"In a brisk overview Aaron Hughes reviews and critiques the dominant modes of comparison in the study of religion and proposes a set of guidelines for undertaking responsible, and illuminating, comparisons. At different points throughout the book, Hughes identifies what he thinks efffective, responsible, yet revealing comparison consists of. Hughes' brief and accessible consideration of the role of comparison in the study of religion is worth the careful attention of anyone who studies new religions. It forces a careful (re)consideration of what we are trying to accomplish with our fundamental categories." --Eugene V. Gallagher, Connecticut College "What is so helpful and, indeed, even unusual about Aaron Hughes' Comparison is not only that it gives us a razor sharp critique of one of our most common methods of performing analysis, but also that it suggests tangible ways to do it better. Add to this the fact that his observations and recommendations are applicable to everyone who counts themselves a student of human behavior, and we have a book that is as useful as it is incisive." Professor Leslie Dorrough Smith, Avila University.