordained??? Is the knowledge of these preachers vetted at all, or can anyone wake up one day, state that they were "called to preach", and soon thereafter given their own parish?? And so with such a seemingly sketchy canvas, I couldn't buy into sweet Colton's colorful delusions...er, stories. My faith and trust aren't earned so easily.
I gave the book two stars simply to nod to the fact that the Burpo's story meant well by attempting to offer a message of hope. But in reading into the story, I found a lot of discrimination and judgment, which to me is bad.
Furthermore, this story of unjustified blind belief illustrates what terrifies me most about my fellow humankind: most will believe any story that seamlessly and simply offers hope in an otherwise complex universe. (Thinking you've answered one of life's big questions through a simple explanation is an actual psychological impairment to which people occasionally fall victim.) Because the vast majority of believers innately subscribe to anything that captures their intrigue and fancy without first empowering themselves by educating themselves on a variety of religions and belief systems, they're testimonies of faith fall flat to educated ears. Quite frankly, I think the Burpo's are examples of gullibility and ignorance, rather than enlightened and wise missionaries and soothsayers.
And so, I found this story uninspiring because for me the source is not only unproven, but also inconsistent: young Colton never died! So, how can a being have a NDE if he/she doesn't ever die? (He/She cannot.) And if he/she doesn't die, but experiences what Colton the three year old did, then what's the difference between a delusion, fantasy/dream or NDE??? There's a big difference. Colton's experience actually read more like an intuitive dream, rather than a NDE.
Bottom line: cute kid with vivid imagination, loving but delusional parents, and well-intended message despite being completely preachy, unfounded, biased and subjective. (I'm so glad I borrowed, rather than bought this book!)
I wasn’t sure what to expect since I am not super churchy, but do stand firm in my faith and I adored this story. It was like talking to a friend over coffee and catching up…it was so simple, but very beautiful to believe these things to be true. If only we were all so lucky to have 1/10th of the experience of this little boy. I really liked that they tied the Bible verse into what the little boy was recalling from his experience – it was nice to have to right there. It’s a fast read, and I sat there trying to imagine my daughter telling me these things and how I might react in each situation they spoke of. I do believe that one day I will get to see my grandma again and this book was like a little seed of hope that it will happen. :) I just read it last week and I am already thinking about rereading it again.
Heaven is for Real is a heart-stopping story about a little boy who died for three minutes and then came back to tell us what heaven is like. Parents of small children will definitely empathize with the Burpo's during the harrowing points of Colton's story. My favorite quote is, "from the time a child walks until about the first grade, one of the main tasks parents have is keep their kids alive." Exactly right. Several of the points that Burpo brings up through the story are very interesting and thought-provoking. While many of us want to get to heaven, how many people have really spent much time thinking about what it would be like? At the end of this book it doesn't matter whether you believe it happened or not. What is important is that this book makes you think.
Maybe I just WANT to believe there's a heaven and that all this crap we wade through and deal with on Earth is worth something...but this little boy's story was so fascinating.
I do find it somewhat suspicious that his father is a pastor...is this a church leader seeking publicity, financial support and more followers? I'll be interested in tracking this young man's story through the years to see how it all shakes out.
I do find it somewhat suspicious that his father is a pastor...is this a church leader seeking publicity, financial support and more followers? I'll be interested in tracking this young man's story through the years to see how it all shakes out.
If you don't agree with what I am about to say, please don't leave negative feedback. You are entitled to your opinion as am I. And regardless of what you have to say, my faith will only get stronger. The story itself didn't "flow" well; it was very choppy. I truly believe that Jesus died for our sins but I was still worried as to where my father "went" when he died. He died almost two years ago May. I know he had Jesus in his heart and I know his life was a daily battle, with himself and with the demons of addiction. Hearing the little boy's account of heaven lets me know that Jesus scooped my father up before Satan could. I know that my father is in a happy place and that, even though he is not physically here, he is still able to see my daughter grow up. This was a beautiful story and when it is my time, I cannot wait to go Home.
Ik zeg dit niet snel (volgens mij nog nooit) maar de film was mooier dan het boek. Ik weet niet eens hoe ik het moet uitleggen.
I am between 2 and 3 stars on this one.
I found myself more interested in the medical story, rather than the "this is what heaven is like" parts.
I found myself more interested in the medical story, rather than the "this is what heaven is like" parts.
This was a touching book and I'm glad to have read it. It was written in a very unassuming manner and not filled with Christian jargon that would be beyond someone not familiar with Christian beliefs. It was a good depiction of their experience and a touching look at simple and pure faith of a child.