Amazon.com
Bruce Feiler's latest book combines now familiar elements into his own peculiar, delightful alchemy. Any particular page may be found effortlessly weaving together strands of theology, biblical exegesis, physical exploration, history and personal reflection as Feiler continues his journey of discovery, looking at the common roots of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The Middle East has become a more dangerous place since the writing of his first book in this vein, Walking the Bible. But Feiler is impelled to answer his continued call, even when a flak jacket is necessary. He explores tunnels under Jerusalem. Goes to where David may have slain Goliath. Even looks for the Garden of Eden in Iraq while acknowledging that "the garden would never be found." It is this externalization of searches typically only made in the heart that fascinates us and brings power to Feiler's narrative. In one of the more compelling sections of the book, a meditation on Jonah, Feiler makes a persuasive argument that "God cares only that you conduct yourself in a moral way… And what might come across as preaching in another context is instead organic; Feiler's ideas seem to grow as much out of his travel and present-day experience as they do from Scripture and history. Of particular interest is his writing on King Cyrus II. He travels to Persepolis, in modern-day Iran, and finds an ancient precedent for religious tolerance in this king who helped the Jews build the Second Temple. Feiler provokes us to reflect that if the Bible itself can sing the praises of a king who accepted the various religions of those he ruled, perhaps there is hope we can find room for more tolerance in our own time. Highly recommended.--Ed Dobeas
Book Description
In WHERE GOD WAS BORN, Bruce Feiler continues his physical and spiritual journey to retrace the great stories of the Bible and to understand what they can mean in our lives today. The book is very much a personal quest through the unseen sites of the Bible, beginning in Genesis, continuing through the Prophets, and ending just before the birth of Jesus. Along the way, we encounter some of the greatest stories ever told––David battling Goliath, Nebuchadnezzer sacking Jerusalem, Jonah finding God in the whale––and many of the greatest characters of the Bible––Joshua, Solomon, Jeremiah, Esther.
For most of the last twenty–five years, biblical sites in much of the Middle East, notably Iraq and Iran, have been almost entirely closed to the West. WHERE GOD WAS BORN unveils these holy sites to most readers for the first time, including the Garden of Eden, the birthplace of Abraham, the rivers of Babylon, and the stronghold of Nineveh. In addition, Feiler retraces Joshua's conquest of the Promised Land, David's showdown with Goliath, Solomon's building of the Temple, Queen Esther's face–off with the King of Persia, and Judah Maccabe's triumphant Hanukkah miracle.
Download Description
"
At a time when America debates its values and the world braces for religious war,
Bruce Feiler, author of the New York Times bestsellers
Walking the Bible and
Abraham, travels ten thousand miles through the heart of the Middle East -- Israel, Iraq, and Iran -- and examines the question: Is religion tearing us apart ... or can it bring us together?
Where God Was Born combines the adventure of a wartime chronicle, the excitement of an archaeological detective story, and the insight of personal spiritual exploration. Taking readers to biblical sites not seen by Westerners for decades, Feiler's journey uncovers little-known details about the common roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and affirms the importance of the Bible in today's world.
In his intimate, accessible style, Feiler invites readers on a never-in-a-lifetime experience:
-
Israel Feiler takes a perilous helicopter dive over Jerusalem, treks through secret underground tunnels, and locates the spot where David toppled Goliath.
-
Iraq After being airlifted into Baghdad, Feiler visits the Garden of Eden and the birthplace of Abraham, and makes a life-threatening trip to the rivers of Babylon.
-
Iran Feiler explores the home of the Bible's first messiah and uncovers the secret burial place of Queen Esther.
In
Where God Was Born, Feiler discovers that at the birth of Western religion, all faiths drew from one another and were open to coexistence. Feiler's bold realization is that the Bible argues for interfaith harmony. It cannot be ceded to one side in the debate over values. Feiler urges moderates to take back the Bible and use its powerful voice as a beacon of shared ideals.
In his most ambitious work to date,
Bruce Feiler has written a brave, uplifting story that stirs the deepest chords of our time.
Where God Was Born offers a rare, universal vision of God that can inspire different faiths to an allegiance of hope.
