The Atonement is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the good news. It is the reason why Christ is the most vital subject in the world. That being said, Callister's book is not the Atonement. I have read a lot of Goodreads reviews for this book. This is a much beloved book. So much so that if a person of good faith, in good faith, doesn't take to this book c=they seem to question their own spirituality. Unfortunately others do as well.

The problem with this book is the adjectives. We should speak highly and sacredly of the Atonement. But there seems to be a historic strain in Mormonism that goes overboard on superlatives. These can interrupt the flow of the work. Add an overabundance of superlatives with the idea that repetition is always merited, and you get a difficult read.

With a work like this I don't think difficulty helps. It is not more work that makes a reading virtuous. It is clarity and spiritual power that the author should seek. I realize that this was too big of a task for Callister to take on. And that's no knock on Callister. The Atonement will always be too big to understand in this life alone. But obviously the reverence was there in Callister's approach. And I think this is why he writes the way he does.

In the end it may be worth it to pick it up again. But it may just be more worthwhile to write my own book about the Atonement. That being said, don't question your spirituality if you have to put the book down. Callister didn't author the Infinite Atonement. Christ did. Callister is not the source for the Atonement. Christ is. So please don't questions a person's loyalty to Christ when they critique this book. It means you have forgotten the lessons of the Infinite Atonement in the first place.

I have to admit that I was leaning toward giving this book three stars for much of it. Don't get me wrong. It is an interesting book and absolutely full of thought-provoking information. Tad R. Callister was by profession a lawyer, and you can totally tell this as he systematically lays out his information in an orderly and complete manner as he further examines the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There is sooooo much information in this book. So much. I felt like my head was going to explode with all of the information in it. At times I felt as if I was reading the encyclopedia because there were so many facts and details being thrown in my direction. But here's the thing ... I don't mind reading the encyclopedia sometimes. I like getting the information. I like having it percolate in my head, forcing me to think about things on a deeper level. So, while I can't say that this was the sort of book that was super fun to grab while cozied up to a nice warm fire, I can say that it was worth reading. I bumped up my rating to a four because it did cause me to pause and ponder a little deeper, and that is always a good thing. I had the privilege of eating dinner with Elder Callister once, and he is such a kind and compassionate person ... and he's also a total genius. I could hear his voice as I read his words in this book. I appreciate the work he put into this. Four stars. I really liked it.

(can I just say I'm loving the plus audiobook feature on the Deseret Book app!)

While no book or books on the atonement could be comprehensive (because, ultimately, it's not possible for mortals to comprehend the atonement fully), this book sure felt like it.

I loved the structure of the book and how it approached the a atonement. The first third explained the need of the atonement---which is only fully explained by a correct understanding of the fall of Adam and Eve.

The second third was my favorite, where each chapter described a facet of the atonement's infinite-ness: Infinite in Power, Infinite in Time, Infinite in Coverage, Infinite in Depth, Infinite in Suffering, and Infinite in Love.

The last third described the blessings of the atonement, or that come from it (resurrection, repentance, peace of mind, succor, motivation, exaltation, freedom and grace) and ends with discussing how ordinances, justice, and mercy relate to the atonement.

Big topics! and a life-time of study! but this is a great aid.

Powerful, incredible book about the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. I learned so much and every day when I read a chapter I was moved and deeply grateful. Now I want to re-read with a highlighter.

This was a very good book but it was hard for me to follow. However there were a couple things that really stood out for me that I took notes of and things I learned. It’s a definite must read.

If you want to learn about the Atonement, this is the book. He discusses the Atonement from a variety of angles, leaving you with a deep, comprehensive understanding. I also liked how he uses a variety of prose to explain the Atonement, from scripture and quotes to hymns and poetry. My testimony is deeper and richer for reading!

Possibly the most life-changing book I've ever read. It was a great one to end 2017 on.

I had originally thought that the Atonement was something to be grateful for, but that I was never going to really understand. After reading The Infinite Atonement I realize I understood nothing, but there are so many facets to consider, study and TRY to understand. This has quickly become my favorite book. One I feel that I will need to reread and study with the scriptures probably forever.
March 31, 2015
April 23, 2020
October 29, 2023 One of my all-time favorite books. Beyond the Book of Mormon, this book has helped me understand Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice better than anything else I've studied.
3/27/24 The perfect addition to Lent. If you want to love Jesus, read this book.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a comprehensive book about the atonement. I found many passages that were insightful and I enjoyed Callister's incorporation of literature (primarily Shakespeare). This book is doctrine heavy which I thoroughly enjoyed. My only slight complaint with this book is Callister's occasional over-editorialization, but that complaint is very minor. Callister wrote a book that is mostly doctrine and by and large steers clear from emotional fluff.

Truly one of the best books I’ve read. So many questions of mine were answered and my love for the Savior grew immensely

An amazing in-depth look at the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes a little too in-depth and I got a little bogged down with all the information. However, overall it helped me gain a clearer picture of who He is and the necessity of His sacrifice.

I learn better from stories than sermons. And this was very lawyerly sermon, but I still gleaned some nice insights. Still, for my favorite gospel topic this had me yawning (feel bad admitting that and I’m sure that was partly due to the audio narrator)