Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Oct 09, 2008

Garry rated it:

This book was give to me by a friend, obviously concerned with my immortal soul, and I'll quote, "Garry, this may be the most important book you ever read in your entire life." Needless to say, I'm now concerned for my friends soul as well. His literary soul, which is obviously in dire straits.

TWENTY THREE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE WITH ME ON MY SOJOURN TO HELL AND THE DARK REALMS

1. My immortal soul (for bartering purposes)

2. Sunscreen SPF 75 or w More...

4 comments like (17 people liked it)

Feb 25, 2009

Tim rated it:

From a literary standpoint, 23 Minutes in Hell was an abomination. The first part of the book deals with the authors descent into Hell. The narrative is peppered with biblical references as well as personal anecdotes in an attempt to get the reader to believe his story using very fuzzy 'logic'. The intent is clear: Do whatever it takes to stay out of Hell.
The middle of the book tells of his conversion to Christianity and the end is an appendix of scripture and references which seem to More...

5 comments like (12 people liked it)

Nov 22, 2008

Beth rated it:

This was the most unusual book I have ever read. I never want to be in hell for eternity. The author says he not only saw images of hell, but that he experienced it physically and emotionally for 23 minutes.

Can you go to hell and live to tell about it?
Do children go to hell?
Will good people only go to heaven?
Are there demons in hell?
Is hell a real place with real fire?
Will you remember your life on earth while in hell?

This book answers all th More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Aug 01, 2011

Gerald rated it:

When a person states, “Thus Says The Lord”, they need to be ready to be scrutinized thoroughly to make sure their testimony matches with God’s revealed word, in Scripture, already says. Unfortunately, Wiese’s account of his “visit” to Hell does not pass this review. Wiese’s story is that he was asleep, went to Hell for 23 minutes, Christ told him he came to Hell so he could tell others that Hell is real and that Christ does not want anyone to end up in Hell. There is really nothing new in thi More...

0 comments like

May 10, 2011

Trent rated it:

OK, so now that I spilled the beans on how little I have read all my life, anyone that read my last book review knows that this would be book number 3 (Who moved my cheese, Jim Breuer, & 23 Minutes in Hell) but its actually number 4, but I will review the other one at a later time. I am still trying to figure out what I think of the book... Anyway, this book "23 Minutes in Hell" was excellent! A lot of people probably wouldn't believe the guy who writes it and I am kind of 50/50 and More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 07, 2010

Adel rated it:

While being a good story, I feel as though 23 Minutes In Hell didn't serve it's purpose. It's purpose being to persuade those into believing that Bill Wiese really did get sent into Hell for 23 minutes by the Lord.

Notice that I did not mark it as a Nonfiction book, because, honestly, he did not do a too good job of persuading me to believe that this story is real. I do not think it really happened, but perhaps I am too stubborn of a person.

The story aspect of it was ama More...

0 comments like

Mar 23, 2010

Rod rated it:

I really wanted to like this book. What a cool miracle if God took someone to hell for a few minutes so that they could comeback and share the experience with the rest of us...

But the theological skeptic in me says: "God doesn't usually work this way".
And after reading this book i'm still convinced he hasn't. Sorry Bill; but I think your trip to hell was NOT from God. I believe other famous confused people have had visions as well: Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Buddha...An More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 09, 2009

Michael rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 02, 2009

Raleighhunter rated it:

I liked the book, however, I understand all the low reviews. The description of Hell is brought up right off and dealt with quickly. The rest of the book is confirmation he isn't crazy and scripture references. So there aren't 130 pages of gory detail. Plus, it is his witness tool, so if you're not believing his message, you aren't going to be impressed. I believe Hell is a real place and people are there because the reject the gift of God's salvation. That is what the Bible preaches. If you don More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 14, 2009

Crystal rated it:

Only 135 pages, I was determined to read it over the weekend. Good, short read. Bill Wiese is, or was at the time of this horrific experience, a happily married, real esate agent and Christian - not a creative, trained writer so no one should expect to be entertained, obviously this isn't meant for entertainment. But he did a lot of research into the subject and acknowledges the biblical research of Dane Bundy which he's referenced throughout.
Wiese was reluctant to even believe this h More...

