Published Reviews

Reviewed by Jerome Gitt, Palm Desert, CA.

The history of man and religion made understandable. I was amazed how the author took the most difficult and controversial subjects in human history--the beginning of mankind and religion--and presented her thoughts so clearly. Jane Broida Drake should be a college 'religion' or 'philosophy' professor, in addition to being a fine author. This is a "must read" for all who have thought about how the earth and mankind began, the differences among the major religions, and our future on this planet.

Reviewed by Vicki Bodhaine, Springfield, OR.

A Good Read with an Urgent Message! This book really filled the bill for me. I had been searching forever for a highly readable, well-researched and intelligent book on comparative religion AND a book about God, free of organized religions' doctrines. In Ms. Drake's book I found both!! Her book points the way to love and hope through God at a time when mankind is standing on the brink of nuclear and/or biological destruction. The current state of 'unpeace' between Israel and Palestine is that brink. I found myself reading and rereading the last half of her book--and then actually starting to read the Old and New Testaments. Ms Drake delivers something new: God's messages without static!!!

Reviewed by Timothy E. McMahon, Lincoln, Rhode Island

Jane Broida Drake has put together a truly thought provoking work. In "Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium," Ms. Drake brings a host of unsettling questions to the forefront. She writes eloquently about God's defining characteristics of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. She also asks us to look into some of the more troubling aspects of our religious writings. For instance, where does Noah's tale figure into our understanding of God as a promise keeper and the story of destruction that follows? The author also causes the reader to stop and think about how our sacred texts present such difficult concepts as fratricide, incest and deceit and then reconcile that with an all powerful, all knowing God.

This book will certainly give the reader pause for thought and perhaps the desire for a second or third read through. It also does well in its efforts to draw together Muslim, Christian, and Hebrew scripture while pointing out the historical basis for the divisions we see today. In a time when it is altogether too simple to see the differences in the three major religions, this author does well to point out our historical and religious commonalties. This is a work packed with information and therefore a work that calls for deep thought and study. "Of Promises and Previews" will make a sound addition to the libraries of those who collect works on comparative religion and for those interested in these three hugely important faiths.

Reviewed by James Schaeffer, Mountain View, CA.

I Loved this book!!!! This book is FANTASTIC!!! Whether you have strong religious beliefs or none at all this book has something to offer you. Ms. Drake shows us what life is REALLY about and what we REALLY should be doing to make this world a better place to live in…She also shows us in great detail how people have used God's messages in hateful ways to prove their own ideas correct and absolute.

I was unable to use the word "God" without cringing before reading this book because of my bad experiences with religion and the "devout" that preach it. Now I have a greater understanding of what the Bible was really saying and that it actually did have a beautiful message of love and tolerance not damnation, as I was led to believe. She does this from a very factual and educated perspective, rather than an emotional one, citing many passages from different religious 'Bibles'. I absolutely LOVED this book and appreciate my newfound love of God again. This is definitely a must read book!!!!!

If you would like to read the Introduction of the book Of Promises and Previews, I have posted it on this site. You can download it for free.

Download "Blessed Are The Peacemakers"
(includes the Introduction to Of Promises and Previews