Rating: 
Summary: I don't know how many stars to give this book!
Review: I enjoyed this book while reading it. It even gave me a feeling of inspiration. But I never would have read it in the first place if I had known about the magical thinking it contained. When I came to the part about dowsing, I said to myself, "Some people believe in that stuff." When I came to the part about telepathy I said to myself, "I know what my wife is thinking before she says it; these 20 or so people were with each other 24/7 so they know each other that well." Then I came to part about the compound fracture of the leg (it could have been the fibula) healing enough in one day so the person could walk on it without a cast or other support, I said to myself, "No way, Jose!" Then a reference to flying saucers! Yet I guess I was able to suspend my disbelief enough to really enjoy this piece of poetry. Finally, I don't for one minute believe that the author wrote this just to make a buck - I feel that this is an inspired piece of fiction which contains some truly meaningful messages. If you don't let yourself be put off by the hoakum, this can be a very enjoyable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Moving Message
Review: I bought this book because of a book club I am in. I was surprised at how interesting the novel was, and was moved by the message. I enjoyed the message about we, the takers of the earth and the givers being the first people. I would recommened this book because of what it has to say, and also it is a quick read.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho Hum
Review: As I read this work there was a nagging feeling in the back of my brain that the whole thing was so familiar to me. So very familiar. . . .Then it hit me! The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You. This book is a direct repeat of the same ideas that Dorothy Bryant put forth in her work of 32 years ago. I have no doubt that Ms. Morgan is quite familiar with the earlier work. While Bryant's portrayal of the symbolic journey of the soul is told subtly and with rich symbolism, Morgan has a tendency toward redundancy and heavy-handedness. My advice? Skip this one. . .read the real deal. You won't be sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing abduction narrative
Review: I don't know what other reviewers expected from this book, but I found it fascinating. It never occurred to me to question its veracity, because that seems to me to be beside the point. What is does is simply underscore how deeply divided our Western culture is from that of indigenous peoples. And it does so in a rather primitive fashion, both as a piece of literature and as an actual account. What insights come from this story, whether fiction or nonfiction, are incredibly touching to those of us who see our culture as devoid of respect for nature, for spirituality, and for the worth of the individual. In this sense, I believe it is a little diamond of a book, a chance discovery of adventure and perhaps a myth in the making about how we appear to those who came before us.
Rating:
Summary: FICTION - not Fact
Review: As a work of fiction, this book may have some merit. But, please be informed that this book IS fiction and not fact. It is currently being protested by the aboriginal community of Australia as a fabrication and outrageous exploitation of their culture...The story is a good one, the New Age philosophertypically syrupy and feel-good, but the exploitation of the aboriginal people's culture and the dishonest nature of the presentation makes me knock a few stars off for perpetuating a lie for personal profit in opposition to the book's stated "message"
Rating: 
Summary: Mutant Message Hoax?
Review: I started reading this book at the suggestion of a friend and very quickly felt that something was wrong. Although I have never read any other books about Australian aborigines I had a gut feeling that much of this was made up. I did a quick search on [the internet] under the author's name and came up with a critique by an Australian anthropologist which should be read in its entirety.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Lesson to be Learned
Review: Whether it is the truth or not, this book is a great story with many lessons in patience, tolerance, hope, love and inner peace. How can that be so wrong? Maybe the people who are so insulted by this book should read her second book. Mutant Message for Forever!
Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening
Review: There is something about this book. It is great for all ages, types of people. My older cousin (male, 50ish) lent it to me. He was high on life when he read it. It gave me a great perspective on life and put me into a great mood. I have been recommending it ever since. Everyone that reads it changes - at least temporarily.
