April Papke's Blog
October 25, 2022
You know you've written a good book when all the genuine reviews are positive, and the fake negative "reviews" start rolling in
It seems I've "made it" as an author. All of the reviews coming in for my book by genuine readers are all positive: 4 and 5 stars! But it seems that across various platforms, namely amazon and now here on goodreads, there have been a few unsavory, dishonest, and cruel people who wish to drag down the success of others; posting fake 1 star reviews that attack me as an individual, rather than properly reviewing the book.
I'd like to take a moment and celebrate genuine negative reviews. My very first review was a passionate, negative, 1 star review by an atheist who took the time to read the book and posted what they thought. Despite their negative review, I was over the moon that they felt that strongly, and seemingly "enjoyed" my book to that extent. The negative review, then, was not about the quality of the book (which they found no fault in), but rather a disagreement of perspective; exactly the sort of debate and discussion I wish to foster with my book!
However, it's clear these recent negative reviews are not a discussion of the book's content, but an attack on me as a person. They lie about me, claiming I engage dishonestly (when I have presented online as nothing but myself), or that I say "woowoo". One "reviewer" failed to realize that I am not a re-convert to religion, as I was not raised religious in any capacity. They would know this if they actually read the book; in which I explain my history with religion.
Hilariously, this exact behavior is what I had predicted in the book, and is why I open and close the book thanking readers for taking the time to consider my words, and to engage honestly. It's all I ask. All too often, people wish to attack others on their character, rather than discuss the content of what they say.
Hopefully Amazon and Goodreads will do the right thing and remove these hateful "reviews" that do not actually review the book (the "reviewers" clearly have not read it!). I fully welcome negative reviews, but please write them after you've read the book, and not before! Also, let's keep the discussion to religion and the arguments presented, yeah? And not me and my character?
But I suppose you can't reach success without running across haters.
Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality is available on amazon in eBook format for $4.99, free on Kindle Unlimited, and paperback for $11.99. It's also made it's way onto Barnes&Noble in paperback form.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes&Noble
I'd like to take a moment and celebrate genuine negative reviews. My very first review was a passionate, negative, 1 star review by an atheist who took the time to read the book and posted what they thought. Despite their negative review, I was over the moon that they felt that strongly, and seemingly "enjoyed" my book to that extent. The negative review, then, was not about the quality of the book (which they found no fault in), but rather a disagreement of perspective; exactly the sort of debate and discussion I wish to foster with my book!
However, it's clear these recent negative reviews are not a discussion of the book's content, but an attack on me as a person. They lie about me, claiming I engage dishonestly (when I have presented online as nothing but myself), or that I say "woowoo". One "reviewer" failed to realize that I am not a re-convert to religion, as I was not raised religious in any capacity. They would know this if they actually read the book; in which I explain my history with religion.
Hilariously, this exact behavior is what I had predicted in the book, and is why I open and close the book thanking readers for taking the time to consider my words, and to engage honestly. It's all I ask. All too often, people wish to attack others on their character, rather than discuss the content of what they say.
Hopefully Amazon and Goodreads will do the right thing and remove these hateful "reviews" that do not actually review the book (the "reviewers" clearly have not read it!). I fully welcome negative reviews, but please write them after you've read the book, and not before! Also, let's keep the discussion to religion and the arguments presented, yeah? And not me and my character?
But I suppose you can't reach success without running across haters.
Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality is available on amazon in eBook format for $4.99, free on Kindle Unlimited, and paperback for $11.99. It's also made it's way onto Barnes&Noble in paperback form.
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes&Noble
October 15, 2022
Paperback version of "Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality" releases today!
The paperback version of "Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality" has just been published and is available now.Buy it on Amazon for $11.99.
October 8, 2022
"Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality" releases today!
I have published my first book today, titled "Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality". The book is tailored towards atheists and agnostics who may be having a hard time understanding or believing in religious and spiritual ideas. I come from an atheist background myself (growing up atheist, and converting to Christian Gnosticism at the age of 25), so I understand a lot of the struggles, complaints, and issues atheists tend to have with religious beliefs, and theists who try to advocate for such.
In my book I explain why atheism and agnosticism are intellectually dishonest positions to hold, what ignosticism and igtheism are and why atheists should be one, and educate and explain various religious ideas such as the soul and spirit, the afterlife, and indeed God's existence. These are backed with new philosophical arguments that aren't the usual fare, and aligns perfectly with science and is backed by the scientific consensus.
I use modern physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and information theory to demonstrate how it's atheism that requires "blind faith", rather than theism.
These ideas, views, arguments, and experiences come from nearly a decade of religious debates and discussions, and the arguments put forward have been shared with hundreds of atheists, yet never refuted.
The eBook version released today and is available for $4.99 in almost all regions and currencies sold on amazon. It's also available on Kindle Unlimited to read for free. A paperback version will be released in the next few weeks, so please stay tuned for that.
I hope you check it out and let me know what you think!
Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality
In my book I explain why atheism and agnosticism are intellectually dishonest positions to hold, what ignosticism and igtheism are and why atheists should be one, and educate and explain various religious ideas such as the soul and spirit, the afterlife, and indeed God's existence. These are backed with new philosophical arguments that aren't the usual fare, and aligns perfectly with science and is backed by the scientific consensus.
I use modern physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and information theory to demonstrate how it's atheism that requires "blind faith", rather than theism.
These ideas, views, arguments, and experiences come from nearly a decade of religious debates and discussions, and the arguments put forward have been shared with hundreds of atheists, yet never refuted.
The eBook version released today and is available for $4.99 in almost all regions and currencies sold on amazon. It's also available on Kindle Unlimited to read for free. A paperback version will be released in the next few weeks, so please stay tuned for that.
I hope you check it out and let me know what you think!
Religion for Skeptics: An Ex-Atheist's Guide to Spirituality
