90 Minutes in Heaven

by Don Piper, Cecil Murphey

book data

2,841 ratings, 3.52 average rating, 889 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		23%
4		29%
3		28%
2		14%
1		4%

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published

September 1st 2004 by REVELL

binding

Paperback, 208 pages

isbn

0800759494 (isbn13: 9780800759490)

description

As he is driving home from a minister's conference, Baptist minister Don Piper collides with a semi-truck that crosses into his lane. He is pronounced...more

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05/17/07

Erin rated it:

After reading the back cover of this book and learning that the story was about a man who had been killed in a horrific car crash, went to heaven and then returned to life 90 minutes later, I had high expectations for a riveting read. I was really disappointed. I survived a harrowing car accident 2 years ago so expected this to be somewhat cathartic. Instead, I found the story to be recounted poorly and disjointedly. By far the largest problem with the book however was that the author is a S...more

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

2 comments

09/16/07

Jen rated it:

Read in December, 2007

This book probably doesn't deserve the two stars that I gave it, and some people may be angry that I didn't rate it higher. I saw it at the bookstore, waited to get it on hold at the library, and in the meantime had it highly recommended by a patient's spouse among other people, so I was quite excited when it was available to me. Then the holidays hit and I didn't have much time and well, the book was due yesterday...no worries, it's a short read, and it promises to be a very interesting read ...more

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

5 comments

04/02/08

Jessica Savage rated it:

Read in April, 2008

Well, hmmmm, not real sure what to say about this book because I don't want to be negative but I was definitely disappointed. I guess I expected more of the book to be about the heaven experience, not all about the recovery process. I kind of felt like I picked up a book on rehabilitation after a severe accident. There were parts that were interesting, and I did take some powerful messages from it here and there, but for the most part it was just repetitive and kind of dragged on.

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

2 comments

09/14/07

Wilma rated it:

Read in September, 2007

This book has received wonderful reviews but I had to force myself to finish it. Normally I love stories about near death experiences but I found this story poorly written and very repetitive. The author is a Southern Baptist minister and it appears that the music played in heaven is Christian. So if you're of another faith . . . forget it! Oops, sorry.

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05/01/08

Bert Gary rated it:

Read in April, 2008

Rev. Piper's description of "heaven" is brief and early in the book. If you want afterlife details, there are few to be found here. The problems are many with this book, but let me affirm Piper's ministry to persons confined to the fixator--a torturous contraption they use to try to save severely broken limbs. Piper presents several opportunities that he had to encourage and inform those who have to wear that thing. I commend him for that. I broke my neck and wore a halo for months. Mo...more Rev. Piper's description of "heaven" is brief and early in the book. If you want afterlife details, there are few to be found here. The problems are many with this book, but let me affirm Piper's ministry to persons confined to the fixator--a torturous contraption they use to try to save severely broken limbs. Piper presents several opportunities that he had to encourage and inform those who have to wear that thing. I commend him for that. I broke my neck and wore a halo for months. More than once I've had the opportunity to share my experience with someone having to wear that thing screwed into your skull. Not fun.

The biggest problem with this book is biblical. I don't have enough space here to show you this (that's why I'm writing a book about it: Heaven for Skeptics, due out late 2008), but biblical heaven isn't defined as an afterlife destination in the Bible. For example, Matthew's Gospel uses the word "heaven" (ouranos) seventy-seven times in sixty-eight verses, and not one of them has anything to do with where you go when you die. Instead, most of them have to do with a relational reality that is both present and coming in Jesus.

Jesus only spoke of the afterlife three brief times, yet modern evangelical Christianity plays the fear and death card up front, as if it's what Jesus talked about all the time, as if the whole point of Christianity is where you go when you die. Jesus rarely mentioned death and the afterlife. He spoke constantly about having Life real, rich, abundant, and eternal. He talked about what the kingdom of heaven is like, where it is, what you can do with it now, and how to enter it an live. Death, for example is mentioned by Jesus only only a couple of times (as defeated) in John's Gospel, but Life is front and center: nearly fifty times.

