Trying to re-establish some honor on the Amazon reviews of this book.
354182
I'll admit I have not read this book, but rated it five stars in response to the reviewer who listened to the author on Sam Harris's podcast.  I heard the same podcast as well and find the review written on May 8, 2018 to be either a gross misunderstanding or motivated by either a dislike of Sam Harris and/or the author.  In the podcast, the author never said anything amounting to the endorsement of grievous head injuries.  Anyone who knows anything about baseball knows that grievous head injuries are extremely rare, and when they do happen, they're accidental 99% of the time.  My impression of the author's impetus behind the podcast and the book is to demonstrate how well reasoned and meant honor systems have a way of maintaining order and ensuring that people who transgress moral boundaries think twice before committing a similar act again.  For instance, my writing this review is in part motivated by honor, as I find the author of review #1 acting dishonorably.  The author even discussed on the podcast about unjust honor systems, such as when women are executed in some countries due to transgressions of cultural norms that are minor in Western cultures.  If the book is anything like the podcast, this book is probably a very worthy read.

I suspect the author of the other review dated May 8th doesn't like Sam Harris, and the author suffers some guilt-by-association since Harris and Sommers seemed friendly with one another on the podcast.  Harris is a controversial figure to some in America because he is outspoken in his criticism of many hot button issues.  However, that's not a legitimate reason to give this book a one-star review.
2550011
Well, actually, the title of the review just about covers it. But I need more words to satisfy Amazon. Like.
4624342
The reviews really alarmed me. It's something I believe Amazon should keep a close eye out on. Many people have high hopes for a book based on the reviews, but when the majority of the reviews are posted by a paid troll (in my opinion) then it puts the reader at a disadvantage because not only is it money wasted, but more importantly time.

For example, just go to Kristen Durson's review (unless her review suddenly vanished) and note that every review I have read of hers has had the exact same text, only substituting the author's work in the necessary slots.

The book itself? Private label of course a good idea, nothing new here. You could find a niche, source from alibaba, and send it directly to FBA.
2350004
I have posted the review for this book at[...] under "Book Reviews" category on my blog at darshanavnadkarni dot wordpress dot com.  Also I have posted reviews for "The Immortal Life of Henriettta Lacks", "Galileo's Daughter" and so on.
2426260
Awesome!  Btw I hate that Amazon reviews won't let me just give five stars, but forces me to write crap as well.

Amazon review process gets 0 stars.
3995812
I would have loved to really review your book judiciously and give it the Appropriate star(s) it deserves; however, each time I review something I have purchased this website edits all my reviews - and sometimes denies their postings.  Too bad they ask for reviews but do not allow unbiased opinions.
4006644
I was very surprised that such a tedious tome could reach the top of the Amazon best seller list. My hypothesis is that government has been buying this book to drive it to the top of the bestseller lists in order to legitimize a huge increase in taxation.

Most of the Amazon reviews on both sides seem to be fake: Gushing 5 star or stinging one star reviews posted by interest groups. But the greatest evidence for manipulation for me is that the two top one star reviews warning people that the other one star reviews are fake come from Amazon users with no review activity before mid 2014 (Amazon users msbuzzy and Kevin McGivern). These two warnings have been given a huge thumbs up by other users. This smacks of blackhat SEO by supporters of the book. It's very easy these days to buy votes on Facebook, and it seems Amazon is just the latest battleground for social manipulation. I submit exhibit A: [...]
If my review gets buried then you'll know something is amiss.
912936
Please note that any 'review' prior to november 16th, 2006 is invalid as the book has only now been shipped.  I made a pre-order a month ago and only today received notice from amazon that it's on its way.  While I don't discourage authors from remarking on their book, nor comments from the online previews, it's important to note that no actual reader has in fact reviewed the book _in hand_.

yes, we're all looking forward to turbogears.  I'm sure I'll love it too, but let's not get carried away just yet.  For the authors to give themselves 5 stars seems unnecessary.  If authors wish to comment, amazon should allow them to do so, but without a star rating.

I'll review again in time, and if I enjoy it I'll up the star rating accordingly.  This is in fact THE POINT of having a star rating, not for authors to make a blog entry.  Therefore this 1 star will balance out the 5 stars made by both authors here.  Otherwise these star ratings lose their usefulness for us, y'know, the paying public.

thanks
2241374
I'd post a review here, but Amazon has classified my last review as SPAM, so they can kiss my backside if they think I'm going to play nice. Instead, I'm going to complain about their instantly choosing to claim my review of a Rage Against The Machine song was spam, when it fit all criteria of a review, and indeed, if it was spam, so is EVERYTHING else I, and you, have posted ever, about any purchase made here.

So Amazon, you owe me an apology. Buttheads.
379088
www.amazon.com/review/create-review?ie=UTF8&asin=B0192IRT90&ref_=dpx_acr_wr_link#
3383930
I find it hard to believe that this could be number two on the best sellers list with very low review ratings. Sounds like Amazon has an agenda to push. Plus Hillary forgot to write about all those wonderful things she did as Senator of NY. Funny she left that out.
4450192
I wrote the book.  Don't expect me to be objective.  I think it's  one of my better books, which is why I have to order copies from Amazon: I've given away all my author's copies.
2687949
https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_wr_but_top?ie=UTF8&channel=glance-detail&asin=B079T7NWCM#
192788
It is strange that 8 out of 10 five star reviews were written on January 4th, 2012. I find this too much of a coincidence and feel that those reading the ratings must do so with a very large grain of salt. The tone of the reviews sound the same, and they seem to provide little information regarding the book! Buyers who plan to purchase any book based on the ratings need to read all of the rating carefully.  Honest feedback is the backbone of Amazon and those who provide it are providing the community a great service.
1184183
It's not surprising there are legions of trolls on Amazon trying to discredit her book.  Serious readers should ignore those trolls and only trust the reviews by people who actually purchased the book.
4717128
Does anyone else find it strange that out of 19 5-star reviews, 10 purchasers reviewed nothing else except this one book?  This certainly leads me to believe that these people are "planted" to submit a 5-star review in order to get the book sold. When I look at the 5-star reviews on items I want to buy, I always check to see if they've reviewed other items.  I do this to make certain random people don't just write positive reviews in order to jack up the ratings for sales purposes.
1201213
I find it amazing that people are now using the book review section of Amazon to post their political opinions.  Even if they haven't read the book.  "I skimmed this book in a bookstore just today."  All this reviewer did was skim the book and now they can form an honest opinion?  Wow, I need this person to help me save time with term papers.  No need to read all of the research material, I can just "skim it."

And this quote from a "reviewer", "I have not seen ONE book by a liberal or Democrat that shows the sheer vitriol and hatred that many of the conservative books do."  Obviously this reader has never heard of Al Franken, Clint Willis, or Molly Ivins.

But I digress.  This was a good first attempt at a book.  A lot of what I read I was familiar with because I listen to the show.  Some things were new and interesting.  There were even times when I felt Mike was just expressing his views and telling us a few stories in a casual conversational tone.  Not unlike some conservative authors who leave me angry when I read their books.

Mike, get a little more in depth next time.  I look forward to the next book.  God Bless America.