Parents' and content guide for books

I thought I'd start with the query that gives a content rating for books that I mentioned in the "Welcome" post.

Content ratings  have been available for movies for years, although the standards used to define each rating have changed over the years, usually by becoming more lenient and liberal in what is considered "appropriate".

Books haven't got a similar system to classify their content. It's frustrating as a Christian if you pick up a book, especially a novel, and you come across blasphemy, scenes of a sexual nature, or pro-LGBT+ content.

What if there was a way you could enter the title and author of a book and get an in-depth summary of the content, including a recommendation regarding its suitability for a conservative Christian audience?

With AI, that's exactly what you can do. Initially I asked for a content review for each book by asking for a content review of [book title] by [author] with reference to specific criteria of my choosing. But if you want multiple reviews, that can become very labour intensive and inefficient.

So I asked the AI if it was possible to set up a template that would provide all the information I needed but would only require me to enter the title and author without any further input. Not only did the AI say it was possible, but it showed how such a query should be worded! (NB Different models of AI are available and can usually be selected near the top of the screen. 3.5 is good but information available isn't as up-to-date. The 4.0 version has a lot more access to the information needed.)

Since I got this format, I have adjusted it by editing the instructions contained within the closed brackets in order to refine the responses given. Here's the query I'm now using. If you want to use it for yourself, just copy it, start a new chat in the AI, and paste. It will then give you an example of the responses that will be given, and you're good to go ...

Please use the following template to provide a Parents' Guide for books when I enter a title and author:

**Book Title:** [Enter Book Title]

**Author:** [Enter Author Name]

**Genre(s):** [Entre Genre or Genres]

 

### Parents' Guide:

**Language:**

- **Mature Language:** [Describe any instances of strong language including scatalogical swear words, sexual swear words, and religious swear words; include reference to the frequency of what is considered as mild swear words, such as bloody, hell, damn, etc]

- **Blasphemous Language:** [Describe any instances of use of the names ofGod, Jesus, Christ etc as an expletive or exclamation]

- **Historical/Setting-Specific Terms:** [Note any significant terms related to the book's setting]

**Sexual Content:**

- **Sexual Scenes:** [Detail the presence of any sexual content, differentiating between scenes explicitly described and those merely hinted at or subtly indicated]

- **Themes of Sexuality:** [Describe any overarching themes related to sexuality]

- **Romantic Relationships:** [Discuss the nature and depiction of romantic relationships]

**Additional Considerations:**

- **Violence:** [Describe any violent content, especially scenes that dwell on gory details]

- **Mature Themes:** [Discuss any other mature themes present in the book]

- **LGBT Content:** [Discuss the presence of LGBTQIA+ characters, themes, and related scenes in the book]

**Overall Suitability:** [Summarize the book's suitability for different age groups]

**Conservative Suitability:** [Summarize the book's suitability for those who hold to a morally conservative Christian worldview]

Here's an example of the kind of response you get. I'm using one of my wife's favourite novels as an example - Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery:

Query entered: 

Anne of Green Gables by lucy maud Montgomery

ChatGPT said:

Here is the Parents' Guide for "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery using the provided template:

Book Title: Anne of Green Gables

Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery

Genre(s): Classic, Children's Literature, Fiction

Parents' Guide:

Language:

• Mature Language: There are no instances of strong language or scatological, sexual, or religious swear words in the book.
• Blasphemous Language: Occasional use of mild exclamations like "oh dear" or "goodness," which are not considered offensive.
• Historical/Setting-Specific Terms: The book contains some old-fashioned or period-specific language reflecting its late 19th-century Canadian setting, such as references to "bosom friends" and "puffed sleeves."

Sexual Content:

• Sexual Scenes: There are no explicit sexual scenes or content in the book.
• Themes of Sexuality: The book focuses on themes of friendship, family, and personal growth rather than sexuality.
• Romantic Relationships: The book hints at future romantic possibilities but keeps the focus on Anne's friendships and adventures.

Additional Considerations:

• Violence: There is no graphic violence in the book. Some mild incidents, such as Anne hitting Gilbert with a slate and a few accidents, are presented humorously.
• Mature Themes: Themes of loss, belonging, and the importance of imagination and creativity are present. The book also touches on themes of identity and self-worth.
• LGBT Content: There are no explicit LGBTQIA+ characters or themes in the book.