0 comments like

May 02, 2011

Josh rated it:

This book was good for it's content. I believe in a literal Hell and his description and experience was definitely moving and scary for those headed to Hell.

The book was a hard read for me despite the content and my interest. The writing seemed choppy and scattered at times.

I will recommend this book to everyone for the description of Hell. The biblical references and the question and answer session in the second half of the book are worth recommending to all.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 01, 2009

Ash rated it:

Overall, the book wasn't horrible, but not very good at all. I wouldn't recommend buying it - it would be a waste of $ overall. It would be more worth it to just go to the bookstore and sit down with it and read the few pages where he describes his experiences in hell and then his subsequent speaking with Jesus afterwards. That is basically the only part worth reading in the book. But then even after that, you wonder WHAT really happened in the kitchen to cause him to end up seeing himself i More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 17, 2010

Tom rated it:

The author purports to have had a vison from God in which he is sent to Hell for 23 minutes. The purpose, he says, is so he can tell lost people what's in store for them, and to persuade them to accept salvation from Christ. As a Christian, I don't buy it. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a story (Luke 16:19-31) of a foolish rich man who dies and is sent to Hell. He first asks Abraham (who is looking on from Heaven) for a drop of water, and Abraham refuses. He then asks the following (vv. 27-3 More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 08, 2009

Rhonda rated it:

Although extremely controversial to anyone who does not take the Bible literally, this book will give the reader a BIBLICAL perspective of the terror and utter hopelessness of what awaits those who fail to believe and act upon the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Scriptures.

The subject of hell is not something that should be taken lightly or casually - and so this book is not what I would call 'light reading'.

I do believe that this book can be a definite tool, More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 17, 2010

Larah rated it:

California born Bill Wiese tells about his personal experience of Hell. He tells how he was lying in bed at 3 a.m. when he was sent into hell. It was not in a dream, but in reality. Not because he had died and was being punished, but because God wanted him to experience hell so he could warn others. Wiese believes that after 23 minutes of Hell, Jesus came to rescue him and led him back to earth, where he landed on his living room floor.
This book is very detailed from the very beginning More...

0 comments like

Feb 21, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

This book with its title and cover (flames) and reviews “this book is the closest you will ever come to experiencing hell yourself” makes you think that the great majority of this book is going to be about someone’s experience in hell. No. Infact, only the first 20 pages are just that. I went into this book with an open mind and with all the people I had heard speak of this book, saying how much it scared them to the core, I was hopeful that it would have that same effect on me... that maybe t More...

6 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 19, 2011

Samantha rated it:

This book is soooo great! There is no way Bill could be lieing> I really respect him for doing everything he could to get the message out! This book really makes you want to pray more. This book changed my life. Every one should read this book, christian or not christian.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 18, 2012

Giovanna rated it:

After reading this book, I am only sure of one thing; Hell has 10 Chapters and 168 pages (including notes.) Not worth the read. Its as if Bill Weise noted scriptures and described them with grotesque amounts of overkill, then decided to label it "An Experience." His Biblical references were terribly off for noting what he was talking about. If you read the verses in which he has footnoted, its more than obvious that many of those scriptures aren't to do with Hell at all. Furthermore, W More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 21, 2009

Scott rated it:

My main problem with this book is that, while I feel that he tells his story with great conviction, my modern cynical mind can't help but wonder if he's just another Fundie with an active imagination, seeing and hearing God speaking to him in every little thing. Was it really a trip to Hell, or an extremely vivid nightmare? His descriptions of Hell and the creatures that live there do coincide with the Biblical depictions, but again, was it designed to or is it genuine? Nothing in his persona More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 08, 2011

Richard rated it:

A bad book literary speaking but I won't hold that against the author as he never pretended to be a Shakespeare.
As for the content and the intent, this is probably one of the most dishonest books you'll ever come across. When you are done reading this, you realize that this is below-the-belt proselytism and nothing more. The author literally hammers at your intellectual defenses to try and convince you to become a church goer, think Jesus this, Jesus that and so on. He pretends to have act More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 15, 2009

Kendra rated it:

I am not going to say whether or not I believe Mr. Wiese actually went to Hell or not. I believe that it is entirely possible that he did, but I am not going to say that I 100% believe it either. The book however does make you think hard about eternity and whether or not you want to spend it in a place of torment. Some of the scriptures that were quoted in the book I am not entirely sure were actually quotes about Hell, but that is arguable I suppose. It was a very short book, a lot shorter than More...

