Book Description
In one of Theroux's most magnificent novels, the paranoid, brilliant, and self-destructive Allie Fox takes his family to live in the Honduran jungle, determined to build a civilization better than the one they've left.
Customer Reviews:
The Pain.......2007-07-21
I only give this thing 4 stars because it awakens such pain in me. You have here several pretty good reviews that explain the external circumstances of this story. But what knocked me to my knees were the "internal" circumstances, mainly because it made me relive the hell of being a child and totally at the mercy of the so called "adults" who were legally in charge of you. And that is what happens to the kids in the story; at first Dad seems to have his *hit together somewhat, but due to exhuastion, overexertion, or his personal biology Dad starts to lose it, and it's painful to see the kids eventually realize this. If you have been around insane people, you realize the father's touch of madness before a trip to "Buzz Palace" is anounced.
Dad appears to be undone by finding out that the hand of civilization has been there before him - he seems to have need of thinking he is bringing it there himself, for the first time, from scratch. There is no place in this world that hasn't been touched by western civilization - too bad he does not know that. And then, during his stay in his paradise, refugees from Nicaragua come through there, running for their lives, and in the back of your mind, you are thinking of Dole and other produce growers in the country that have their own military death squads and basically run the country. Never mind.
Read it. They say it's humerous, and I'm possessed of a black sense of humour, but I didn't crack a smile once. In some ways this book is highly derivative, and you can pretty much tell what is to come, but never once do you feel as if you reading something that is a "warmed over" retelling of an old story. It's a huge story, actually, this story of "civilization" and it's impact on presumedly uncivilzed worlds.
A Masterful Exotic Adventure.......2007-06-10
An eccentric father packs up his family and moves from the midwest to the Mosquito Coast of Honduras. His plan is to make a wondrous change in the lives of the Maya Indians by providing them with ice. What a character! What an adventure! A compelling story told with humor, a modern voyage into the heart of darkness.
The "Chicago Sun-Times" book review said, "The 'Mosquito Coast' is rich beyond compare...exhilarating and provocative, fun and terrifying."
Highly recommended!
Genius or Madman.......2006-06-09
When I first heard about this book, I doubted whether the characters would be believable. However, once I started, I could not put it down. The story appeals to anyone who has ever wondered what it might be like to just pick up and leave to go live in a wilderness somewhere. The perspective of the son makes this story compelling, touching, frightening, and fascinating. I couldn't put it down.
A man gone over the edge.......2006-05-21
Allie Fox is an American inventor who decides the "civilized" world is morally bankrupt and flees with his family to the jungles of Honduras. In Honduras, he buys the deserted town of Jeronimo and goes about installing some of his inventions. His greatest invention is a giant ice machine (Fat Boy, ironically similar in name to Little Boy, the nickname of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima) that operates without electricity. When the family experiences trouble with three soldiers who arrive and never leave, Fox induces them into Fat Boy and they are killed when it explodes. Now Fox goes off the deep end and begins to bully his family, who are already scared silly of him, into more extreme forms of jungle existence until they are all facing the Heart of Darkness. He is finally shot and the family is saved from certain annihilation. The best part of the book is the early part while the Foxes are still in America: Theroux nails the insanity of late 20th-Century America perfectly. Some of the later scenes in Honduras are almost surreal in their intensity. It's a powerful book, though, for the most part, and Allie Fox is an obsessed man not soon to be forgotten.
Allie Fox --"He's the worst kind of pain in the neck -- a know-it-all who is sometimes right".......2006-02-16
The "Mosquito's Coast" is a book about a boy named Charlie Fox that is recounted to Paul Theroux; Paul Theroux being a noted travel writer. I found the book to be a cross between "The heart of darkness" (or "Apocalypse Now", for the movie generation) and a coming of age story. The classic conflict analysis of drama: Man vs. Man, or Man vs. Nature, or Man vs. Himself/herself; seems appropriate to this tale; in that the main character Allie Fox, charlie's father, seems to fight everything and everybody he comes across. Allie Fox is a wonderful character, who shines and glows on the pages of Theroux's book; an iconic character that resonates in part due to the truth of his character. Paul Theroux's writing is exquisite with a heighten sense of simile and metaphor; he almost abuses the use of simile's in his descriptions of the jungle and the United States. This is a wonderful book with a harrowing story line about a man who becomes fed up with America and decides to move his entire family to Honduras. Allie Fox is no ordinary man; he is a mad genius type, he dropped out of Harvard in his Freshman Year and has sustained his family, two boys and twin daughters, through the mere brilliance of his intellect, specifically his ability to invent. The depth and profoundness that Paul Theroux is able to uncover with his characters and settings is staggering; needless to say I was blown away by this book. Though some characters, Charlie's Mother and twin sisters do come off flat, I can't decide if that was Charlie's telling of the story or a ploy by Paul Theroux. Either way, the book is wonderful; though I know some readers might have trouble with the overbearing quality of Allie Fox or the callowness of his family. It was a pleasure to read this novel and it is always surprising how insightful and thought provoking good writing can be.