"
Customer Reviews:
Great physical & spiritual walk, but in the end reverts to the secular.......2007-06-27
Bruce does an amazing job of making the Bible and its lands and history real. While he doesn't fall prey to the all too often use of analysis to subtley, but irrevovably trash religion and God, he does in the end lean to the secular, all the while proclaiming his Jewishness. Despite his spiritual longings, he seems to think Judaism is flexible and what you make of it--rather than a pilgrimage to find ultimate truth--a concept he runs from. In the end it seems his greatest joy is that no matter where he goes, he effectively has a built in network of cultural chums to hang with. In short his Jewishness feels more ethnic than religious--a conclusion that I can only hope he did not intend.
A greater criticism is that all too often he sees "fundamentalism", regardless of the faith as a level, morally regrettable and destructive playing field. There is no sense of disproportion. Christian fundamentals are seen in the same light as Muslim, ignoring that even disagreeable Christians don't coerce their flocks into repression and worse, weapons of terror and death.
Still the book is highly readable, providing insights and a deeper understanding that I simply didn't expect. So despite my misgivings, my greater disappointment is that Bruce is unlikely to continue this journey into the foundations of Christianity. I can only hope I find another author of his caliber to do the same for my faith.
where god was born.......2007-03-23
Very much second best to his earlier book, walking the bible. seems like the author thought he had to write another book on the same topic, which is too bad.
If You Want to Understand the Bible.......2007-01-10
Very informative. The Lord has blessed Bruce Feiler. I've read his other books Walking the Bible, and Abraham, and it was difficult to put them down.
Illuminating History.......2006-08-10
Enlarged my understanding of Biblical history and provided background for todays problems in that part of the country. Everyone needs to read.
Sign of our times.......2006-07-15
Today, our culture scoffs at believing the Bible, as a result it is not at all fashionable to actually read it. So, unsurprisingly, it is a sign of our times that this book's many mistakes would go unnoticed by the vast majority.
Feiler's book is an engrossing travelogue. He takes us to many of the sites referenced in the Bible and helps make them come alive with his narrative. However, even as a newcomer to Bible study, I caught several errors just in the first few chapters.
Had this book been written 50 years ago, I think even the most secular editor would have sent the book back for a rewrite. How can we take Feiler's points seriously, when he can't get even the basic facts straight?
Customer Reviews:
The best book I've ever read.......2003-07-08
I picked this book up at a resale shop on vacation just to have something to do in my spare time. The moment I read the first page, I was hooked! The author brings the story alive; in fact I found myself holding my breath while turning the page to find out what happens next. I'm not that Bible literate so this book explains so many facets of the early Christians that I just didn't know. It would be a great book for someone just beginning their Christian journey or for someone wanting to educate themselves on their faith.
Book Description
We all love a good story. But the parables of Jesus are even better than that. They sneak up on us, catching us off guard and toppling our easy assumptions. When the familiar takes an unexpected twist, we find our secret thoughts exposed to the healing light of Jesus. This Bible study introduces twelve of the greatest stories ever told; how might they change your thoughts and actions?
Customer Reviews:
Parables: The Greatest Stories Ever Told.......2006-03-17
This study's author uses many ambiguous questions to get the point across. The material is good, but the questions are often irrelevant. I feel that a study should allow the reader/participant to come away with application from the study for everyday living and I think that the study fails to do this.
Book Description
On a visit to Jerusalem, Bruce Feiler has a revelation: The stories of the Bible occurred in real places -- places he could visit today. So he sets out on a perilous ten-thousand-mile journey retracing the greatest stories ever told.
From the base of Mount Ararat, where he meets a mysterious man who claims to have found Noah's ark, to the edge of the Dead Sea, where he climbs salt pillars in the lost cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Feiler discovers that the Bible still lives in the landscape. He visits the desert outpost where Abraham first heard the words of God, and has an unexpected encounter alongside the legendary burning bush. And finally he climbs Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
In each place, Feiler eloquently explores how geography affects the Bible and how his journey has influenced his faith. Illustrated with graceful maps and Feiler's own photographs, walking the bible is both a heart-pounding adventure and an uplifting personal quest that will forever change your view of some of history's most memorable events.
Customer Reviews:
NO COLOR PHOTOS!!!!!!!!.......2006-02-07
I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE READ ABOUT THIS BOOK MORE CAREFULLY. I WAS EXPECTING NICE RICH COLORFUL PICTURES AND TO MY DISMAY THERE WERE NONE! ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE IN BLACK AND WHITE. 5 STARS I GUESS FOR THE CONTENT OF THE TEXT BUT 0 STARS FOR THE PHOTOS. SO DISSAPOINTING. POTENTIAL BUYERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE!