Overall Suitability: "Anne of Green Gables" is suitable for children aged 8 and up. It is a wholesome, engaging story with positive messages about friendship, perseverance, and the power of imagination.

Conservative Suitability: The book is generally considered suitable for readers with a morally conservative Christian worldview. It includes themes of faith, family values, and personal integrity, making it a good fit for conservative audiences.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview for parents looking to understand the content and themes of "Anne of Green Gables." Let me know if you need further information or a guide for another book!

Sometimes the final recommendation may overlook some problems with a theme in order to promote a more general positive theme. For example, a book that has a strong theme of witchcraft may be recommended because good triumphs over evil.

It's very easy to adjust the query if you want. Go back to the original query and select the edit option. Go to the section within the square brackets you want to edit and make your changes. Then run the query again. It will give the initial answer with an example, and then you're ready to get a more refined answer. By the way, just remember to use "SHIFT+Enter" when you want to take a new line - "Enter" on its own will start the response.)

For example, I reworded part of the final recommendation for conservative Christians:

**Conservative Suitability:** [Summarize the book's suitability for those who hold to a morally conservative Christian worldview; while broad themes, such as good triumphing over evil may be in a book's favour, the context of that lesson is equally important, so if a book has a strong emphasis on themes generally considered taboo within conservative Christian families, such as witchcraft, weight the suitability against such a book]

Here's the result when asked about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (if the title is unique enough there's no need to add the author's name):

Book Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre(s): Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure

Parents' Guide:

Language:

• Mature Language: The book contains some instances of mild swearing, such as "hell," "damn," and "bloody." There are a few more intense outbursts from characters in moments of high emotion or frustration, but these are infrequent.
• Blasphemous Language: There are no significant instances of using God, Jesus, or Christ as expletives.
• Historical/Setting-Specific Terms: Terms like "Muggle," "Death Eater," "Auror," and spell names are specific to the wizarding world. Some of these terms refer to specific roles and magical items within the story.

Sexual Content:

• Sexual Scenes: There are no explicit sexual scenes in the book. The closest is a scene involving Harry and Cho Chang kissing, which is described as a simple and brief kiss.
• Themes of Sexuality: Themes of adolescence, such as developing crushes and first relationships, are explored through Harry and Cho’s relationship.
• Romantic Relationships: The book touches on the awkwardness and challenges of young love. Harry’s feelings for Cho Chang and their complicated relationship are a subplot in the book.

Additional Considerations:

• Violence: The book contains several scenes of violence, including battles between characters using magical spells, and the torturing of characters by the Death Eaters. These scenes can be intense but are not overly graphic in nature. The psychological and emotional toll of the violence is also a key theme.
• Mature Themes: Themes of loss, oppression, rebellion, and the struggle for power are central to the plot. The book delves into the effects of authority and the abuse of power through the character of Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic’s actions.
• LGBT Content: There are no LGBTQIA+ characters or explicit themes in this book.

Overall Suitability: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is suitable for readers aged 12 and up. The book is appropriate for young adults and older children who can handle the more complex and darker themes. Parents of younger readers might want to discuss some of the more mature and intense moments in the book.

Conservative Suitability: The book continues the series' emphasis on magic and witchcraft, which may be a concern for conservative Christian families. Themes of rebellion, standing up against oppressive authority, and questioning leadership are also prominent. While the overarching theme of good versus evil remains, the context includes elements that some families might find objectionable, such as the use of magic and spells.

As you can see, the presence of witchcraft, magic, spells, rebellion, and questioning leadership weights the review against a favourable recommendation.

In the end, the review doesn't make the decision for you. You should still know what your standards are according to your understanding and convictions of Scripture, but it is a very helpful tool in filtering out content that is definitely not what you would enjoy reading.

You can make the queries as specific as you want. You can even add in other sections by copying and pasting something that's already part of the template and adjusting it in whatever way you want. Oh, and you may want to add a line somewhere at the start that specifically asks for no spoilers! (e.g. Please use the following template to provide a spoiler-free Parents' Guide for books when I enter a title and author")

Have a go. Maybe you could adapt it to get a more in-depth movie or TV show review, the content of a play or musical, or of a computer game. Anything that helps us filter out the increasing amount of nonsense is a great help.