Average customer rating:
- Story of a latin American country and the impact of one man
- Great perspective of the Honduras Mosquitia
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Lighting the Mosquito Coast
Barry Colman
Manufacturer: Christian Missions in Many Lands
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Belize
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ASIN: 0888735588 |
Book Description
John Ruddock's vivid and animated words transport you from wiring the first lights in turn-of-the-century Ireland to 52 years trailblazing for a more powerful light through Central America.
It's a physical adventure of outrageous characters, banana trains, Carib Indians, dictators, coups, volcanoes, malaria, dugout canoes, monkeys, macaws and machetes.
A spiritual validation for the reality of God, His living Word, the life-redeeming gift of His Son and proof that faith changes lives.
And a story of diligent love between a man and his Savior.
This book includes 24 pages of photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Story of a latin American country and the impact of one man.......2000-03-24
The book shows the conditions of Honduras C.A. in the early 20th century and how a man with his God changed people's lives and the primitive conditions within the country. It shows how a dedicated man and his family can survive primitive conditions and make a major change on the lives of others.
Great perspective of the Honduras Mosquitia.......1999-11-10
This book provides an interesting account of the recent history of the Mosquitia Coast, and helped greatly with my research of the Legendary lost city of Ciudad Blanca. Taken from the autobiography of a missionary, it's an honest account of his families trials and tribulations. A must read for lovers of the Mosquitia.
Book Description
Global identity politics rest heavily on notions of ethnicity and authenticity, especially in contexts where indigenous identity becomes a basis for claims of social and economic justice. In contemporary Latin America there is a resurgence of indigenous claims for cultural and political autonomy and for the benefits of economic development. Yet these identities have often been taken for granted.
In this historical ethnography, Baron Pineda traces the history of the port town of Bilwi, now known officially as Puerto Cabezas, on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua to explore the development, transformation, and function of racial categories in this region. From the English colonial period, through the Sandinista conflict of the 1980s, to the aftermath of the Contra War, Pineda shows how powerful outsiders, as well as Nicaraguans, have made efforts to influence notions about African and Black identity among the Miskito Indians, Afro-Nicaraguan Creoles, and Mestizos in the region. In the process, he provides insight into the causes and meaning of social movements and political turmoil. Shipwrecked Identities also includes important critical analysis of the role of anthropologists and other North American scholars in the Contra-Sandinista conflict, as well as the ways these scholars have defined ethnic identities in Latin America. As the indigenous people of the Mosquito Coast continue to negotiate the effects of a long history of contested ethnic and racial identity, this book takes an important step in questioning the origins, legitimacy, and consequences of such claims.
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Ethnohistory (Volume 34 No 3)
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NP25FK |
Product Description
Contains articles by Robert K Hitchcock on Basarwa in Botswana; by Michael D Olien on Regional Political Structures on the Mosquito Coast; and Ellen T Baird on Sahagun's Codex Florentino
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LA Costa De Los Mosquitos/Mosquito Coast
Paul Theroux
Manufacturer: Tusquets
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 8472232123 |
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THE MOSQUITO COAST
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQQPY8 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, Sparkling Fun Dialog, Good Plot & Characters.......2006-06-05
"They're just the sexy boys next door. If next door is a Weird, Weird Place."
MJD had me laughing from the title of story #1, Bridefight. Hilarious, great character & story development for short stories, with sparkling & funny dialog. Loved it!!
A Really BAD Book.......2006-02-28
I really enjoy MJD's Vampire series, which is why I purchsed this book. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. This is very poorly written, probably in a few days. The main character of the first story is obnoxious and unlikable. The sex scenes don't seem as if a woman wrote them at all. The plot lines are thin. All in all the worst book I have read in many years. If I could give this zero stars I would.
