Rating: 
Summary: preteen reading level, unabashed preaching without refs.
Review: I bought this book based on its subject matter and the reccommendations which I read online. I was *extremely* let down ... . The story is written at the shallowest level. Characters are completely unbelievable in their simplicity and silliness. The author treats a serious subject with absurdly trivial and offhand solutions. If only it were this simple ... .The author has a message to share and he delivers it bluntly, making only trivial attempts to dress it in a quick sketch of a story. If he honestly wanted the book to be well received and given credence by any but already Orthodox Jews he would have treated his characters with a significant degree of greater respect. Christian figureheads atnational- and world-leading levels are presented as historical ignoramuses who are unfamiliar with anything but the basics of their own religion (and those are the heroes, not the others who are corrupt and evil individuals). Christians should take no offense, though, as the president of the United States, the leaders of the largest corporations in America, and the invisible government of the State of Israel are all presented as equally ignorant and powerless simpletons. This book is a quick and easy read and appropriate for preteens who have not yet been exposed to fundamental ideas about Judaism and its relationship to other religions. The author obviously intended this novel to reveal to the unenlightened masses ideas of great import with which many are not familiar. Unfortunately the author only briefly outlines important issues and does not followthrough on his mission to teach: if the author were sincere, even as a poor novel writer, he would have followed his story with a list of relevant reccommended non-fictional reading material which readers could reference to learn more about the issues which the novel brings up. I have no interest in keeping my copy and will not reccommend the book to others. Instead I would direct people interested in learning about Judaism and its relationships with the rest of the world to the non-fictional works by Laurence Kelemen, Aryeh Kaplan, and many others...
Rating: 
Summary: A book for the open-minded
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. I was most intrigued by the author's explanation of Judaism's tolerance for other religions. I had never heard of the seven Noahide Laws before, which explain that the non-Jewish world must only abide by seven simple rules in order to gain admittance to Heaven. It made sense to me as it was explained, that the 613 laws required of Jews are far more stringent than what Judaism expects of others. I grew up a Catholic, and the impression I had received of my own faith was that it was intended to be universal. Thus, when I encountered those of other faiths who were righteous individuals, I could not reconcile what I had learned, that non-Catholics are denied admittance to Heaven, with the people I had come to know and love. This book was a revelation because it made clear that there is another way to view the world: that a religion attempting to teach about God by modeling behavior needs to be more stringent with its own adherents and less harsh with those of other faiths. In an age where some faiths insist that theirs is the only way, it was refreshing to hear that Judaism expects others to come to God in their own way. The other facet of the book I enjoyed was its perspective on Jesus; that he was an Orthodox Jew is undeniable, (after all the Gospels say he wore phylacteries just as Orthodox Jews do today)but I had no idea that the only concept of the Messiah that existed in his time was that of a man who would lead the Jews to religious freedom, not a man who was God. Interestingly, that is still the Jewish perspective, and the God-concept of Christianity was a later invention. These perspectives, as well as the beautiful explanations of the separation of meat and milk for keeping kosher and the laws of the mikvah, gave the book a depth, as well as the vast tragic history of the Jews, which the author delineates very well. Lastly, it's a heckuva story. It kept me flying until the finish. The only books I give five stars can be found in the classics section at the bookstore, but this book rates four stars, which places it at or near the top of all the recent books I have read. Apparently, some readers who are not so open-minded may have hads a problem, but any new fresh perspective tends to take a while to be accepted, so I have hopes for this book long-term.
Rating:
Summary: A book for the open-minded
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. I was most intrigued by the author's explanation of Judaism's tolerance for other religions. I had never heard of the seven Noahide Laws before, which explain that the non-Jewish world must only abide by seven simple rules in order to gain admittance to Heaven. It made sense to me as it was explained, that the 613 laws required of Jews are far more stringent than what Judaism expects of others. I grew up a Catholic, and the impression I had received of my own faith was that it was intended to be universal. Thus, when I encountered those of other faiths who were righteous individuals, I could not reconcile what I had learned, that non-Catholics are denied admittance to Heaven, with the people I had come to know and love. This book was a revelation because it made clear that there is another way to view the world: that a religion attempting to teach about God by modeling behavior needs to be more stringent with its own adherents and less harsh with those of other faiths. In an age where some faiths insist that theirs is the only way, it was refreshing to hear that Judaism expects others to come to God in their own way. The other facet of the book I enjoyed was its perspective on Jesus; that he was an Orthodox Jew is undeniable, (after all the Gospels say he wore phylacteries just as Orthodox Jews do today)but I had no idea that the only concept of the Messiah that existed in his time was that of a man who would lead the Jews to religious freedom, not a man who was God. Interestingly, that is still the Jewish perspective, and the God-concept of Christianity was a later invention. These perspectives, as well as the beautiful explanations of the separation of meat and milk for keeping kosher and the laws of the mikvah, gave the book a depth, as well as the vast tragic history of the Jews, which the author delineates very well. Lastly, it's a heckuva story. It kept me flying until the finish. The only books I give five stars can be found in the classics section at the bookstore, but this book rates four stars, which places it at or near the top of all the recent books I have read. Apparently, some readers who are not so open-minded may have hads a problem, but any new fresh perspective tends to take a while to be accepted, so I have hopes for this book long-term.
