Featured Review: The Message? by Avam Hale

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 30 Mar 2015, 15:54

LJian888 (the author) wrote:I also was a little creeped out by the cover. But I couldn't find a better image.

I like the cover. A lot.

-- 30 Mar 2015 03:55 pm --

Although, I like creepy.

Jesska6029 · Post by **Jesska6029** » 30 Mar 2015, 20:05

Great review! I love books that make me go, "hmmmmm."

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 30 Mar 2015, 23:00

OMG, Scott, I love the cover too. It doesn't strike me as being creepy, but I've always loved rainbow and/or colorful eyes as abstract art. (Random factoid: I hallucinated an eye when I was around six years old. I still remember it. No particular reason that I know of--just an overactive imagination. So the symbolism of eyes has always been meaningful to me.) I think it fits the story too (from reading the review--I haven't read the book yet!). This book seems awesome and insightful.

-- 31 Mar 2015, 00:02 --

Great review, ALynn!!

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 30 Mar 2015, 23:36

Thanks for the comments. I'm interested in seeing what others have to say. I'm already thinking up some discussion questions.

Deee · Post by **Deee** » 31 Mar 2015, 20:45

Great review! Sounds like an interesting read.

GoddessOfWords · Post by **GoddessOfWords** » 01 Apr 2015, 02:45

I'd like to read this. There are many accounts of people experiencing this kind of phenomenon. Thanks for the review.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 01 Apr 2015, 06:46

GoddessOfWords wrote:I'd like to read this. There are many accounts of people experiencing this kind of phenomenon. Thanks for the review.

It's a fictional story, but it sounds like something that would really happen.

Bobbi Duffy · Post by **Bobbi Duffy** » 01 Apr 2015, 15:03

Having read you review I now want to read "The Message".

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 04 Apr 2015, 03:00

Bobbi Duffy wrote:Having read you review I now want to read "The Message".

Glad to hear it!!

LJian888 · Post by **LJian888** » 04 Apr 2015, 21:50

Thanks for all of the great feedback.

To the question posed by PashaRu I was not intentionally making any reference to any organized religion when I wrote this.

The real focus of the book is precognitive conclusion. I am fascinated by it and the impact it has on our lives and our world. Basically scientists have shown that our brains only process something like one billionth of the data our senses make available. It's a matter of efficiency. Our brains process only enough data to make a probable conclusion. Otherwise we would never get out of bed in the morning.

The threshold is different for each of us, but it is, I believe, why there is so much strife in the world. We all believe that our point of view is right. But the reality of precognitive conclusion is that we basically see what we allow ourselves to see.

The medium of a messenger for exploring the topic came in response to Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. It was a delightful book but even though the author himself stated that it was a book of fiction I was amazed by how many people used it to support their particular point of view on organized religion.

Again, I believe precognitive conclusion was at play. Which made me wonder. What is the threshold of proof that would be required to make people believe in the existence of a monotheistic god? And if that threshold were achieved how would we, as a society, react?

That allowed me to explore a second theme - social momentum. I am often stunned, and frequently saddened, by how slow society is to change in ways that everyone seems to agree is necessary. Pick your topic. There are hundreds of them - e.g. racism, income distribution, ethnic cleansing, etc. The fact is that the people with the power to bring change about often have the least incentive to do so. They are in a position of power and privilege. Why would they want to rock the boat?

I admit that I am addicted to "Hmmm!". I want to be forced to think about something meaningful at least once per day. When I was a young boy my father would inevitably ask me each night, "What did you learn today?" If I responded in the negative he would say, "That's too bad. You wasted an incredible opportunity. Now you will have to learn two things tomorrow." I guess it stuck.

Again, thanks for all the support. To paraphrase Maslow, we all need validation if we are to reach our full potential.

Avam Hale

Amheiser · Post by **Amheiser** » 05 Apr 2015, 00:07

Good review! This sounds like a book that I would like to read after having read, "The Audacious Human," which talks a lot about religions and how they came to be so different, and how the author looks at the spiritual experience. This book sounds like it talks about the same things, but in story form which might make it easier to read. I am interested in finding out what the author of this book has to say on the subject.

Rachaelamb1 · Post by **Rachaelamb1** » 06 Apr 2015, 22:32

It does sound like a good book. I think this will be one BOTM I won't want to miss.

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 07 Apr 2015, 14:15

Thanks for this wonderful review. This book sounds fascinating (I always like hearing about "near death" experiences) and I am looking forward to reading it!

Ejgard91 · Post by **Ejgard91** » 08 Apr 2015, 09:24

I haven't read the book but it sounds like something I would be interested in based on the review. There is so much fighting about right and wrong and love and hate and all of these different things. It seems like maybe this book could encourage a broader worldview and understanding of different sides. I'm certainly going to look into this more!!