MJD produces another winner!.......2005-12-19
Overall, I have not liked the Brava Bad Boys series. However, I like everything I have read by MJD and this book only strengthened that idea. The 3 stories are interconnected and revolve around the mating of the 3 princes from the SandLands. The SandLands is an alternate world where the people transform into animals; the 3 princes, by the way, transform into pumas. MJD's females are always quirky and sassy and this anthology is no different. From learning the language of the dark travelers, to confronting racism, to addressing the role of women, MJD's characters kept me laughing. Highly recommended!
Really Disappointing Bad Boys..........2005-10-08
I loved Bridefight when I read the novella in e-book format at Ellora's Cave. The aforementioned novella was the first part of a series that was never carried out called Canis Royal. In fact, I loved it so much that I wrote a review about the novella and expressed my pleasure in having read such a fun little story. So, imagine my delight when I heard that MaryJanice Davidson re-released Bridefight and added two more novellas of the SandLands for an anthology... and imagine my disappointment when I read Really Unusual Bad Boys. Mating Season leaves off where Bridefight left off, only this time this is Damon's brother Maltese's story. He wished for an earthly woman and got Lt Anne Sanger, a straightlaced WWII soldier. She has no idea how she'd landed in SandLands. Her circumstances are quite different from Lois's. She wants nothing more than to return to her home, however, will she want to after she spends time with the gorgeous werecat? And in Groomfight, third brother Shakar lands on earth and meets a beautiful dark-skinned woman. After spending time with her and indulging in some erotic moments, which includes skinny-dipping, he decides to stay on earth, but things could change after Rica discovers she's with child.
The problem I had with the last two novellas is that they seem rushed, thin and sloppily executed. When I read Bridefight, I felt that Davidson discovered a unique and erotic world with sharp humor and great one-liners to boot. However, the novellas are so short and end so abruptly that I am not any the wiser about the SandLands and its inhabitants. For example, in Mating Season, Anne was quite adamant about returning to earth, and then out of nowhere changes her mind. I was confused with her sudden change of heart. It was just too abrupt. I like that Davidson used the whole time-travel angle with the female characters, but she could have and should have done so much more with these stories. The characters lack depth and all I got from this anthology is a few good romantic scenes between the characters. And the titles "Mating Season" and "Groomfight" had nothing to do with the actual stories. That is another indication that Davidson wrote these stories without giving them much thought. Reading this book was like reading a pamphlet -- thin, light, brief. Bridefight is great and that is why I give Really Unusual Bad Boys two stars instead of one star. Davidson should have taken more time developing this erotic fantasy anthology in a more palpable way. I am a big fan of her work and love the Undead, Wyndham Werewolf and Alaskan books respectively, but I've grown wary of trying her novellas because they have left me unfulfilled. These shall be the last novellas I read from Ms. Davidson. They served their purpose in providing some (very) light entertainment during my train commute to work, but I expected more and I cannot help but feel disappointed and cheated. And ripped off! I paid fourteen dollars for this. Ugh.
Alot of fun.......2005-09-30
I always love Mary Janice Davidson no matter what she writes. These short stories are fun, her women are not pathetic and the guys aren't bad either. Enjoy!
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Really Unusual Bad Boys
Manufacturer: Brava
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HEG72O |
Average customer rating:
- Strong follow-up to Caves of Steel
- Classic Asimov
- Robots, The Future, and Murder
- If you liked Caves of Steel, then pick this up.....perfect!!
- Made Me Stop Wearing Sunglasses--but that's about it.
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The Naked Sun
Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Spectra
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Caves of Steel (Robot City)
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The Robots of Dawn
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I, Robot
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Robots and Empire
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Foundation and Earth
ASIN: 0553293397
Release Date: 1991-11-01 |
Book Description
A millennium into the future, two advancements have altered the course of human history: the colonization of the Galaxy and the creation of the positronic brain. On the beautiful Outer World planet of Solaria, a handful of human colonists lead a hermit-like existence, their every need attended to by their faithful robot servants. To this strange and provocative planet comes Detective Elijah Baley, sent from the streets of New York with his positronic partner, the robot R. Daneel Olivaw, to solve an incredible murder that has rocked Solaria to its foundations. The victim had been so reclusive that he appeared to his associates only through holographic projection. Yet someone had gotten close enough to bludgeon him to death while robots looked on. Now Baley and Olivaw are faced with two clear impossibilities: Either the Solarian was killed by one of his robots--unthinkable under the laws of Robotics--or he was killed by the woman who loved him so much that she never came into his presence!
