emiged's review
5.0
I'm fairly possessive of my favorite books. When I read a book that strikes a chord deep within me, it becomes "mine" in a far truer sense than can be conveyed by simply owning a collection of papers with words printed on them. So when I say I feel more ownership of Project Conversion: One Man, 12 Faiths, One Year than I usually do over my favorite books, it means something. Project Conversion fundamentally changed the way I view and approach those of other faiths, and deepened my appreciation for my own.
Read the rest of my review on my blog at Build Enough Bookshelves
Read the rest of my review on my blog at Build Enough Bookshelves
melkelsey's review
4.0
This is a book of a man immersing himself in a different faith each month for a year. Before discovering this book I had told Ben I wanted to do something similar (but with a much smaller scope and for different reasons), so I was very excited to read this book. I loved learning about the various faiths. A lot of preconceived notions disappeared and greater love and more understanding appeared. It was interesting to read about Bowen's experience in my faith. This book is not for someone who sees things as black and white. It's for those who are willing to see God and faith through a myriad of lenses. Bowen's spiritual experiences/visions were very interesting and beautiful to me. A book well worth reading.
aschwennsen's review
3.0
Good idea
Good idea
I thought that the idea for Project Conversion was a great one, however because it was a personal journey I feel like the descriptions of each religion were sometimes inconsistent. I think it's a great idea but maybe not the best book.
Good idea
I thought that the idea for Project Conversion was a great one, however because it was a personal journey I feel like the descriptions of each religion were sometimes inconsistent. I think it's a great idea but maybe not the best book.
eoppelt's review
3.0
I admire Bowman's goal to become more compassionate. I would have liked it if the book was more about what he experienced with each religion. The long philosophical ponderings were no doubt useful and powerful to him, but I was hoping for more facts and events and less stream of consciouness. I don't feel like I learned much about any of the religions, what Bowman did to practice them or what the end result was. He was so in the moment that it felt like reading a draft of a journal rather than a finished book. I admire the concept and the goal; I just wish I knew more than the book told me.
I must say, that as someone who was raised Mormon, his description of his interactions with the Mormon missionaries left me laughing. It was spot on. Focusing on feelings over facts, pleading for conversion, using the same scriptures over and over and blaming the investigator when God doesn't respond how the missionaries promised God would is classic missionary behavior.
I must say, that as someone who was raised Mormon, his description of his interactions with the Mormon missionaries left me laughing. It was spot on. Focusing on feelings over facts, pleading for conversion, using the same scriptures over and over and blaming the investigator when God doesn't respond how the missionaries promised God would is classic missionary behavior.
bookwormmichelle's review
3.0
I really liked SO MUCH of this book. I really believe the world would be a much better place if we understood each other's religions much better, and this book is GREAT for that! I learned a LOT reading this story of a man who chooses a different "religion" each month of a year; he really learns all he can, lives it as honestly as he can and tries to see the world through each religion's eyes. LOVED that!
What I wasn't so crazy about---over-the-top emotiveness. Not exactly an even-keel sort of guy, the author has what he feels to be a desperately anguishing past, and EVERY FEW PAGES of this book, some event in his life "devastates" him, "turns his world upside down", etc. What sort of things? Um, a car running out of gas. A dog getting sick. Nasty comments on a blog. Weird visions he says he sees sitting on a river bank. Where his childhood imaginary friend tells him he's going to die. Oh, and one month he decides his "spirit animal" is a giant multicolored chicken. Then he invents his own religion he calls The Fluid Life. Then he converts to Catholicism. This part of the book exhausted me.
What I wasn't so crazy about---over-the-top emotiveness. Not exactly an even-keel sort of guy, the author has what he feels to be a desperately anguishing past, and EVERY FEW PAGES of this book, some event in his life "devastates" him, "turns his world upside down", etc. What sort of things? Um, a car running out of gas. A dog getting sick. Nasty comments on a blog. Weird visions he says he sees sitting on a river bank. Where his childhood imaginary friend tells him he's going to die. Oh, and one month he decides his "spirit animal" is a giant multicolored chicken. Then he invents his own religion he calls The Fluid Life. Then he converts to Catholicism. This part of the book exhausted me.
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