Rating: 
Summary: misleading title
Review: I say that the title is misleading because unfortunatly the world told about in the book is frightenly familiar to the one in which we now live.The supression of sexuality,thinking,and individuality are things that are just as prevelant in todays world as they are in the book. Mass market religion the cares more about looking good that actually being helpful is one of the things that is highlighted and it as well is a problem we have in todays world. I first read this book in high school as part of a report on companionship. What I discovered was a novel about the deepest friendship that could ever be. Heinleins novel was well written,interesting, and a all around fun book. If your looking for a lighthearted look at todays world. Or a book with serious discussion of todays problems, that this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: A great and sometimes mind altering read
Review: I first read this book in Junior High school. (9th grade).. I submitted a book report based on this book and got a failing grade, (Based on unsuitable subject matter!!). As an experiment this same book report was submitted to my sons 9th grade English teacher,(unsigned) and recieved an A+.. When she was told that the report had recieved a failing grade in the 1960's she wrote a note of condolence ... addressed to the teacher that graded it... (my sons book report recieved a B+) I have re-read this book at least 15 times between age 20 and age 50, and every time there is some new part that stands out and grabs my attention. I recomend this book to anyone who can read at a sixth grade level.
Rating:
Summary: Waiting Is
Review: I was surprised to see comments saying that people liked Heinlein and did NOT like Stranger. The only thing that could have made Stranger better, in my not-so-humble opinion is if it had been written in an era that wasn't so repressed. Even unexpurgated it isn't as powerful as it could have been if RAH had written it today.
I have met many people online - a not-so-surprising number of them have been RAH people and, of course, into Stranger. Some are members of CAW and/or into polyamory. Also not surprisingly, the web pages and IRC channels for CAW, Heinlein and Polyamory are interconnected.
I have a funny feeling that if RAH had written Stranger in 1997, VMS would have been online and his message would have been grokked in fullness by many, many more.
It's sad that his views on politics and religion came to be be shown as reality rather than cynicism - Televangilists are so like the "Church" with gambling, drinking, etc. all fine and dandy as long as they have the right brand. Lastly, it's sad tht out of all the books RAH wrote, the only one that has been made into a movie (not counting that one made aeons ago) is Starship Troopers. I don't remember many ideas or concepts in that book - only jingoistic, militaristic bloodiness. Which, of course, is why it will probably be a very popular movie. <G>
Rating: 
Summary: mundane ideas from a mundane author
Review: Heinnlein presents ideas that he seems to t hink are revolutionary, exciting -- new! When in fact they're boring and unoriginal, with a pathetic story used to present them to the reader. Many authors have done far better jobs of presentign ideas that are trully intriguing, and exciting. I find that all Henleisn novels are much like this. Read somehtingn better liek Dune, Foundation or Childhood's end. These deserve to be called scienficiton classics.
Rating:
Summary: READ THIS BOOK!
Review: Yes, it's similar to the story of Christ. So is E.T. So what? It's still a great story that needs to be told. Why they made a movie out of "Starship Troopers" and not this one, I will never know. Read the book, and remember thou art God!
Rating:
Summary: Here Goes
Review: I think this is the best novel I have read in my short existence. I think whoever gave this book a 3 or, god bless, a 2 should open up his or her eyes and realize that this book was not printed for the love of money, nor is this book overly preachy, but a fantistic work of art.
Rating:
Summary: Stranger in a Strange Land changed my way of thinking.Great!
Review: Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein, is a wonderful book. Though a sci-fi book, it is powerful and moving. It is the story of a man raised by martians, and then loved/hated by humans. He did not know the words for war or gun, but he brought a higer level og thought to the people. I absolutely think that this is the best book of all time. It should be required reading for those who are human and those who are not. If you don't read this book, you are missing out on a lot. I grok it, man!
Rating:
Summary: It was amazing!
Review: This was the very first science fiction book I ever read. And, I still remember it like it was yesterday. This was 10 years ago. My brother told me I had to read this book before I could read any other sciece fiction books. He said it was the best science fiction book ever writen, how right he was! I have not read it ever since, not because I don't want to, but because he owns the book and lives in Europe. But, I still remember the amazement I felt when I fineshed the book, the love I felt towards the characters. I loved this book, and if you have not read it yet, READ IT!!! You will never regret it.
Rating:
Summary: A rewrite of the New Testament?
Review: This is one of the best books ever written. I first read it thirty years ago and reread it regularly. I am amazed, however, that no one has mentioned the fact that it is a rewrite of the new testament. Just as Leonard Bernstein rewrote "Romeo and Juliet" as "West Side Story", so Heinlein rewrote the story of Christ. 1) Mike is a bastard by birth, 2) We know nothing of the first 30 years of his life, 3) He throws the money changers out of the temple. 4) He preaches unconditional love. 5) He founds his own church. 6) Baptism by water. 7) He is "crucified". The list goes on and on. The big difference is that this book draws you along and makes you love the characters. After finishing "Stranger" for the first time, I paced for hours, just letting it sink in. Did it change my life? How can one tell? I only know that my life is much richer for the existance of this book.
Rating:
Summary: To Grok or not to Grok that is the question.
Review: I read this book in the company of one of my best friends back in the 60's. Times and ways of living were different then. Gentler. This book agreed with my life stile then. Stranger in a Strange land is how I feel now. The world today is crueler then ever. It would be nice if this book could be regroked by the new generation of the '90s. Thankx Heinlein! grok on!
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