Levels

by Jim Vuksic

For years, Jonathan has been taught that too much knowledge acquired too soon does more harm than good. That's what the sacred texts teach. Jonathan knows the sacred texts and the tales of ancient times backward and forward. He has heard them his entire life, and they have shaped his perception of the world. But perception and reality are often very different.

Levels follows Jonathan as his formal primary education comes to an end. After a lifetime of learning by rote from the ancient texts and doing whatever his teachers tell him to do, Jonathan now has a chance to explore his world for himself and put the teachings he knows so well to the test. Jonathan leaves school and advances to the next level in his rigidly structured society. He is subjected to an orchestrated series of physical and mental challenges. To advance to the highest levels of his society and at last learn the true nature of the sheltered world in which he was raised, Jonathan must display courage, tolerance, and maturity.

As Jonathan and his classmates advance to their society's highest levels, they are gradually exposed to a surprisingly diverse group of people. They also begin to learn just how much has been kept from them during their lives. Only if Jonathan reaches his society's highest level will he be able to learn the truth about his world and the organization that controls it. Will Jonathan prove worthy of advancement? Or will he remain sheltered from the truth he desperately longs to learn?

Genres: Science Fiction

380 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published August 9, 2011

About the author

Jim Vuksic was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1961 he left home to attend St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1965.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966 and is a Vietnam veteran. After being discharged, Jim was hired by the H.J. Heinz company. Five promotions and 33 years later, he retired as the manager of the company's food processing facility in Pittsburgh.
In 1970, Jim married his late wife, Elaine. They had five children and were loving partners for 35 wonderful years.

Levels is his first book. {Available in: paperback (376 pages), e-Book download (Kindle/Nook/Tablet), audio book on CD (9 discs), and audio download - 8 hours listening time, narrated by Stephen Rozzell.}

Reviews

[Christine Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I purchased the book “Levels” by Jim Vuksic. I do not know the author personally and have had only encounters with him as a friend on the Goodreads site. I had no communication with him at any time about this book. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.

Be advised that although the author did review my book, this is NOT a reciprocal review as we are both adamant about only reviewing honestly. I wanted to read this book and hoped I would truly enjoy the read. I did. I rarely give 5 stars but this book deserves every one of them. It is an amazing read.

I read it twice and I’m quite sure I will read it again from time to time. It had a remarkable impact on me and provided a very clear and concise explanation of the philosophy that could make our society a very peaceful and intelligent one.

From the first chapter I found this book unique. The pace was smooth and continued that way throughout the book. It was never boring or exciting, but held my interest completely and I often had trouble putting it down.

Unlike many futuristic stories, this book goes to the next step. It tells the story of an advanced society successful in its goals; one that has no need to engage in major battles. That success makes this book unique, fascinating, and disturbing all at the same time. There are no wars, battles, blood, suspense, or tension only experience and enlightenment. The conclusion is unexpected.

As I followed Jonathan and his various friends through their education and experiences, you get the feeling you are there with them. This book creates unusual emotional and personal connections laced with a truly deep sense of logic. It is an excellent read, and I highly recommend this book. I wish everyone would read it at least once.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Very well written, easy to understand.
It was great getting to know the boys and learning along with them about the world and life.
I smiled, teared up and laughed throughout the story.
I would love to read the same story from the girl's point of view.
Looking forward to whatever Jim Vuksic decides to write next.

[Emma]

I were excited to read this book which I won on a giveaway. I were not disappointed, I often found myself waking up in the middle of the night & intending on reading just a couple of pages but then ending up reading a couple of chapters. The start draws you in, it reminded me of being a child myself, theirs always one kid in the class falling asleep & if you are sat next to them you try to discreetly wake them before the teacher notices & you all get punished or the teacher starts the lesson again! The characters will remind you of your own friends when you were growing up which is a nice touch. When you read about something like killing strands you may not know what they are to start with but that just makes you keener to read on & find out. Theirs some surprises in there about relationships, I did wonder at one point where it may be going with a certain type of relationship but were pleasantly surprised (I'm trying really hard not to give too much away here) & also about disability, being disabled myself I want to go live in that world because in this world its true that most people either think those with disabilities are totally useless or we're seen as special, their seem to be very few people who just see disabled people as people. Theirs some good humour in this book too, mostly when the boys are finding it difficult to understand various things & I found it made sense from what they had so far learnt that they would struggle to understand certain things. It's nice to see an interesting story of a future after we've destroyed ourselves that doesn't need dramatic incidents like wars to make it a good read.
Their is an audio download included with this book which I will certainly be making use of, most books I read once then off they go to the charity shop but this one gets a place on the bookshelf. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for any more books by this author

[Erika Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.... I was happy and excited to have won my first giveaway and I can tell you nothing could have prepared me for the amazing world that Mr. Vuksic created.

I fear in giving any commentary I would unfortunately give away parts to this story you HAVE to explore for yourself.

As an avid reader and author I highly recommend this book to anyone up for a good peek into another world.

Well done Jim!!!

Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads!!!

[Jade F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book following my acquaintance - via Goodread group - of the author. Browsing his profile I realised he published a book which synopsis made palatable for my taste in dystopian plots. I wasn't disappointed.

Levels is a truly inspiring story. Its simple, no-nonsense and yet deep approach to subjects of social interest is a soothing balm one can apply to the disappointment many of us experience, from time to time, about the way humans interact with one another. The protagonists are grown into men by means of a knowledge dispensed in experiences, rather than just teachings, but never before they are ready to fully engage with and comprehend them. They are lectured when they ask - how wonderful that would be? - they question themselves rather more than their peers and complete an emotional journey most of us haven't even started.
Mainly because we were never in need to start it, as instead are they.

Levels is the perfect book to teach children (but not only!) about the value of individuality, equality, diversity, sacrifice, humbleness, duty and a lovely dystopian story to make grown-ups think.
Could we need readdressing our behaviours, and if yes, why? Levels brings everyone up a notch on the issues it gently touches during the unravelling of the plot; it literally takes the reader to the next level, along with its protagonists!
I can see it as a great summer reading especially for kids approaching puberty.
Without being disconcerting, the happenings reveal the core information we all required at that point in life about all things related to social interaction. A lovely book I recommend.

[Craig Furchtenicht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Levels had so many elements of a well-written novel. The main character, Jonathan, was structured as a likeable person whose struggles made me more than sympathetic to. The complex plot paints a picture of a subterranean culture surviving in a dystopian setting. It is well orchestrated and full of twists and turns. It would make for a great series or perhaps a series of films. Vuksic's writing is clean and disciplined.
That being said, I would have liked to see the author step outside the safe zone and not be so "clean" when it came to the dialogue or the situations. A lot is left to the imagination when it came to the sub-plots. Sometimes too much to keep the flow constant.
Overall this book is highly imaginative and well worth the read.