A chatty, informal narrative that weaves the Bible and other ancient stories together with contemporary lives, along the way...
A genial travel-journal-turned-spiritual-exploration that encompasses many of the sites (from the Dome of the Rock to the banks of the Nile) mentioned in the first five books of the Bible.
On a trip to Israel, Feiler (Learning to Bow, 1991) was struck “like a bolt of Cecil B. DeMille lightning” by the idea that in and around this land the real places visited by the patriarchs of the Bible still existed. How better to understand the book that connected him—a Jew from Georgia—to his ancestors than to stand in person on those same sites? Enlisting the aid of renowned Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren, Feiler began his odyssey in Turkey near the alleged site of Noah’s ark. Still in Turkey, they drove south (not as much walking as the title suggests) to an area where local—not biblical—tradition holds that Abraham spent his early life, with Goren identifying sites of digs and archeological discoveries. Their travels continued across the West Bank, back and forth through Israel, and into Egypt (“you can’t understand the Bible without understanding Egypt”) to follow the story of Moses. They rowed out on a body of water where the Jews of the Exodus might have crossed and continued across the Sinai (burning bush, Commandments, manna) and up into the Negev desert (40 years of wandering). At each sacred spot, Feiler and Goren whip out their Bibles to discuss the events and ascertain whether this is the place. Most often, the answer is “we don’t know.” And the response is “it doesn’t matter.” According to the author, the meaning of the biblical stories—whether the historical struggle of one civilization against another or the spiritual struggle of one people with their moody God—is virtually tangible in these places.
A chatty, informal narrative that weaves the Bible and other ancient stories together with contemporary lives, along the way uncovering a strong spiritual dimension that surprised the author—and may surprise the reader.Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-380-97775-3
Page Count: 464
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2001
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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