Rating: 
Summary: c
Review: c
Rating: 
Summary: great writing, but...
Review: Guinness has written a book that is quite uneven in its presentation. He uses many historical sources and quotations very effectively, and the first half of the book is amazingly lucid. The philosophical introduction to modernist and postmodernist thinking is excellent, and the book is worth reading for this alone.Unfortunately, Guinness seems to believe that he can convince readers about the truth of Christianity, that God _is_ truth, in the final 60 pages. It ain't possible, at least for my agnostic tendencies. Guinness absolutely convinced me that many postmodern thoughts are dangerous, but the extension that a belief in the Bible is the cure... I have to also say that the author couldn't resist running too far to the right, politically, in my opinion. I agree with just about everything Guinness says about former President Clinton, but what he doesn't say speaks volumes, to the detriment of this book. He is unequivocally negative about Clinton, never once relenting, even with regard to Clinton's own personal beliefs. (Always thought it was odd that Christians weren't more charitable about the Clintons.) Never once mentions Iran Contra, never once mentions Rush Limbaugh, never once... Well, you can probably figure out which side of center I sit on politically. With the rabid right-wing out there saying whatever they wish, and claiming that it is the _truth_ (based on the Bible, of course) without cessation, Guinness should have used more balance in his presentation of current events. Even so, I very much enjoyed "Time for Truth." I learned a lot, and although it is clear that there is much more to learn after finishing it, that's likely to be very close to what Guinness intended.
Rating:
Summary: great writing, but...
Review: Guinness has written a book that is quite uneven in its presentation. He uses many historical sources and quotations very effectively, and the first half of the book is amazingly lucid. The philosophical introduction to modernist and postmodernist thinking is excellent, and the book is worth reading for this alone. Unfortunately, Guinness seems to believe that he can convince readers about the truth of Christianity, that God _is_ truth, in the final 60 pages. It ain't possible, at least for my agnostic tendencies. Guinness absolutely convinced me that many postmodern thoughts are dangerous, but the extension that a belief in the Bible is the cure... I have to also say that the author couldn't resist running too far to the right, politically, in my opinion. I agree with just about everything Guinness says about former President Clinton, but what he doesn't say speaks volumes, to the detriment of this book. He is unequivocally negative about Clinton, never once relenting, even with regard to Clinton's own personal beliefs. (Always thought it was odd that Christians weren't more charitable about the Clintons.) Never once mentions Iran Contra, never once mentions Rush Limbaugh, never once... Well, you can probably figure out which side of center I sit on politically. With the rabid right-wing out there saying whatever they wish, and claiming that it is the _truth_ (based on the Bible, of course) without cessation, Guinness should have used more balance in his presentation of current events. Even so, I very much enjoyed "Time for Truth." I learned a lot, and although it is clear that there is much more to learn after finishing it, that's likely to be very close to what Guinness intended.
Rating:
Summary: I am still looking for answers!
Review: I did see the author on CBN and decided to by the interview based on what he had to say. The interviewee called it "an easy read". Not true! When I bought the book, I began with my usual skimming and found a wide range of content but nothing that grabbed me or seemed to strike a chord for a middle class American like myself. I enjoyed his prose and the title of the book spells great intent, but I never found what I was looking for....quite a bit of globetrotting... Regretfully, I returned the book. I'll give the author another try in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Really Painstaking
Review: I have been forced into reading this book as a requirement for a mandatory ethics class. After reading this book I feel deeply and personally insulted. This is because of Guiness' open attacks on several aspects of eastern philosophy which are a result of poor understanding and several popular misconceptions about eastern religion and philosophy. Clearly, Guiness believes in absolute truth, which in his opinion is the Judo-Christian view of the world. He sees Eastern thought as the antithesis of western thought, not realising that both sides have serious faults but also have many elements in common. Guiness also fails in that he claims that his book provides practical solutions to the problems of postmodernism. However, the points he makes are very difficult to understand, even for a college senior like myself. I read many pages repeatedly but remain clueless about what he is talking about. To his credit, the author does convince me that, unless something is done, the extremes of postmodernism will ultimately be disastrous to the great American experiment. However, for the most part, this book is very difficult for 99.99% of the body politic to understand. In other words, this book is a waste of time, since it will not have its desired effect.
