Rating: 
Summary: Great Premise, Mediocre Execution
Review: This book, like the series it begins, takes a great premise...and fritters it away. The premise is that Biblical prophesies of the end times are true in the most literal possible sense. The opening chapters are good, as millions of Christians are carried to God in the blink of an eye, leaving behind little piles of clothing, rings, watches, false teeth-and driverless cars, planes, and buses. Also good is the way those who remain-the Left Behind of the title-seek to make sense of it all. A few recognize the event for what it is, but most turn to contrived explanations that exclude God: probably just what would indeed happen.Then the story stumbles. It would be better if it were presented as something like Christian science fiction-an extended "what if?" scenario similar to C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, or Narnia, or The Great Divorce. Instead, we get sermons on the details of the prophetic interpretation underlying that "what if"-designed to show which details of the scenario the authors believe are predicted by scripture, and which they invented to fill gaps. It doesn't matter whether you agree with the sermons or not. After a while, they kill the narrative in its tracks. Instead of a visceral story of people trying to come to grips with the Rapture, we get the start of a 12-book series, padded with hundreds of pages of sermons. As the series progresses, the plot also degenerates into a boring drone of car chases and narrow escapes. I am seven volumes into it and getting very tired of characters spending all their time running from things. These books are best for Christians seeking an action-adventure alternative to oversexed secular literature, especially if you don't really care that the plotting and characters are somewhat clunky. But beware of using anything more than this, the first book, as an evangelical tool. Your non-Christian friend may be used to better plotting. If you're looking for an action-adventure with a strong Christian character, try Alistair MacLean's Cold War spy novel, The Secret Ways. I don't know whether MacLean, author of Guns of Naverone, was a Christian, but he created an unforgettable Christian character. Meanwhile, Left Behind gets three stars: four for the premise but only two for the execution.
Rating: 
Summary: I wanna be left behind
Review: Is this what moronic evangelical Christians are reading? The Heaven's Gate cult made more sense. What absurd nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: okay if read as a novel
Review: When I first read this book I thought it was interesting but it sure didn't go with what I remembered from the Bible. In my Bible study groups we had not covered Revelations that much, so I had to go look up a few things. I discovered that many of the evangelists use a Bible written by a man named Scofield. He came from a dubious background. Look him up on the internet. While in prison for forgery, he converted to Christianity, of the Darbyite influence. Anyway, he ended up writing a Bible using his interpretations of what it meant, so of course, then he has changed it to his liking. But what the authors are saying is that we, believers in Jesus, will receive this Rapture they are talking about instead of going through the tribulations, but the original Bible does not say this. So I am wondering, if Armegeddon comes, and the Christians who believe what the authors are preaching, when they don't receive this Rapture when promised, will that make them turn away from God? Is this more a Satanic than a Christian book? I don't know, but I would suggest that before you take it as gospel, that you should look a little deeper. Jesus warned of us the false prophets. One thing good about the book is that it does make one want to get right with God. You might want to read the book "Forcing God's Hands..." by Grace Halsell, she has written a book explaining how this evangelical belief started and what it means and it is truly scary for the people of this world.
Rating:
Summary: We're doomed.
Review: When this kind of poorly written nonsense reaches mainstream recognition, you know we're on the road to cultural obliteration.
There is as much character development as in an uninspired installment of the Friday the 13th movies, no action, no plot... Just a bit of a horror story clearly designed to instill the fear of god into fence sitters. The biggest sin of this book is to not clearly identify itself as extreme christian material. I picked it up before a trip thinking it might be an interesting thriller, and I had no idea it would be such an idiotic, monodimensional, religion-obsessed piece of nonsense. Of course the book fanatics will tell you that it's simply an accurate description of what is going to happen soon so you'd better start praying. Anyway, I just wanted to warn you before you pick up this book: if you're born again there's nothing in the book you don't already know by heart, so save your money; and if you're a normal person with at least half of a functioning brain the inanity of this book will make your skin crawl before the end of the third chapter, guaranteed.
Rating:
Summary: Hehehehehe...
Review: Silly fairly tales. Even on its own bottom shelf level it is very poorly written stuff. Anyone who really believes this as truth is clearly a moron.
Rating:
Summary: "God Needs 12 Step Program!" or "4000 years of resentment"
Review: Hit, kick, bite, maim. Good golly! Love me or I'll hurt you. The king of hostage takers is shown for what he, she, or it is. The petulant son of no-one is pissed because some creations haven't lived up to his expectations. In A.A., they call expectations "reservations for resentments". Furthermore they point out resentments lead to failure. Boy does the God in "Left Behind" need therapy!!!! His, her, or its psycosis leads him, her, or it to believe WE made him do it. "LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO !!!!!!!!!!!!!' It's all our fault!
Another explanation for why the people disappear in the beginning is that THEY WERE THE MASOCHISTS. Who wants to hurt people if they are going to like it?
Rating: 
Summary: The trashy romance novel of religious literature
Review: I have to admit that part of my problem may have been that I had higher hopes for this book. One of my friends did his senior thesis on this series and, seeing that he had written about them in his thesis, I expected this book to be a well written novel; one of those books that really makes you think. I was very wrong. It is interesting enough, but the plot does not move very quickly and it seems as if it is written for someone who does not have a college education. If you are looking for a book to read on the beach during the summer, I recommend this series. It is not very intellectual and you can read it relatively quickly. However, if you are looking for a book to challenge you and really make you think... look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Are you Sure?
Review: Most people believe that being a Christian means living a good life, being kind to others, that kind of thing.
Most people are afraid to speak of their beliefs.
Most people would have stopped reading this by now.
Most people would be Left Behind upon the Rapture.
Most people who go to church do so out of some form of duty, to themselves, their family, social obligations ... and the more terrifying book in print is "Revelations" in the Bible.
Are you a Christian? Are you sure? Enough to wager the lives and souls of yourself and your family?
This book, this series, will challenge your beliefs, take you back to your Sunday School days, and start over again. It is frightening, unnerving, but gripping and intense. The characters presented are ones you can, in some way, identify with. Personally, I started reading the series when we were shopping for Christmas presents and my daughter pointed out the boxed set. I had just finished "The Da Vinci Code" and was very into the mysteries of Christian Mythology ... I still am, but now I have a better insight (I researched this; the authors are GOOD at what they write!)
Most people are sure they are good. Are you?
I challenge you to read this book, this series, then ask yourself ... are you Sure?
Rating: 
Summary: Guiltily enjoyed it, I must admit
Review: In its own way, this book has an entertainment value that is on par with, say, a John Grisham novel. As with Grisham, the reading is easy, you encounter straightforward and accessible characters, and you can count on plenty of follow-up material in precisely the same vein. I read Left Behind while at the beach, and I was entertained by it. I have a certain fascination with conservative Christian thought, and I enjoyed this read in the same perverse way that I enjoy listening to right-wing Christian radio. So, while I have a huge problem with the ideology of the Left Behind series, I won't let that impact my rating of this book. However, if you are approaching the book from anything more than an entertainment standpoint, then I would urge you to spend your time on deeper thinking about Christianity instead. That way, you stand a better chance of coming to grips with some of the troubling aspects of absolutist thinking and helping others make better decisions about their own beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad..but kinda boring
Review: I found myself bored with this book. I still haven't finished it. I enjoyed the character of the pilot and his problems, but was bored with the writer. I hope the rest of the series is better.
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