Rating:
Summary: I have read everything I could find about this book
Review: I was shocked when I started reading all the reviews and (mostly negative) press about this book, as I have loved this book for years. The "real people" (the small tribe of Aboriginal people) have a powerful understanding of spiritual things, as well as an ability to be practical and flexible. It must be understood that this "tribe" consisted of 62 people maximum, and typically, they traveled in much smaller groups (about 10-12 per group). Obviously, they are NOT the majority of aboriginals in Australia, but a very small minority of people, who have decided to stop "reproducing" mainly because they have indicated that the desert is becoming hotter and there is less food to sustain them. I never sensed that they were "depressed" about their situation; in fact, their view of death is very positive. When one of the "real people" dies, it is because they have come a point in their lives (often at age 120 or so) that they are becoming "excited" about the Spirit World. They have a celebration (a party) and after that, the individual does a certain breathing technique which allows them to shut down their "chakras" and they die. Although we westerners may call this a form of suicide, from the "real people's" perspective, it is simply time to continue in another form, as there is an understanding and an acceptance that we lived before we came to this earth, and we will live after we leave it... we are forever beings. There are many criticisms of the book. I will share them, and I will share my perspective on them: 1. Criticism: Men's business and Women's Business: It seems that among Aboriginals, "men's business" and "women's business" are kept separate. Yet, in the book, there seemed to be no separation between the men and the women. My perspective: the "real people" are "flexible and adaptable"; they are in very small numbers now, and perhaps they accept that some customs and traditions no longer "fit" their needs. 2. Criticism: Among Aboriginals, no-one enters another person's tribal boundaries without permission, yet in the book it was never mentioned, even though they traveled about 1400 miles. My perspective: I see the "real people" as both "flexible and adaptable"; they were not looking to establish territory, conquer, fight, steal food, or anything bad. However, perhaps there is simply an easy explanation... if the "real people" did not encounter anyone to ask permission to enter, then it simply was not necessary. I mean, seriously, if there was no-one at the "border crossing" (so to speak), then what's the worry? 3. Criticism: Desert Aborigines do not collect dung for fuel. It would take forever to collect enough of the small scats of kangaroos and dingoes to cook anything and would be pointless given the availability of dry wood. My perspective: Morgan said they wood was used when it was available... and only when wood was not available, did they use animal dung. 4. Criticism: Burnum Burnum "denounces" Morgan. Read his brief letter:
"I Burnum Burnum, hereby sever all ties with the Author Marlo Morgan and the book entitled 'Mutant Message Down Under'. My reaction to the book was an innocent response to what I considered an account of an inner journey, which uplifted Aboriginal Australians in the eyes of the world. In my innocence, I did not understand the tribal ramifications of my support for the Author. I am a non-initiated, non-traditional, urbanised, Aboriginal from the East Coast of Australia". Yours Sincerely, BURNUM BURNUM My perspective: In this statement, I sense no "denouncing" of Morgan, but he is severing ties because of the "ramifications" from the tribes. That's quite a difference in motivation. 5. Criticism: Morgan (allegedly) admits her book was a lie.
My perspective: Here is what I have gathered:
In a interview with SBS Radio from New York, Morgan broke down and said: "I would like to say that I'm terribly sorry and my sincere, my sincere apologies to any Australian Aboriginal person if I have offended them in any way. "I think of them in only the highest ... please read this book ... with an open mind and see if there is anything, anything at all that is derogatory to your people, because it is not. I love them. and I wish them equal opportunity and the best." Additional criticism: (Below copied from http://dumbartung.org.au/report2.html ) Meeting with Steven Segal at Warner Brothers Studios... Mr Segal invited the delegation to meet with him and other associates at his Warner Brothers studio office. Dannion Brinkley, an associate and friend of Marlo Morgan, also attended the meeting and arranged for telephone link-up with Marlo Morgan who was in New York city...
At the completion of this discussion, Marlo Morgan gave her word that an apology in writing, set on the conditions and agreements of the Elders and cited and signed by a lawyer, would be forwarded to the delegation within 48 hours. This apology was to include the fact that her claimed journey was a Hoax...
it was bitterly disappointing when two days later, during a brief discussion with Damien Brinkley at the foundation room, we were told that we were no longer negotiating with Marlo Morgan. My perspective:
The meeting was uneventful. Morgan has apologized only to the effect that her book may have offended people, but, never that the book was a lie.
Rating:
Summary: truth goes beyond accounts
Review: I read this book and it made me feel amazed and a bit depressed at the same time. The message conveyed reaffirmed beliefs that I had, but also made me realize that I must work harder to live a life that is meaningful to me. I think that the point of this book is not to say that you must have the same experiences that Marlo Morgan had, or to rid yourself of all material possessions, but rather to live life as honestly as you can. It doesn't have to be grand, it can mean small decisions, small attentions, and respect for even the littlest things. People may be shocked by this book because the way of life depicted seems so far-fetched or far-off from what most people are living today, but maybe that is something people should think about. For me, at least, life is full of tiny lies and a lot of seeming obligations, but this book made me ask myself why do I feel obligated to tell lies and do things I don't want to do? The book made me examine my life and try to think about what is worth looking out for and what kind of life I want to live. It's an ongoing process and it is sometimes hard because it means being truly honest to yourself.
It seems that many people are worked up over whether this account was fictional or true, but I think that is irrelevant because it is the message that is true, and arguing about the validity of the circumstances is just nit-picking. Would the message be any more true if we had concrete evidence about what happened? It's up to the reader to see how much knowing for a fact gets in the way of really listening to what is said.
I wish I could convey how much this book made me remember truths I had forgotten. It is so easy to let things wear on you until you become indifferent, but once in awhile something comes along to make you care again. That's what this book did for me.
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