Rating: 
Summary: What if?
Review: So you read this first book. And you think; this is too much. This is too weird. One or two or three thousand years ago, yes, but in the twentieth century? A man screams out his doubt and questions to God - as man has done at all times - only this time he recieves an answer. And this marks the beginning of a long dialogue, concerning all big matters of existence. And you enjoy reading it while thinking; This is just not possible! It isn't this easy! Man have asked themselves the same questions for thousand of years, revealing complexed structures in philosophy, science and psychology... and now this wellmeaning American deliberately overlooks years of knowledge with this «come-and-I(we!)-will-tell-you-the-meaning-of-life-in-no-time». You think. And you read - what's the harm? It will at least provide you with some fresh arguments for your next late-at-night new-age discussion. But then it happens. Suddenly, some kind of beauty gets to you. Some purity or honest simpleness reflects in the cells of your body, reminding you of something you have heard or thought of before.... And for these seconds you are left breathless; It might be unlikely, it might seem unbelievably simple... But what if ...?
Rating:
Summary: A Broadening Experience
Review: This book is a broadening experience. It will enhance your idea of God and of your relationship to God. True, it discards much of traditional religious mythology: original sin, hell, the devil, last judgment, but much of what it retains would be acceptable to religious thinkers as varied as Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Thomas Aquinas, William Blake, Bernard Shaw. Perhaps you will object to some of the things God reveals to this author, but a major tenet of the book is that you not just accept what has been passed on by others, in this case Walsch, but that you hold your own conversation with God.The book does contain some repetition, an occasional lapse in grammar, perhaps an inconsistency or two, but that is a small price to pay for so much that is of value. Walsch's God is more than eclectic. S/he is all embracing, reconciles, for example, creationism and the big bang. You will put the book down, feeling better about yourself, your purpose, your God.
Rating:
Summary: A Broadening Experience
Review: This book is a broadening experience. It will enhance your idea of God and of your relationship to God. It does discard some traditional religious mythology: original sin, hell, the devil, and the last judgment, but much of what it retains would be acceptable to religious thinkers as varied as Jesus, Moses, Buddha, Thomas Aquinas, William Blake, and Bernard Shaw. Perhaps you will object to some things God reveals to this author, but a major tenet of the book is that you not simply accept what has been passed onto to you by another, but that you converse with God yourself. The book does contain some repetition, an occasional lapse in grammar, perhaps even an inconsistency or two, but these are a small price to pay for so much that is of value. Walsch's God is more than eclectic. S/he is all embracing, reconciles, for example, creationism and the big bang. You will put the book down, feeling better about yourself, your purpose, and your God.
Rating: 
Summary: A shallow, inane excuse for spiritual dialogue
Review: This book was a complete disappointment. I've read deeper, more reflective thoughts on life on bumperstickers and refrigerator magnets. If you're looking for something uplifting, and philosophical, read CS Lewis. If you're looking for the spiritual equivalent of a 2-ounce bag of Cheetos, waste your money on this book. For all the hype around this book, its disappointing to see that its insights into life and a relationship with God are trite and absolutely shallow.
Rating: 
Summary: On the level
Review: As a person of the Catholic faith, this book raised quite a number of questions about who God really is. I was initially stunned at the fact that anyone (specifically Neale Donald Walsch) could talk to God. But if you take a step back from the book, it provides practical advise on day-to-day issues that people of all faiths can benefit from, without the need to destroy the core beliefs that religion instils in us all. If you have read this text and were not moved in the slightest, just remember that Jesus too was a radical and the Pharisees totally ignored him. Will you be one of those people?
Rating: 
Summary: Thank God I Have My Own Direct Channel to God!