I have no doubt that Piper had a real experience that changed him forever. My concern is that he's merged his experience with his own theological ideology and agenda, focusing on death and the afterlife via his testimony. Is death and the afterlife the point of Christianity biblically? No. It's not. So it disturbs me when preachers do that. Threats and emotional manipulation by fear-based and death-focused tactics is neither biblical nor Christian. The scriptures don't say we go to heaven when we die. They say that the kingdom of heaven is coming to us when Jesus comes on resurrection day: "Thy kingdom come . . ."

Most of this book describes not Piper's "90 minutes in heaven" but pain, depression, recovery, and his present mission to tell his story. He had help writing it, but it doesn't show. It's rather wandering and repetitious. The good news, however, is that it's a quick read. It's a compelling story, admittedly. And while I don't recommend it for biblical and theological reasons, I wish Piper God's speed in his recovery and ministry.(less)

Like this review? yes (3 people liked it)

1 comment

03/12/08

Mike Hernandez rated it:

This book is about a guy who clinically dies in a car wreck for 90 minutes, until he miraculously comes back to life. While "dead" he experiences heaven and then proceeds to preach to everyone that will listen. I suppose if you are the spiritual Christian type, then you will find this book appealing and inspirational. I am extremely skeptical about these sorts of things and therefore can't relate well. The book was written by Don Piper with the help of an established writer. It was app...more

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01/01/09

Shay rated it:

Read in January, 2009

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

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04/15/08

Leila rated it:

Read in January, 2008

**spoiler** reveals some of what’s in the book.
The subject of this book had help with the writing. There is a lot that's repetitive. I don’t know if it was an effort to ‘pad’ the book and create more pages or to drive home certain points Don Piper wanted to make. It didn’t detract from the main message about Mr. Piper’s experience in heaven after he died and then his return to mortality and the anger he had. He struggled to learn what the mission God wanted him to accomplish by...more

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1 comment

01/21/09

Ron rated it:

bookshelves: religion-philosophy

Read in January, 2009

recommended to Ron by: Treva Andrea

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

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12/19/07

Kathy Brewis rated it:

Read in December, 2007

In early December my family found out that my dad had lung cancer. My dad, for many months, had been encouraging me to read Don Piper's 90 Minutes in Heaven but I just never took the tiime to sit down and read this encouraging book. On the day my dad was scheduled for surgery, I took this book to the hospital with me, with hopes of reading it while waiting. I did just that. Although, I didn't finish reading it at the hospital, I finally finished reading it at the end of the day. Reading this boo...more

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02/19/09

Lyn rated it:

Read in February, 2009

recommends it for: no one

This book wasn't what I expected. One chapter describing a horrific accident, 2 chapters about a visit to heaven followed by several chapters describing a grueling recovery, rehabilitation and fight with depression, then a few chapters of personal back patting about how much the authors experience has helped others. Not exactly the inspiration someone suffering a loss would need. I read this book because I have a friend grieving the loss of her son and I thought perhaps this book might help h...more

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07/21/08

Alayne rated it:

I think the author did a great job in describing a very difficult personal experience and how God used him to help others dealing with issues in life to bring them closer to God. I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to write this book. I think people who expected the entire book to be about his 90 minutes in heaven were disappointed. If you read this book with an open mind and no expectations, I think you'll get a lot out of it. Don Piper's message is to relate how God used him to...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

5 comments

02/28/09

Lbrownblack rated it:

Read in February, 2009

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

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02/16/09

Mark rated it:

Read in February, 2009

This book is Don Piper's true story of his death in an automobile accident, 90 minutes spent in Heaven, return to Earth and subsequent life. It is interesting from several perspectives.
First, and most obvious, if you believe that he actually went to Heaven then we are in for a treat, to say the least.
Second, his recounting of years of recovery (34 operations) from terrible injuries just to establish a new "normal" that doesn't include doing most things we take for granted ...more

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12/08/08

Hannah Dooley added it

If this book was made into a movie I would choose to be the character of Don Piper. I say that because he had the privilege to experience the true meaning of heaven and experience seeing and being with his family and friends in the house of the lord for 90 minutes. The part of this book that captivated my attention the most was when Don was on his way home from a church convention and an 18 wheeler cut into his lane and they had a major accident, I thought he was dead until he came back to life ...more

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12/07/08

Tessha rated it:

Read in December, 2008

What I learned: I found his experience regarding heavenly music to be interesting. The author, Don Piper, goes into detail about the various songs being sung simultaniously with unreal earthly results.

