Review of Sex Drugs & Epistemology

[Scerakor]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sex Drugs & Epistemology" by Joe D. Mulheim.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Clint Hitchens has written his masterpiece. His book is a poignant criticism of the human race and, among other things, a militant attack on our tendency to gravitate toward belief in religion. Given the topic, however, he's not convinced that he'll get any major publisher to pick it up. In an entirely ironic attempt at humour, he throws this challenge out to God. If the deity would arrange to have his book published with a significant cash advance, he promised to change his beliefs publicly. All of a sudden, the phone rings with an offer from a publisher.

Sex Drugs & Epistemology by Joe D. Mulheim follows Clint as he gains popularity after publishing his controversial book. On a series of talks during his book tour, however, he starts to hear a voice in his head claiming to be God. Throughout this book, we see Clint struggle with this voice, battle with his own beliefs, try to protect his family, and take on one alcohol- and drug-ridden adventure after another. Is the voice in Clint's head actually God forcing him to change his beliefs, or is it simply a figment of his imagination? You'll have to pick this one up to find out more.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the premise behind Clint's internal struggles. Many of us have powerful beliefs, and this book makes us consider what it would actually take to change those beliefs. Were God to be speaking to you directly, what proof would be required for you to entirely abandon everything you think to be true? It's rare for a book in this genre to make me think as much as this one did.

There were, however, a couple of things that I didn't like about this book. The first, and most significant, thing was how it got repetitive after a while. Although I initially enjoyed reading about the struggles and situations the inner voice put him through, they didn't change much as the book progressed. The conflicts were similar, and the inner dialogue was a bit repetitive. Finally, there were a few more errors in this book than I would have expected from a professionally edited novel.

I enjoyed the concept and thought-provoking discussions in this book, so I have no problem giving it three out of five stars. Given the repetition and the errors, I took off two stars from the final score. If you enjoy books that take a critical look at religious belief and if you are not easily offended, you may want to check this one out! However, I wouldn't recommend this book for younger readers or those who are offended by criticism of religion, strong language, or overt sexual situations.

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Sex Drugs & Epistemology
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[Catherine Sweet]

This is such a good review; I enjoyed reading it. The storyline sounds unusual, but the repetition is a shame.