Rating: 
Summary: The Promise of God
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed The Promise of God. My only complaint is I totally neglected my family until I read the last page! I just couldn't put it down until I reached the dramatic ending (which by the way will rival Ben Hur for pure drama and excitement when it reaches the theatres). It was one of those rare books that was a fun read yet at the same time you felt you weren't wasting your time on something meaningless. I finished the book, not only hoping for a sequel, but also wanting to learn more about my own religion. The book was filled with information that will challenge the dominant views in our culture, but was based on sources that form the very foundation of all the major religions. I felt these challenges were presented in a respectful manner allowing the open-minded reader to actually consider what was being presented and not to simply respond with a knee-jerk defense. I shared the book with many friends and also with my teenage daughter. It served as a wonderful springboard for stimulating discussions about religion and our personal responsibilities in making the world a better place.I hope that we'll be seeing more from this thoughtful and provocative author.
Rating:
Summary: The Promise of God
Review: In the fast-paced style of Grisham and with fervent attention to detail, ala Maccoby, David Shapiro's vehicle traverses the globe, taking us on the ride of our spiritual lives. All along the grand adventure Shapiro maticulously weaves a story of power, religion, intrigue, romance and suspense that crescendoes to an awesome finale, leaving readers breathless, shouting BRAVO and yearning for a sequel. One caveat: YOU CANNOT PUT IT DOWN! From the moment we meet Grant Tyler and his supporting cast of characters (I can definitely see this story on the silver screen) the reader is rapt so tightly, our only hope is to catch an occasional breath between chapters. Seldom will any writing capture the imagination or move us toward considering tenets outside the realm of our lifelong and tightly structured system of beliefs, especially when personal spiritualism is the subject, however, THE PROMISE OF GOD does just. There are particular moments when simply having an open mind leads one down a path of pensive introspection. Our once-clouded vision miraculously dissipates page by glorious page and we cannot deny its lasting, positive impression. Best read in years!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Extraordinary!!!!!!
Review: Other reviewers have already written about what an impossible-to-put-down thriller this is. That is absolutely true, but David Shapiro's book is much more than that. It is also a fascinating and well-researched work that in novel (in both senses of the word) form illuminates Christianity's deep Jewish roots. Certainly, there are many dry historical tomes that point out how Christiantity arose from Judaism and the many misinterpretations of Jewish theology that were necessary for Christianity to be established and flourish. David Shapiro's book puts forth the same information in a fast-paced narrative that fairly screams to be brought to the silver screen. Make no mistake, this is an important book that will certainly serve to disturb some and enlighten others. Truth always does that. At the same time it is a delight to read! My copy has made the rounds of my family and I heartily recommend it to all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: GOD'S BUSINESS PLAN
Review: Shapiro's "The Promise of God" is a novel about the coming of the Messiah in today`s world --not the second coming of Christ, but of the Messiah awaited in ancient times by the Jews and still today by conservative Jews --a political as well as religious leader who will free the people of Israel from their enemies. The book is published by Simcha Press, whose stated purpose is to "sustain and nurture the burgeoning interest in Judaism" (back leaf). It would be hard to imagine a more intriguing premise or a more worthy purpose for a novel. In my view, the novel uses the techniques of the action thriller well --foreshadowing, ambiguity, physical danger, and the like. Several other customer reviews in fact compare it favorably to other well-known books of that genre. It also contains extended exposition of Jewish history (including the dreadful persecutions by Christians of Jews throughout history) and the scholarship and traditions relating to the anticipated Messiah. I have long admired Jewish achievement in music, art, science, medicine, law, literature and other intellectual pursuits, including Jewish rabbinical scholarship. Our book study group of many years standing has read The Promise of God on the recommendation of a new member, who praised it as a "good read." I believe that the members are all Christians, and most of us may be Catholic, but I am not sure. We have read work as diverse as Rushdie's "Satanic Verses," Thomas Mann's "Magic Mountain," Ivan Doig's English Creek Trilogy, and novels by V.S. Naipul, Louise Erdrich, and Barbara Kingsolver, as well as non-fiction works by such established contemporary writers as Polkinghorne and Rolheiser. We are far from doctrinaire in our selections, but try to select works that have earned some critical notice. We are almost always unified in praise of the books we read. But we disliked Shapiro's book intensely, on two levels. The first level has to do with the general level of writing, which we thought to be a cliche-ridden, flat style, with paste-board characters, extreme situations and just too many unbelievable coincidences. The women characters play minor roles and are mostly described as "quite attractive," having "long. flowing hair," or some such. A lack of individuating sensory detail throughout prevents the characters from rising off the page. The main characters include several world-class CEOs. Grant Tyler ("Women adored Grant Tyler. He was fifty but looked forty, lean and handsome and distant") heads up a huge conglomerate that includes Tyler News Network. And we have Perry Lindsay, head of United States Motor Company, largest company in the world, and the