Children's Edition Walking The Bible is Good.......2005-07-02
This version of Walking the Bible is good for children. There are wonderful illustrations. I purchased this copy for our church after our book group read the "adult" version. They are both wonderful books, and should be made part of church libraries. Wonderful bits of history in with the narration, also.
neat book.......2005-03-23
My son and I really enjoyed the photso and stories from the Holy Land in this book.
Book Description
SUMMER 2006: SUPERMAN RETURNS!
From above, a heavenly father sends his only son to save the Earth
Sound familiar? It should—because the Superman storytellers based Superman on Jesus on purpose! That’s why the Man of Steel actually champions the truth about the Super Man Himself—Jesus—and this can show readers how to reach friends and family in today’s entertainment–focused culture.
Stephen Skelton’s faster–than–a–speeding–bullet discussions reveal that...
- the Superman storytellers confirm they modeled Superman on Christ
- Superman and his father share the name “El” (Hebrew for “God”)...and his earthly parents were originally named “Mary” and “Joseph”
- Superman movies, TV shows, and comics are built on parallels to Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and second coming
Customer Reviews:
Better than the Movie.......2007-09-15
Leaps tall buildings with a single bound and points a generation to Christ? That's the premise of Stephen Skelton's latest offering, "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero."
Skelton seems to have an eye for the nostalgic as his previous offerings include "The Bonanza Bible Study" and the "Andy Griffith Bible Study." Skelton's passion is to use cultural artifacts from Television to point people toward this generation to Christ.
In "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero" Skelton argues that the chapter of Superman was intentionally modeled by many of the writers in the "Superman Cannon" to be a Messianic/figure. Skelton goes the distance with detailed quotes to show from Siegel's creators, two Jewish teenagers, borrow from their heritage religious heritage's stories of Samson and the coming Messiah to create a secular "American Messiah." Skelton documents how the creators of the "Superman: The Movie", "Superman II", and TV's "Smallville" had an awareness of the parallels between Jesus Christ and the Man of Steel.
Skelton spends the rest of his book outlining these parallels the common ground that his two Supermen share with sections entitled "Origins", "Mission, and "Destiny." In each section, Skelton provides painstaking detail to show how Superman is a "parable" of Christ.
The fact that Skelton is a genuine fan of the Man of Steel shines throughout the book. It's apparent this book is a labor of love and not a hacked product to be released just in time for the release of this summer's "Superman Returns." It's his passion for the story that allowed him to unearth some arresting details that build his case that the parallelism between Superman and Jesus isn't merely coincidental. For example, Skelton reveals that Clark Kent's earthly parents were originally named Mary and Joseph before Superman's publishers required that that connection between the Gospels and the cartoon not be so obvious. With reverence for both Jesus and Superman, Skelton offers such an overwhelming catalogue of comparisons that it's impossible to miss the creative intention of many of Superman's creators. Causal fans of the Superman will enjoy his exposition of the "Death of Superman" story of which only the most devoted fans will be aware.
However, I felt that Skelton frequently strained to build his argument that Superman is a fictional type of Christ. For example, Skelton labors for a few paragraphs attempting to show how a Biblical Greek word "krypton" helps us understand the spiritual allusions of Superman's home plant Krypton." Odds are the similarities between the words are a simple coincidence. Later, in another side bar, Skelton tries his hand at linguistics and points out the "Kent" in "Clark Kent" uses the same consonants as the Hebrew word for "Christ." Again, Skelton presses to hard to make his point. Why torture the story for a few extra thrusts when logic doesn't allow it? His documentation of how the director and writers of "Smallville" intentionally infused their contribution to the Superman story is evidence enough of the messianic themes in Superman.
In spite of its short comings, "The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero" is a great gift for your favorite comic book fan. It's also a valuable book for children or youth pastors looking to build a summer curriculum series that ties into `Superman Returns." Skelton should be praised for attempting to find common ground between pop culture and Jesus.
