 PD Smith gave the book a positive review in The Guardian , and concluded : " Her ambitious and well @-@ written study celebrates human freedom through a history of attempts to destroy it . " Joseph Szimhart reviewed the book for Skeptical Inquirer , and wrote : " I enjoyed the book as a challenge to think about a sorely neglected topic . " Szimhart concluded : " Taylor 's concern is with any human venture ( be it science , religion , or politics ) that restricts brain function from creative ' stop and think ' activity , and which becomes little more than another exclusive cult . " 