Customer Reviews:
Strong follow-up to Caves of Steel.......2007-09-06
The Naked Sun by, Isaac Asimov, is a direct sequel to Caves of Steel (Robot City). Once again we see detective Elijah Baley called upon to solve a murder involving a "Spacer" (a human from an Earth colony on another planet) only this time he has to leave Earth to perform the investigation. He is reunited with his robotic partner, R. Daneel Olivaw although the relationship seems a bit more contentious this time around. The two meet on the planet Solaria where a leading citizen has been murdered with a good old-fashioned blunt instrument. Baley must overcome his fear of open spaces, resistance from the locals to meeting face-to-face, and the seeming impossibility of satisfying all the facts of the case before he can shed light on the mystery.
More than just a mystery, Naked Sun is also a social commentary of sorts. I can't say I found this aspect of the novel nearly as compelling as the mystery. Without giving too much away, the people of Solaria live in nearly complete isolation and loathe being in the personal presence of anyone, including a spouse or their own child. While this is plausible in a purely academic way given the scenario that Asimov put it place, it ignores many basic human instincts such as sex drive that are incredibly powerful and highly unlikely to be sublimated so completely. Still, as long you take it with a grain of salt, it is still interesting to read about this other culture.
The murder mystery in the book was very well done for the most part. It moves along well, introduces a number of interesting characters, and is suitably puzzling to both Baley and the reader as it unfolds. The ending wasn't quite as tidy as it could have been but I'll say no more about that for fear of spoiling the story for new readers.
The Naked Sun is not a perfect novel. The ending was just a bit off and the sociology is more than questionable. But these are quibbles, not crippling flaws. I would certainly recommend this book, though you should read Caves of Steel (and possibly I, Robot) first. If you've read Caves of Steel, and enjoyed it, odds are you'll find a lot to like in this sequel.
Classic Asimov.......2007-07-29
It's always fun to hear a great mystery, and in the future with a great off-world scenario made it even better.
Robots, The Future, and Murder.......2006-10-18
This book is great for those of you looking to escape this sometimes dull planet and time. If you have a passion for science fiction mystery or just science fiction in general this book is for you. Those of you who have seen the movies like I,ROBOT, Blade Runner, or Metropolis will find yourselves wrapped up in this enticing view of not only our planets future but also the future of life in this galaxy. The obviousness of this whodunnit is very subtle throughout the story and you will find yourself smacking your forehead when you realize what actually happened in the end.
If you liked Caves of Steel, then pick this up.....perfect!!.......2006-08-11
The Naked Sun is the second book in Asimov's robot series and probably my favorite but all are worth reading. This book continues the futuristic Sherlockian adventure of Elijah Bailey and his straight-man robot sidekick Daneel Olivaw. This time they journey to the planet of Solaria to solve a murder that has political implications across the galaxy.
Asimov creates and socially interesting world in Solaria where people avoid human contact, live miles apart from each other and dependent upon robots to automate their society and keep their standard of living of high. Asimov deftly ties the intricacies of the Solarians into the mystery of the murder and ongoing multi book arc or robot progression. The whole thing is executed with Asimov's straightforward style and the character interaction and relationship between the two main characters is excellent as well.
I highly recommend this series to any science fiction fan as this is really top shelf sci-fi writing from the best. The series should be read in order though and one should start with the I, Robot short story collection before proceeding to The Caves of Steel (which is the predecessor to this novel). Also this series is entirely appropriate for any one of at least high school age.
Bottom Line: This series was revolutionary when it came out in the 50's. It's still one of the best ones out there.
Made Me Stop Wearing Sunglasses--but that's about it........2006-07-04
Elijah Baley solves another case with his logical yet unreasonable partner, R Daneel Olivaw. This time it is not within the steel caves of New York City, but in the open plains of the sparsely populated Solaria. A world that has reached the epitome of technological paradise.
Though, the book is not necessarily well written as a detective piece. The murderer is somewhat obvious, and the investigation can at times be dull. What is interesting is this new world Asimov created. A world so wrapped up with the companionship of their advanced robots, that people shudder at the thought of seeing another person in the flesh. Some people will faint at the sight. Some people will stay a good twenty feet away from a man. Some people will do worse. They are enslaved to the robots for their livelihood, their protection, and they are even mothered by the robots after birth.
