3 out of 4 stars
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In God We Trust: One Man's Search for Eternal Life is a compilation of author Glen Aaron's research into the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Inspired initially by the death of a beloved pet, the author sought to find out what really happens when we die. Using a great number of academic resources and his own professional experience as a lawyer, the author presents his findings within this book.
Early into the book (on page thirty, to be exact), the author explains his method of searching for "proof by a preponderance of evidence" in favor of or against the existence of God and/or an afterlife. In simpler terms, he searched for tangible (historical and archaeological) evidence to back up the claims written in the holy books of the Abrahamic faiths. Regardless of one's personal religious beliefs, the author's findings are fascinating, and he includes a thorough bibliography for reference.
The writing within is to the standard that I would expect from a law school graduate, and contains only a few errors that appear to be typographical. The subject matter is detailed yet written in a manner that is easy to understand and free of tedium. The topic of religion can be controversial, and I admit that I disagreed with the author on more than a few points, but his presentation was engaging and I read through the book quickly.
Despite the author's thorough research and excellent presentation, I do have a few reservations about this book. In the last few chapters, the author leaves behind objectivity and goes on what I can only describe as a quasi-political rant. He puts his social and political biases on full display and veers sharply into the realm of conspiracy with some eyebrow-raising claims. Additionally, his tone took on an air of self-righteousness that was quite irksome. Personally, I believe that these chapters would best be omitted, especially since the author admitted that traditional publishers balked at the idea of this additional subject matter.
But despite the inclusion of the questionable material at the end, this book is a pretty solid presentation of one man's research-based conclusions, and I award it 3 out of 4 stars. The author tackles a controversial subject, and most readers will either love or hate this book based upon their personal beliefs. Readers who consider themselves to be religious or spiritual will likely not enjoy the author's conclusions, while those are less so may not mind them. Either way, I would advise readers to approach this book with an open mind.
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"In God We Trust," one man's search for everlasting life
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