CEOs of the 2nd through 5th largest: Bill Eldridge of Intercontinental Motors, Dan Bryant of Euro-Japan Motors, Robert Hutchinson of Worldwide Computer, and James Wolford of Global Computer Systems. The novel's plot gets jump-started when all four men, plus NFL superstar Willie Daniels ("the most incredible basketball player who had yet lived") are simultaneously struck down with major heart attacks, have identical "near-death" experiences, and enjoy almost instant full recovery. God, it seems, wants their attention. Oh yes, and there is also the world-shaking news that scientists in Israel have achieved cold nuclear fusion (a discredited theory). Many a novel can have all of the above "literary" flaws and still be a "good read", perhaps even a best-seller. But far more important is the second level of our group's dislike. Shapiro describes the modern Catholic church as anti-Jew. He has a Jew-hating priest, who "knows the Bible from memory." Cardinal Benda Cortes, a principal character, is supposed to be brilliant. As a boy of five he had memorized the Mass, and much is made of his "photographic memory. . . fluency in eleven languages [including, at 17, ancient Greek], his encyclopedic knowledge of myriad subjects." Yet the cardinal agonizes that his suspicions that he has Jewish blood, if true, will taint him, and prevent his becoming Pope, a position he is well-qualified for. He is oddly unaware that there are no such impediments in the Catholic Church. Also, at least two statements by Jesus are taken out of context from the New Testament to indicate falsely that Jesus was himself a vicious Jew-hater. We found Shapiro to be completely baffling on this, since Jesus was himself a Jew, and his message throughout the New Testament is clearly one of love, forgiveness, and freedom. We wondered why, given today's need for forward-looking understanding and acceptance between faiths, Shapiro has chosen to dredge up the worst of past history and portray it as present truth. There are many wonderful books, fiction and non-, about Judaism and Christianity, some of which I have read and recommend herewith. On Judaism and the Old Testament: Friedman's "Who Wrote the Bible," Feiler's "Walking the Bible" and "Abraham," and the novels of Chaim Potok, especially "Book of Lights." Isaac Klein has been recommended, but I have yet to read him. On Christianity: the many works by Kathleen Norris, C.S. Lewis, and G. K. Chesterton. Rolheiser's "The Holy Longing" is superb. For novels looking at cross-cultural Christian issues, try Endo's "Silence," Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible," Silko's "Ceremony," Erdrich's "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse." If you would like to read Muslim writers, V.S. Naipul and Rushdie are marvelous, though different. On Buddhism, "Siddartha" and Mathiessen's "the Snow Leopard." Finally, for a good overview of the great religions of the world, read Huston Smith's classic. "The Promise of God" is actually a religion work dressed up as a novel. This explains why of the six "editorial review" blurbs inside the front fly, four are from rabbis and one from a minister. The sixth is a filmmaker. The discerning reader will, above all, prefer works that have earned favorable reviews in major magazines and newspapers. This is obviously not to say that controversial works are to be shunned. But as the saying goes: "So many books, so little time."
Rating:
Summary: Totally blown away!!!
Review: The Promise of G-d is truly a book worthy of extensive literary recognition. The magnitude of the research and originality of the plotline kept me enthralled long after I had finished the last page. (I have recommended it to my AP English teacher, suggesting that its delicate intricacies and deeper implications be subjected our rigorous analyzation process.) The Promise of G-d by now has passed through the hands of many of my friends and family, and unlike any other types of books [novels, mystery, thrillers, etc.], The Promise of G-d appeals to all. It is informative and well written, while engaging and inspiring. I recommend The Promise of G-d to all those who enjoy an amazing story that uniquely sets itself apart from all other writings of today, while stretching the constricting confines of their preconceived ideas about the world at large.
Rating:
Summary: Not to be missed!
Review: The Promise of God is a page turner from beginning to end. I could not put the book down. The book contained everything from intrigue, suspense, mystery, romance and history. I enjoyed the author's unique style of writing. The book takes you on a journey through different individuals lives and from all parts of the world and ties them all together in a remarkable conclusion that will stay with you for a very long time. It is thought provoking and insightful. This is a wonderful book and should be a definite read on everyone's list, it is on mine.
Rating:
Summary: the promise of god
Review: This is a must read for anyone who has ever tried to reconcile the divisions in the world because religious belief. The author uses a very contemporary setting to educate the reader as to the religious prejudices which have been carelessly fostered throughout the ages and the way in which we all can be brought together and live in peace and harmony. I was fascinated by how much I learned about Christanity, Judaism and how and where they took different paths to enlightenment. This book is for Jews and non-Jews alike. It is truly a revelation. What is paricularly noteworthy is the characters that are developed in the story,(world and business leaders) and the very real way that the promise unfolds. I wish I had read a book like this years ago, when organized religion had turned me off. As incredible as this story is, it is hopeful,plausible and it is entertaining as well. I marveled at how the author presented historical facts in such an informal yet informative way. The promise of this book is that it will and should provoke meaningful dialogue to explore our beginnings, and find a path that we can all walk along together in peace and understanding.
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