Review of The Attenuating Puritan

[Seetha E]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Attenuating Puritan" by Robert McGuiness.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Attenuating Puritan is authored by Robert Gary McGuiness. He was born in Bay Shore, New York, in 1954 and now lives a life of self-sufficiency off the grid in Northern California. He begins the book by recounting a toddler's dream in which the toddler tries to wake his mother, who appears dead. Upon awakening, he realizes he is the toddler, and the mother is our planet Earth—the Garden of Eden. However, the nightmare continues. This fictional book discusses how greedy humans have taken Mother Earth for granted and blends his experiences as an active member of the "Back to Land" movement. The 'robe of repentance' adds a touch of uniqueness to the book.
 
He shares his experience of being on the autism spectrum, showing signs of ADHD as early as first grade, and being prescribed medication for it. He also mentions that the hills around his home were sprayed with two ingredients used to make Agent Orange and how he and others spent days running behind the trucks that sprayed DDT. Additionally, he recalls a spill that occurred when he was a young boy, which affected fish and other marine life. All the while, he was unaware of the long-term impacts of these chemicals on his health or the environment.
 
The book touches on subjects such as high mercury or lead levels in water bodies, glyphosate in communion bread, herbicides, genetically modified foods, forever chemicals, and the rise in autism, Parkinson's, dysbiosis, rising infertility, and indicators of cancer aggressiveness. It emphasizes the need for attenuation from toxins like lies, power, money, wars, anger, hate, and more.
 
The protagonist wanders before finally surrendering to the Lord's work. He takes it upon himself to give Mother Earth a makeover. His mission is to make people aware that this planet is the ultimate gift that sustains all life. Does he succeed in effectively impacting fellow humans through his work and helping bring forth the truth? 
 
I appreciate how the narrative here is all about genuine concern for the happiness and welfare of people other than oneself. His task as a Puritan was to clean the Garden of Eden. Although he knew that he alone could not do enough, he did everything in his capacity. He was encouraged when he saw or heard about the like-minded doing their bit. It was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. Yet he continually worked on reducing the force of ills in human behavior to create awareness.
 
The book accurately points out that those in power and lobbyists prioritize profits and economic growth above all else, often at the expense of people and the planet. McGuiness demonstrates that change is possible only when the masses are sensitive to the fast-paced destruction and take action to correct the harm inflicted by fellow humans. 
 
The editors have done a great job, as I could only spot a few minor errors. However, the absence of chapter divisions in the 123-page book makes it time-consuming to locate specific events. Nevertheless, this is not significant enough to reduce the book's rating. I suggest that this aspect be taken into account for the next edition. Since there are no other negative aspects, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
 
I recommend this book to mature adults due to the presence of profanity and sexual content. The book is a great choice for those who believe in self-sufficiency, simple living, and the importance of limiting the use of natural resources and harmful chemicals. Our hero's resilience is an inspiring reminder that every effort counts, and we must work tirelessly to make the hope of a Garden of Eden a reality.

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The Attenuating Puritan
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[RJ Reviews]

Tge topics of this book are most fitting in today's world. We all must realize that our greed will be tge end of us. The importance of self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle is undeniable. It is time that we join hands and start taking care of the only planet that can sustain life. I would definitely be giving this book a try. Thank you for sharing this encouraging review with us.