It made me think of my sister-in-law, who composes new age classical and sometimes even for film; I'm very proud of her accomplishments and find myself bragging, just a bit. Anyway, she frequently interlays various classical pieces among her own creations with a stunning outcome. It'...more What I learned: I found his experience regarding heavenly music to be interesting. The author, Don Piper, goes into detail about the various songs being sung simultaniously with unreal earthly results.

It made me think of my sister-in-law, who composes new age classical and sometimes even for film; I'm very proud of her accomplishments and find myself bragging, just a bit. Anyway, she frequently interlays various classical pieces among her own creations with a stunning outcome. It's fascinating to me how the pieces can compliment each other. Check out her website: www.jenniferthomasmusic.com. Her CD is a favorite of mine, and no, not because she's family...

I have to tell you that Don's first hand experience added new dimention to my concept of heaven. It's hard to say for sure what it will actually be like but these near death stories help us create a picture in our minds of what it might be like. I enjoyed his comments on music especially because when I had my experience as a child I didn't hear any music although I can picture it based on what I did experience.

I do remember the "city," and God's presence but not acutally meeting Him, very similar to Don's telling. I vividly recall an open park like landscape near the "entrance" or the begining of my experience. In another experience later in life I walked through gardens and then onto a rolling hill overlooking open stretch of grass on a perfect day. The grass was green, green grass.

Both times the atmospheric metaphysical presence/feeling is not something I could describe even if I was gifted with words and writting style. There was complete peace, contentment and joy.

My most impressive memory from my childhood experience other than the surroundings was that those that I observed, but didn't meet, were very busy working - not worn out, overworked like we often associate with work - but full of being and ability. The experience happened around the same time frame that my Grandma Thomas, whom lived next door to us, had passed away. She was always "about the Lord's work" on earth and once again I recognized her and others in a quaint, almost old fashioned office. I had only traveled what would have been a few hundred feet down the street with buildings on one side and a huge park like landscape on my left before noticing an office off to my right that you could step into easily. The streets weren't gold that I recall and I don't remember "walking" but rather moving through the space, once again similar to Don's experience. I observed from the exterior of the building with the impression that there was much to do and they were doing it.

So, back to the book...I'm looking forward to heaven with a little better picture of what it might be like, and especially sound like, thanks to Don's telling. It was also nice to remember my own experience and feel grateful for what it has meant to me over the years.(less)

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01/23/09

Justin rated it:

bookshelves: my-religious-books

Read in January, 2009

I felt this book was an amazingly awesome experience. Not only was it an easy read for someone like me, but it was a great testominal for me. Having lost my father to Colon Cancer I felt this book was a must read. IT was passed down to me by my sister, who had read it and enjoyed it. As well as my grandfather who I feel is a believer but I am not quiet sure. He almost ate the book he finished it within a day. I had struggled with religion for the past 2 years thinking to my self how can God allo...more

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06/11/09

Ginas rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in June, 2009

I just finished reading this book. I read it in about 2 days, so it is a pretty fast, easy read. I found it hard to grasp the part where he talks about his time in heaven, but the rest of the story was very intriguing. I have to admit that I was hesitant to read it at first because I thought that it would be very preachy and sugar coated, as opposed to the raw, very real feelings regarding the author's accident, injuries, recovery and his current life. I found it to be very real and honest. ...more

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09/04/07

lisa jahnel rated it:

bookshelves: christian

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: everyone

I read this book a couple of weeks ago when I was going through a really rough time and it is just absolutely amazing. This is such a moving story of one pastor's journey from a tragic car accident to his recovery and how he has touched people's life sense. It is beautifully written and I think it is a good read for everyone.

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07/06/08

Shelley rated it:

I enjoyed his message about the power of prayer, and how little choices can change your life. The only thing I couldn't quite buy into was the whole pearl"escent" gates, but I do believe we will have a great reunion with those we love who have gone before. I'm glad he had the courage to write this book.

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