Rating: 
Summary: Guinness is brilliant!
Review: Many authors would take thousands of pages to say what Guinness does in 128 pgs. His insight into our current cultural abyss demonstrates his keen insight. The depth and breadth of his reading is obvious for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. He is the voice crying in the postmodern wasteland!
Rating:
Summary: Looking at the moose on the dining room table.
Review: One of the basic human defense mechanisms we follow to protect ourselves from unwanted situations or painful emotions is denial. We just put it away from our conscious mind even though the facts are staring us in the face. This book helps us to look at life "the way it really is." The insightful remarks on Vaclav Havel, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Primo Levi are truthful yet marked with humility and sensitivity. These threee men have suffered greatly from modern governments that deny truth regarding human beings. These regimes have regarded people simply as mere biological units who exist for the pleasure of the state. What is to prevent the same thing happening in the 21 first century that happen in the last? This little book is a clarion call for Christians and non-Christians to proclaim the virtues of integrity, honesty, and plain speaking. I believe a thoughtful reading will lead to the awkward realization that "hey, there is a moose on our table;" however, to paraphrase C.S. Lewis, he is not a tame moose.
Rating:
Summary: Living Free in a World of Lies
Review: Os Guiness, a top quality sociologist, is uniquely gifted at explaining difficult cultural factors in a manner that the general public can grasp. This book is not a comprehensive refutation of postmodern and modern epistemological systems. Rather, it is a critique of our cultural values and practices as a result of the modern and (especially) the postmodern theories of truth. Many of the examples he uses are easy to remember and embody the point he is trying to make (I will never look at Jay Leno the same - you will know what I mean if you read the book). It is not a difficult read, and the case is plainly made for Truth.
Rating:
Summary: Call to Arms for Truth in American Culture
Review: Os Guiness, a top quality sociologist, is uniquely gifted at explaining difficult cultural factors in a manner that the general public can grasp. This book is not a comprehensive refutation of postmodern and modern epistemological systems. Rather, it is a critique of our cultural values and practices as a result of the modern and (especially) the postmodern theories of truth. Many of the examples he uses are easy to remember and embody the point he is trying to make (I will never look at Jay Leno the same - you will know what I mean if you read the book). It is not a difficult read, and the case is plainly made for Truth.
Rating:
Summary: An Easy to Understand Primer On Truth VS Postmodernism
Review: Os Guinness, a rare conservative Anglican and author of other popular Evangelical books such as "Fit Bodies - Fat Minds" has produced a simple, easy to understand, and very short book on the loss of absolutes in a modern and postmodern soceity. In his introduction, he sets the stage by recounting a speech by Noble Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn on truth. He further states his biase that he finds the "modernists and postmodernists" world equaly dangerous. Guinness strageticaly starts chapter one by discussing a professor's observations on recent classroom discussions involving the story "The Lottery." In short, twenty years ago people were replused by the ending, now students did not find the ending (the sacrifce of someone by the community) all that troubling. He further analyzes the new art of "spin", especially in the politcal circles and the lack of truth or its necessity. He quickly discusses Darwin, Nietzsche, and Marx then goes on to make a case on their effect in developing a postmodern culture. The book does have some weaknesses, however; including broad-brushing statements because it is so short. I know the authors intent was to write a primer and therefore a short text, but it is still somewhat of a laibility. One, I think he was willing to take. Because it is a short text, this book is very, very easy to understand (disregard the reviewer who had troubles with this book, it is extermely easy to understand). All in all, it accomplishes what the author intended it to do and it provides a primer foundation for those new to the battle in the postmodern culture war.
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