0 comments like

Jul 13, 2011

Joan rated it:

I liked the book. I thought that the timing of events was divine intervention. It goes to show you that god is real, alive and well. I like the fact that I can have a relationship with someone who cares about my everyday events in life. Life would be boring without a spiritual connection. God knows sex, money, power, things, etc. Don't make you happy. Only god gives a different happy. A happy with joy and simplicity. And only He knows the true person inside so nobody knows who will go where. I j More...

0 comments like

May 01, 2009

Olia rated it:

now that i am almost done with a book, i don't think i will be able to fall asleep, i always thought of myself , as a good person, but it seems, being good is not going to get you to heaven, this book is very informative and interesting, but it does not give all the answers, also it was nice to find out there is not going to be any children in hell, but what about the rest of us, and it is kind of hard to accept the fact given, that so many will end up there, and how harsh it is going to be, it More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Aug 14, 2009

Bells added it

Walking along the aisle in the bookstore, I see this propped up next to 90 minutes in Heaven. Because, you see, if the promises of gold and pearl streets and heavenly choirs are not enough to entice those you are converting, putting the fear of Hell in them should do the trick!

That's what I always say.

Of course, I have not converted anyone yet... so... there you have it.

You know what breaks my heart? That people put this crap in their kid's heads. That peopl More...

3 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 27, 2010

Dee rated it:

This book was horrifying as expected. Much of it based on the author's interpretation of the bible. Was it a dream? A vision? I don't know. I believe God wants us all to go to heaven. Hell is for those who refuse to work towards holiness. As scary as this book was, I still remain sceptical. It certainly is a wakeup call for all. Many people don't address the spiritual side of their lives and live more for themselves than for God and others. We should all consider the spiritual side. T More...

0 comments like

May 05, 2010

Michelle rated it:

I was very curious about this book, because I had read 90 Minutes in Heaven. I started reading this book and just got a strange feeling about it, so I started reading it as a Bible study book. When he would reference Bible verses to back up his claims I would look them up as well and look at the verses around it. When I started doing this, I noticed that he is full of crap. He was quoting Bible verses that had nothing to do with what he was trying to reference. In my opinion he was just out More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 26, 2009

John rated it:

My frien Kelly let me have this book. It's about a Christian guy who has some sort of revelation and sees hell and stuff. I don't think hell is so literal, but he does. I liked how it was one of those stories where a guy wants you to bvelieve his unbelievable story. I don't know if I should believe him, but the guy tries hard nonetheless, which is why I somewhat believe him. I think he reall was sent by God to warn us in some way. He didn't tell us what we're doing wrong though. I wish he could' More...

0 comments like

May 25, 2011

Colleen rated it:

I know that the author experienced this himself and he has been doing speaches regarding the information however a speaking voice is not a writer's voice. The attempt was presented in story form but broken down for discussion so there was no flow to the story nor the information.

As a Bible Banging Christian I had hoped to give an, "all must read" review but this author should have sought out a editor for assistance. Even as a book for small group study the information is s More...

0 comments like

Dec 03, 2011

Joey rated it:

There are a number of reasons why we should not believe the validity of Wiese's account.

Now, I am a conditionalist (I believe the lost will be destroyed, not tormented for eternity). However, even when I did believe that Hell was a place of eternal torment, as Wiese describes, I could still see a number of flaws and reasons to be doubtful.

1. He had this vision in his sleep, in the course of less than 23 minutes (23 minutes passed between him seeing his clock before and af More...

0 comments like

Apr 29, 2009

subterraneanhomesickalien rated it:

retarded beyond words.

1 comment like (6 people liked it)