The Savvy Convert's Guide to Choosing a Religion by Knock Knock

by Knock Knock

With this consumer guide, readers can review 99 world religions and utilize proven shopping comparison techniques to base their decision about which to adopt on the things that really matter - what you have to wear, whether you can have sex, what you can and can't wear, and where you'll go when you die.

Genres: Religion, Humor, Nonfiction, Education

Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Knock Knock is an independent maker of clever gifts, books, and whatever else they can think up. Their mission is to bring humor, creativity, and smarts to everyday life. Knock Knock’s crackerjack in-house team creates products and develops books from the ground up—as well as collaborating with outside authors, bloggers, and other creative types. Whether producing sticky notes or a volume of thoroughly researched nonfiction, Knock Knock happily dispenses irreverence, wordplay, and wit from its sunny perch in Venice, California, to folks around the globe.

Say something more with #knockknockstuff, and satisfy all your witty needs at knockknockstuff.com.

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book. It didn't take itself too seriously but it was informative about some of the lesser known religions. I think this would be an entertaining read to anyone who is interested in learning something new. It's a short and sweet take on 99 religions, some standard ones like Judaism and Christian sects, some world wide ones like Jainism and Zoasterism and some fringe religions like The Family, Scientology and the Moonies. Also tells you what religion is best for your interests (whether you like free thinking or an overpowering leader).

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sacrelicious

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my dad bought me this book, I assumed it was more a joke than anything (like a nudge for instance), but I decided to read it nonetheless. I quickly found, largely to my surprise, that I kind of enjoyed it. For someone like me, who likes to express an interest in religions, but gets bored pretty quickly whenever I try to read a religious text front to back (e.g. getting past Leviticus is a major hurdle), the 1-page summaries on 99 different religions was a good starter amount of info.

The main idea was to place religion in a global marketplace of competing brands, comparing them side by side against a variety of traits like activities, paraphernalia, deities, number of adherents, conversion difficulty, time commitment, cost, perks, drawbacks, etc. The format is forced at times, but I came away with some new facts about religions I'm aware of and basic info about a bunch of religious movements outside the mainstream... John Frum, Rosicrucians, Discordianism! I also love how "Spiritual but not religious" is a religion, and apparently most of my friends are members. As for me, I'm plan on becoming the 40,001st member of the Church Universal and Triumphant.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This looked as though it would be a good book to read for somebody with my religious beliefs (I am a happy and contented - but tolerant - atheist). I had even planed out my review before I started to read the book; telling the people following the various religions mentioned to grow up and get a sense of humour. Unfortunately I then I read it. Three laughs from nearly 200 pages is not a good return by anybody’s standards. The only thing offensive about this book is that it sets out to entertain and fails; and the $10 dollars I spent on it on my holiday in Las Vegas could have been better wasted elsewhere! I stuck with it only because I have never voluntarily left a book unfinished no matter how low below my initial expectations it fell. There are good books illustrating that blind faith is stupid: this is not one of them.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read this cover to cover...it's more of a reference/browsing book, with one-page descriptions for each of 99 religions, plus shorter sections on a few others. I was surprised that there were so many religions (especially of non-Western and New Age origin) I hadn't heard of before, and there were still a few I could think of that didn't make it into the book!

The book is written in a somewhat humorous way, and isn't very thorough, so I wouldn't rely on it as your only source of religious education, but it's worth looking at if you're curious about the sheer variety of religions people follow.

[Jared Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book three times now and refer to it wherever I meet someone who is of a different religion. So far the only religion that wasn't in there when I went to check is Thelema, founded by Aleister Huxley in the early 1900s. It's very concise, seems almost entirely unbiased and covers every key point you need to know about a religion at a glance. In my case it worked as advertised, as I chose the religion perfect for myself on the first read through after narrowing it down to just three options.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best Christmas gifts I ever received.
I actually shrieked with laughter!!!
It is a catalogue raisonne of all religions, going over basic belief, pros and cons, and props and accessories needed!!! What fun!!! We read it out loud and tried to decide which would fit whom best!!!
I would heartily recommend if you are an irreverent iconoclast.... However, if you have a truly religious bend to your soul, please abstain... the book is sure to infuriate you.

[dirt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and informative. The giant smorgasbord of religions that are examined in this book are treated equally, which is refreshing. The authors do have a good old fashioned whimsical time while examining people's different beliefs, but they never disparage anyone's faith.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative!

[Will Buckingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly informative...

[Bookshark · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny and quite accurate. Definitely worth a read, even if you just flip through it.

[V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and very tongue-in-cheek kind of funny.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hillarious!