Rating: 
Summary: The embodiment of smugness
Review: Halperin's book is like the literary embodiment of Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh at their worst. Transparently political and overpoweringly self-congratulatry, this book takes recycled eighties era ideas (which were, themselves, a re-hash of century-old dogma...but that's another article) and presents them in a simplistic, predicitable fashion. Like Ingraham or Limbaugh, Halperin underestimates his audience with a belief that he is getting his political leanings under the radar of his reader. These attempts are both obvious and insulting.Even given this, I would have been willing to give Halperin a chance. I've enjoyed both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged which were somewhat similar structure. However, I just can't get over how gosh-darn talentless Halperin's writing is. His characters are simplistic and one dimensional, his plot is formulaic and uninteresting, and his politics are both mean and smug. If there is any book which deserves to receive Dorthy Parker's advice of being thrown aside with great force, this is the one. Better yet, just don't even bother with it.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique and valuable.
Review: I found the Truth Machine a very thought-provoking novel. The whole concept of a society coming to embrace truth when it has been founded on a lie, however justifiable, is unique. It is a shame that we seem to be headed further and further away from this need for truth, as criminals appear to be given more rights than the citizens they violate. While I think the Truth Machine is unlikely to ever be developed for an altruistic purpose (Call me cynical, but I am sure some governmentis busily working on something like this to help achieve world domination!), I do believe a mechanism that can weed out the criminals and identify people that need mental help would be of enormous benefit to our society. I do think that depending on it too much would be a huge mistake as there will always be someone that will find a way to undermine it and use it to their own ends, and the amount of damage they could do before they were discovered would be phenomenal. Call it a fear of putting all my eggs in one basket. Still, I applaud the idea and the fact that this book is making more people think about where we are headed, and that may be an even more valuable purpose than an actual truth machine. I'd be interested to know if the author has read the Celestine Prophecy, and what he thinks of that in relation to his own goals and ideas!
Rating:
Summary: Kept me on my toes.
Review: I want to thank and congratulate Mr.Halperin for writing this insightful novel. I have never read a book that has forced me to stop and think so deeply about where our world (every one of us) is headed. His predictions (especially the ones within the next ten years) are believable, plausible, and frightening. The Truth Machine is very effective in foretelling a future for us, for it includes social, political, technological, and personal views of society. I am anxious to read his new book, The First Immortal, and expect to feel the freight train of reality heading towards me at full speed once again.
Rating:
Summary: Mind Expanding Fiction
Review: I have just finished reading The Truth Machine, and I think it was one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read. I can also say the same about The First Immortal. Besides all the issues dealing with ethics and morals and right and wrong, both of these books make me wonder about the future. Recently, I went hunting with my dad on the Ogeechee river near Midville, GA. We were standing on the bank by a fire waiting for our dinner to cook, and the phone rang, how neat! It was my wife checking on me (She is very sweet). After the conversation was over my dad and I were talking about how only five years ago that would not have happened (I know the technology was present but not at a cost I was willing to pay). Both of these books make me wonder how different the world will be even ten years from now. I am afraid some of it will be for the worse ex., backpack sized nuclear bombs, however, I believe most of it will be for the best. Humans have not even scratched the surface of our potential and I think Mr. Halperin's books are inspiring because they give us a glimpse of what can be. I look forward to his next novel. Also, I heard that The First Immortal was going to be made into a movie, would that pass a SCIP?
Rating: 
Summary: thought provoking
Review: This book forces the reader to become introspective and envision himself in the authors world, a world where lies can't exist. Halperin writes a neat story that is firmly in the sci-fi genre but doesn't get bogged down with the scientific detail (in fact his detail is often too sketchy - leaving the reader a little lost). On the whole though, its excellent and intriguing, although just short of brilliance.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, intriguing and thought provoking.
Review: I found myself caught up in the story and the concepts explored. One of the purposes of fiction, besides entertainment, is to explore new possibilities. And it is fiction-- whether it can be real or not is not the point right now. I also liked Robert Doherty's THE ROCK and AREA 51 series.
Rating:
Summary: I Certainly Plan to Read Halperin's Future Works
Review: I prefer to read for leisure/entertainment and The Truth Machine certainly fulfilled that goal. This book also made me do some serious thinking. I didn't expect that. I'm delighted to find others who share my concern for the future of society/mankind/Earth and are willing to voice that concern and do some public, creative, and constructive brainstorming for solutions. This book restores some hope and faith that we will go on.
Rating:
Summary: Awful
Review: Paper thin plot, 1-dimensional characters, and soulless writing style make this one a true stinker. Add in the evangelical tone of the author, and it's unbearable. The raves 90% of other reviewers are giving it simply amazes me.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely mind-blowing!
Review: A positive look at the 21st century -- which was sorely needed. Very fast-paced. Options for the future that could very well be possible and may be necessary. People working to stop Armageddon, rather than trying to survive during or after the fact. I was sorry that the book ended so soon!!
Rating:
Summary: It left me conflicted and amazed.
Review: Just finished The Truth Machine, and like The First Immortal, it was amazing. These books are to the future, what Ayn Rands' Fountainhead is to Capitalism. So of course, the book leaves me conflicted. IF people react "appropriately" to TRUTH, then exposing it would be ideal, but how do you regulate humans' irrational nature and still allow for personal freedom? At any rate, the act of raising questions and encouraging thought is at least as important as the discovery of the answers. Thanks for asking, James.
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