Haven't read this book but..........2007-08-10
I haven't read this book so can't pretend to comment on it (though this review system forces me to give it a rating) but, that said, the comparisons between Superman and Jesus, while I see it, always makes me shake my head. While, certainly, people can and should freely interpret art and literature independently of the creators' intentions I feel many ignore or are ignorant of the most strikingly obvious and already well documented of parallels. For example, Mario Puzzo did, in fact, draw in the link to John 3:16 in his script for the 1978 "Superman" film and Bryan Singer, with "Superman Returns," does seem to push the Jesus-as-savior metaphor for the Man of Steel as well. But let's please remember that Superman was created in the 1930s by Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster, two Cleveland Jewish kids who, rather than the unlikely scenario of basing their character on Jesus, based Superman on Moses. As the baby Moses' people faced destruction from Pharaoh who'd ordered the death of all male infant Hebrews, his mother placed him in a basket on the Nile River in an effort to save him. He was found by another family (ironically, a member of Pharaoh's household) and grew to become a hero and savior to the Hebrews, wielding tremendous powers and achieving feats no mortal man could hope to match. See any similarities to the Superman origin?
Entertaining analysis, but not quite super.......2006-11-30
This is a fun book, but in places it attempts to create connections between Jesus and Superman that don't really appear to be there. Prospective readers should be aware that Superman is, and has aways been, primarily a pop culture icon intended to entertain, not a symbolic figure meant to remind us of Christ.
The author admits this truth and tries to navigate around it by several times admitting that not all the parallels he mentions were intended by the creators or writers responsible for the stories. Nonetheless, Skelton says, Christians ought to see any figure in pop culture through the lens of the Bible, so that we can be reminded of truth even in a medium where the author did not deliberately try to convey it -- essentially, we should interpret all our experiences (including those involving Superman) from a Christian persective.
This is all fine and good, but Skelton then goes on to point out such elaborate and inventive parallels between Jesus and Superman that it becomes hard to take some of them seriously. According to this book, we should be reminded of some aspect of Jesus' life by Superman's Kryptonian name (Kal-El), his earthly name (both "Clark" and "Kent" can remind us of Jesus), the names of both his Kryptonian parents and his earthly parents, the shape of the spaceship that brought him to earth, the clothing worn on Krypton, the clothing his earthly parents were wearing when they found him, the fact that Kryptonite is lethal to him, the color of Kryptonite (at least, the Green K), the colors on Superman's costume, the name of the actor most known for portraying Superman (i.e., Christopher Reeve), and on and on. It is as if every detail of some parts of Superman's life is meant to suggest some new idea about Jesus to us. The examples are so creative that they begin to appear contrived and artificial, rather than genuine parallels to the life of Jesus.
Ironically, Skelton ignores a pretty heavy dose of the Superman mythos to make his case. While he pays attention to every "jot and tittle" of some parts of the Superman lore, he completely overlooks other parts. He draws most extensively from the TV show "Smallville," the first "Superman" movie (not including any of the campy or humorous scenes from that film), and a couple of Superman comic stories -- mostly his origin and the "Death & Return of Superman" saga from the early '90's. Almost no mention is made of the "Lois & Clark" series (which definitely did *not* portray Superman as a parallel to Christ), the Superman III or IV movies, the 1940's Max Fleischer cartoons and movie serials, the George Reeves TV series, nor to broad themes appearing in the comics throughout their 70-year history -- other than mentioning these all briefly in a "Superman chronology timeline" in the beginning of the book. Also noticeably absent was any reference to Brian Azzarello's recent 12-issue stint on the Superman comic, which portrayed Superman as regularly flying to a church and confiding in a priest. Surely if all these other mundane aspects of Superman's life can remind us of Jesus, his presence in a church ought to, as well!
The book ends with a brief synopsis of Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" movie. However, because the book was released at roughly the same time as the film, the author was not able to view it before the book was complete, so he just deals with "plot speculation." This is unfortunate, because that film did make several deliberate attempts to depict Superman as a Messiah/Christ figure, and examples from it would have fit better than some of the ones that are in the book (Skelton doesn't even mention the most overt Christ-image in the movie, of Superman "giving his life" to save the earth and then falling with arms outstretched, in the position of Jesus on the cross, back to earth.)
Still, this book certainly is an entertaining read, even if I had to scratch my head a little at some of the examples that Skelton draws. After all, it is a well-thought-out book, and it's Superman!!! Anyone who enjoys Superman and wants to see how some of the ideas in his history can point us to Christ ought to enjoy it, as long as you don't expect an analysis that starts with the Superman creators' own intentions.
An excelent supplement to this book, which focuses more on broad themes (not only on the minutiae) of Superman, and also includes a "spiritual" analysis of many other comic book heroes, is H. Michael Brewer's "Who Needs a Superhero?"
