Keith Hoopes

Scary Good

Reviewed: 03-29-15

It's frightening how easy it is to take advantage of a populous that has not been taught proper critical thinking skills and skepticism. The rise of Scientology is just the most recent example of this.
After reading/listening to this book, you may have a bleak and judgmental (dare I say discriminatory?) attitude towards Scientologists. Please don't.

While the author delves into the darkest aspects of the founders and leaders of Scientology, in the end she reveals the human and relatable nature of its practitioners. She does a good job showing that they really are just like every other person you meet.

One critique on the performance. The narrator was too .. Simpering? ... Like those touchy-feely teachers that talk softly and condescendingly to children.

Still, he deserves 4 stars for sexy smoothness.

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Scientific Approach to Creativity

Reviewed: 03-05-15

It's quite ironic but true, that "laziness" can actually lead to increased productivity. Andrew presents convincing evidence to prove the importance of doing nothing.

I subtracted one star solely because I disagreed, it was highly skeptical, of a few points or opinions made that bordered on new age philosophy. But those are by far in the minority.

Still, his conclusions and how to apply principles of laziness to increase business productivity and employee happiness are spot on.

Death to Six Sigma!

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Quick Overview of Everything

Reviewed: 02-19-15

Title says it all.
Tyson tends to have to many pauses in his speech, like he hasn't prepared the material. Minus 1 star for performance.

But the material he covers is great. However, I disagree with his "1% different" aliens. If there are aliens, they will definitely be much more different than a percent, and that difference is not as likely to be in intelligence as other qualities.

Likewise, an alien species does not have to be leaps and bounds ahead of us in tech and intelligence for space travel. It only needs one "person" out of billions to have one moment of brilliance. Everything else is just brute force.

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Origins of Christianity

Reviewed: 02-18-15

Excellent, evidence based, overview of the origins of Christianity.

Aside from this being a rebuttal to a feeble claim, it also presents the reader with background and context for each piece of evidence.

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1 person found this helpful

Great for Door Bashers

Reviewed: 02-05-15

NOT recommended for use with family and friends.

This is great for making those door bashers squirm under the huge weight of evidence against the existence of even an historical Jesus.

Be sure to create a copious amount of well named and categorized bookmarks.

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2 people found this helpful

Great Summation

Reviewed: 02-03-15

Pros:
Great Summation
Sexy British Narrator

Cons: it's really ... Really annoying when the narrator tries to talk with a southern accent for absolutely every quote from an American regardless of what their actual accent was. Stop it. Minus one star for that.

And one small thing; ending with Barrack is great and touching, but it made it sound like theres nothing left to be done. Let's not allow perceptual complacency stop the progress.

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1 person found this helpful