Review: O.K. -- Let me say first off that I'm not any sort of born again Christian to whom these concepts would be threatening. I am also long familiar with the William James/Gertrude Stein/ Julie Cameron/ Artist's Way method of automatic writing, by which we are mere conduits for a channelled Higher Power. I don't find any of this threatening, and as a creative artist myself it all makes sense. Very few of these "Power of Positive Thinking" concepts here are things that I haven't heard already in comparative religion studies, Buddhism, yoga, and a host of New York Open Center courses, to say nothing of my years of psychotherapy and related reading. The problem is, towards the end of this volume, the author shuts down the so-called Open Dialogue and descends into koo-koo land. We live in a society that represses and denies sex? Hello? That's something I (fortunately) never noticed growing up in the sixties, seventies and eighties. It's not something I notice watching T.V., going to the movies, reading books, or listening to music. Is the author living in Saudi Arabia? A quick glance at the author's picture on the book jacket traces this perception back to one of his (oops! I mean God's!) earlier precepts -- when you have "wants" you are "living by your lack." (A reiteration of Buddhist "attachment" philosophy, by the way.) Like so many homely men, Walsch must have suffered from a dearth of good sex in his life to not be able to dip into the sex all around him. Those of us who have been well satisfied don't see that lack. Gotcha! He also seems to be promoting irresponsibility while blanketing the world's problems with simple panaceas. He says we have everything at hand to cure the world's ills. Fair enough, and credit where due, lots of us are working hard to cure them. Then he advises parents (read -- himself?) to abandon their own children to the winds of fate, in order to perceive their own higher bliss. Who'se going to save them? Oh, I get it -- someone else! Why not save a lot of energy and pain and do your best to take care of your own, instead of promulgating misery? At the end of this volume he hints at a utopian world of free love, where no one's feelings will be hurt. Hey -- didn't we already try that, with only so so results? There's a basic lack of empathy here that contradicts other directives earlier in the book, such as Empty your pockets for the homeless woman on the street. Why her and not your own kid? All I can say is, I'm glad I have my own direct connection with God, so I can see the shallows here. On the other hand, for Bible Belters who were never exposed to eastern religion or New Age thought, this book may be refreshing. But take my advice -- rely on your own direct relationship with God, and what you hear from your Higher Power. These dialogues are a reflection of someone else's spiritual state -- you may be know alot better.
Rating:
Summary: An insight-full book about God without the dogma
Review: This was a great book especially for those who seek spirituality sans dogma. I read it in a single night (so it keeps your attention).
Rating:
Summary: Conversations w/God
Review: I would just like to share with you my opinion. Since you are reading this, chances are you are intrigued by the idea of God. I have read many books on the subject of spiritual enlightenment, religion, and so forth. This is truly a masterpiece if you search for deeper meaning. However, I am not going to sit here trying to convince you to read it...either you will or will not. Some reviewers here have done nothing but try to create doubt in this subject..because they obviously have become "stuck" in a certain mindset--maybe fear? Dispel any preconceived ideas about religion and read the first 50 pages. If you don't like it...fine, put it down. To those who wish to enrich their lives and open up to the possibility that we are not all that exists....Prepare for the truth. You think God doesn't exist? Maybe u have just been blocking him out! You think God told people to write the Bible, then retired? Thats silly. God speaks through everything...this book/author being proof. Try reading it...you won't be able to disbelieve. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Walsch is the Best!
Review: ..... Readers who resonate with Walsch, on the other hand, will have already addressed those basic shifts in mindset (if they came from a fundamentalist background) and are looking for deeper answers; or perhaps recognize that, even if Love is all there is, it can still be a challenge to live a life of enlightenment as a human being on this planet. If you are in the latter category, you will likely find Lewis to be simplistic and passe.
Rating: 
Summary: 5 star concept, 2 star content
Review: What made this book so successful was the concept behind it. The originality and audacity with which Walsch proclaims himself to be a divine messenger, must pique anybody's interest. However, I found that Walsch's God did not always click with me. Sometimes he said some pretty agreeable things but at other times he was obscure, repetitive and often outright contradictory. At best, the dialogue sparks off thought processes of your own about subjects which don't receive enough thought. But I would like to think that my God would reveal himself with greater clarity.
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