Good Book.......2006-11-03
This book helped me to give a talk to a Christian Youth Group of the spirituality of God and how it relates to the greatest Superhero of all, Superman. Its a fun and easy read and is recommended to anyone who is interested in seeing the ties between Superman and our christian values
Georgia FlyBoy.......2006-09-04
This book is very insightful and informative. It will make you view the Superman mythos in a radically different light. The many references to my favorite television show, "Smallville", gave me an even greater appreciation for the heart-warming morality tales that are the hallmark of this groundbreaking series. I am certain that any person's spiritual growth will be greatly enhanced by this awesomely cool book!
Average customer rating:
- A MUST for any serious follower of Christ!!!
- Comprehensive, understandable tree-top view of Christ's Life
|
The Greatest Story: A Unique Blending Of The Four Gospels
Johnston M. Cheney , and
Stanley A. Ellison
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Study
| New Testament
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
New Testament
| Bibles
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Theology
| Religious Studies
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0880706775
Release Date: 1994-07-13 |
Customer Reviews:
A MUST for any serious follower of Christ!!!.......2002-09-19
A "mind-opening" experince! Many new insights will pop up as you read it. The author spent 23 years of full-time work to combine four Gospels into one complete and single narrative in chronological order, without repeting any single detail. Awesome work!! Be sure to get the newest revised edition --"Jesus Christ, The Greatest Life"--1999, Paradise Pub. It comes with more illustrations, maps, timelines and graphics than prior editions.
Comprehensive, understandable tree-top view of Christ's Life.......1996-12-24
Johnston Cheney's approach to bringing each of the Gospel records into perspective with each other provide the leisure reader and serious student of the Life of Christ with a unique, tree-top view of the Savior's walk among men. Prior to reading this book, there were numerous questions in my mind concerning the records of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - things that didn't quite mesh into the concise, understandable image of Christ that I wanted to see. Cheney's research and dedicated study into the records of His Savior's life have placed all of these perceived inconsistencies into perspective with one another, resulting in a coherent mosaic that yields an unparalled view of the Life of Christ. This book is a "must" if you want to understand Christ's life and purpose, but is also a great "read" for leisure time - a thriller, that will at times leave you speechless, will enrage you at the treatment of mankind toward each other and their Creator, will make you cry, make you laugh, and in the end, will change your life
Average customer rating:
- Great Devotional!
- Best devotional I've found
|
The Greatest Stories of the Bible
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
New Century
| Translations
| Bibles
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
New Testament
| Meditations
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Bible Study
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
| General
| New Testament
| Old Testament
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Bible & Other Sacred Texts
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0718019113 |
Book Description
In
The Greatest Stories of the Bible, journalist and editor Philip Patterson guides you through the stories in Scripture that help us understand who God is, and what role we play in the grand story of life. This Bible includes 365 daily readings, each including a Scripture portion, a devotional, and an insight for application. This is an ideal gift for someone trying to read and understand the Bible.
Customer Reviews:
Great Devotional!.......2007-03-27
After years of many different styles of devotional, this is by far the best kept secret in devotionals. The emphasis is on helping the reader understand the Bible story as a whole. Most stories have one page of scripture followed by an analogy that allows you to think the story through in the world we live in today. The next section is thoughts to ponder. Great way to have a conversation if more than one person is doing the devotion at the same time. To add even more beauty to the book, each story ends with a prayer specific to the reading or analogy. My husband and I do one devotional each evening. We both agree that this is one of the best devotionals on the market. It is especially great for those that are searching to truly learn more of God's Word along with their daily devotional time. We plan to give them as gifts in the future.
Best devotional I've found.......2007-01-25
I just bought this devotional for my whole family (6 copies for Christmas).
The reason why I have enjoyed this devotional so much is because it actually has the Bible as it's main section. Many devotionals use one or two verses and then come up with their own thoughts/interpretations/beliefs. This devotional is probably 55%-60% straight Bible and then Phillip Patterson adds some solid food for thought. My one worry was that it would just have the stories and would miss out on the theology found in the prophets, and letters of Paul. But so far (note I'm only on day 22 so far) he has quoted probably 40 or so passages that connect with the story we read.
The one note I would say is he's goes right through the Bible. So many of the stories fall in Genesis and Exodus. Although Patterson does give insight to many different parts of the Bible during these sections, you may choose to jump around and do some of the 150 New Testament stories to shake it up. Either way, I fully recommend.
May God bless you as you read and learn more and more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Webb
Average customer rating:
|
128 GREATEST STORIES FROM THE BIBLE (Barbour Value Paperback)
Daniel Elton Harmon
Manufacturer: Barbour Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Devotionals
| Worship & Devotion
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Inspirational
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Devotionals
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Reference
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Devotionals
| Worship & Devotion
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Devotionals
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Inspirational
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
3,285 Bible Questions & Answers
-
Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups
-
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
ASIN: 1593106998
Release Date: 2005-06-20 |
Product Description
The Greatest Stories of the Bible contains over one hundred inspirational stories of men, women, and children of the Bible. Within these tales, readers will find humor, mystery, romance, sacrifice, jealousy, passion, glory, faith, desperation, disobedience, perseverance, forgiveness, heartache, joy-and God's hand in the midst of it all. This Barbour Value Paperback is perfect for Bible students, Sunday school teachers, small groups, and for use in family devotions. Bible characters are brought to life in a straightforward text flavored with plenty of heart and soul. Readers will delight in discovering themselves within the stories of others.
Customer Reviews:
Crying as I write.......2003-12-28
Okay, so I haven't read it yet. And I emphasize yet. I only just looked at the sample pages and the index and already my dad is coming to see why I've fallen off of my chair. Yoko Ono (see Antichrist) is simply priceless. I'm buying this book if it kills me.
For die-hard RSC fans only.......2002-09-25
As both an amateur actor and somebody who just appreciates a good laugh, I'm a big fan of just about everything the Reduced Shakespeare Company has done... however, reading this book by two of the RSC members was something of a let-down.
Reed and Austin, if I may call them that, presume a bit too much familiarity as they write. I got the jokes and the tone they intended, but I also got the impression that anyone who wasn't already familiar with their work would have been left pretty cold. "Who are these guys? Where do they get off?" is a response I imagine them getting.
Also, while the alternating-chapter device is cute, each of them employs a running gag (in Reed's case, the story of tormenting a poor Pastor, in Austin's, struggles with his own Atheism) that really meander and get stale for about half of the book before you realize that, rather than gags, these are actually attempts at a plot. I really would have preferred they'd gotten rid of these segments and just concentrate on what does work -- the satire.
And when they concentrate on what they're good at, it's great. Reed's chapter on the story of Moses, which he mixes up with the film career of Charlton Heston, is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time.
But the good stuff is too few and far-between for the casual reader. If you're a die-hard fan of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, it's worth it. Otherwise, you'd be better off reading some of their other stuff first.
A Tasty, Pop Culture, Bible Smoothie!.......2001-06-07
I think it's safe to say that there probably aren't any other books out there that put stories from The Bible into a blender with references to Oprah, Harry Potter, Pink Floyd, and K-Tel Records and hit "puree"! At least not with such delicious results.
The authors are members of the renowned Reduced Shakespeare Company - and their irreverant and witty spirit is intact in this book. Who else but these two brilliant, misguided fools would tell the "Story of Moses' and include bits of Planet of the Apes and Indiana Jones? Funny is funny and they're funny. The book gives the reader an accessible look at the stories of the Bible (as well as the mental and physical breakdowns of both authors during the writing of the book!).
I particularly enjoyed the little details -- even the Foreword and Bibliography is funny. DO NOT miss reading the Index (which is my personal favorite part of the book). The section on the parallels between The Bible and Hollywood are a direct hit. I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to have their funny bone tickled. I would also check out their other books of the plays they've performed -- they're really great too.
Books:
- Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?: Leading a Great Enterprise through Dramatic Change
- A Bend in the River
- A Boy's Own Story (Modern Library Classics)
- A Play of Knaves (Joliffe Mysteries)
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (Penguin Classics)
- America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
- An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman)
- Book of Thoth A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Equinox Volume III, No. V
- Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America
- Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Health Care Economics
- Classic Bulbs: Hidden Treasures for the Modern Garden
- The Working Director: How to Arrive, Survive and Thrive in the Director's Chair
- Working Windows, Revised and Updated Edition: A Guide to the Repair and Restoration of Wood Windows
- A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Africa's Top Wildlife Countries, Sixth Edition
- Excel Applications for Accounting Principles
- The Cpa's Guide to Intranets
- Weiss Ratings' Guide to Banks and Thrifts: Winter 2001-02
Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses (P.S.)
Walking the Bible: A Photographic Journey
Walking the Bible
Walking the Bible (children's edition): An Illustrated Journey for Kids Through the Greatest Stories Ever Told