It turns out that Earth is exactly the same in many ways. But instead of being isolated from individuals, Earth is isolated by other cities, other planets, other ventures. Baley can barely last five minutes in the Solarian sun without fainting himself. Whereas Solaria's wealthy estates ran only by robots cause people to fear anyone one person, Earth's primitively walled in cities cause people to fear manifest destiny.
PS: There was a certian individual who claimed that the nudity exhibited in this novel should have been cesnored. I am in complete disagreement in the first case because I do not believe in censorship. Despite this, I do not believe that there is anything in this book to censor. The only line that makes desciption of the female form is as followed, "Gladia looked down at her nudity in surprise and said, 'Well of course'" (61). Not a single word is used to illustrate a nude body other than the word "nudity" itself. Everything is left to the imagination and is very tasteful. I would say the taboo of nudity in this novel, though it is not portrayed in explicit detail, is what makes this book intriguing as oppose to revolting.
Average customer rating:
- Asimov's great robot murder-mysteries
- Great!
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Robot Trilogy: The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn
Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Complete Robot (Robot Series)
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Robots and Empire
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I, Robot
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Foundation (Foundation Novels)
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The Door into Summer
ASIN: 0345331192
Release Date: 1988-08-12 |
Customer Reviews:
Asimov's great robot murder-mysteries.......2005-10-03
Isaac Asimov, along with H.G. Wells, is perhaps the greatest Science Fiction writer of all time. He, above all others, brings science to the genre while writing in a very clever way. Not many SF authors were scientists before they became writers. Asimov clearly knows his science and, more importantly, the level of science the audience knows.
This "Robot Trilogy" is set two thousand years into the future; well after his "I, Robot" short stories which precede it and set up the now-universal Laws of Robotics, and before Asimov's 'Empire' novels. 'The Caves of Steel' (an acronym for the cities of the future) is set on Earth, while 'The Naked Sun' and 'The Robots of Dawn' are set on colonised planets elsewhere in the galaxy. Each story follows the investigations of detective Elijah Baley and his human-looking robot partner (mascarading as a 'Spacer'), Daneel Olivaw, as they solve murder mysteries on each planet.
These stories are well crafted and read like good old-fashioned murder mysteries. The unique aspects of these novels are their off-world settings and robot characters; the robots must obey the three laws of robotics, the first being that a robot cannot harm a human, or through inaction, allow a human to be harmed. But loopholes exist which Asimov explores brilliantly. But what drives these stories is the relationship between Earthmen and Spacers (outer world colonialists). Here, the two are distinctly polar in every way, thus fueling the stereotypical fears between the two groups. For example, Earthmen are considered by 'spacers' as second-class citizens due to their idiosynchratic indoor-only nature and susceptibility to disease, while spacers are considered elitist by Earthmen as they don't allow physical contact. A number of other psychological and social problems are also addressed by Asimov, in particular the "Frankenstein" complex that humans have developed in response to creating robots - other sentient beings. Other themes include community versus the individual, change versus stagnation, and dependance on technology to prolong life.
What is really impressive about Asimov is the fact that he has accomplished what he has without violence. I don't recall in any Asimov novel a gun being fired!
Why buy this book? Each novel can be read individually but are really designed to be read one story after another. So buy this omnibus instead of purchasing three separate books. You will want to read "The Naked Sun" and "The Robots of Dawn" after reading "The Caves of Steel" anyway. Also, read "I, Robot" before venturing into his other novels as Asimov sets up his rules here.
(Asimov began his robot novels with the collection of short stories entitled "I, Robot" which was set in the years 2010 to 2050 roughly and presented for the first time the Three Laws of Robotics. These stories revealed man's distrust of robots which were created to serve man and his occupations, especially in Earth orbit and in the Solar System (the extent of exploration at this point in human history), and importantly, not on Earth.)
Great!.......1997-09-01
In these books, Asimov puts in views and theories and situations that may arise as well as fit in facts about books set in later eras, such as Foundation. Well written, sound bases. Gives a reader the feeling of "This is how it could be."
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous REAL-FICTION stories.......2004-06-17
Asimov did a hell of a job gathering all his stories in a series of books. In The Complete Stories Vol. 1 his handwrittings from the 1940's just up to 1967 are printed in a wonderful science-fiction masterpiece. Asimov is well reknowned as the father of SciFi, and this stories demonstrate how he can write about politics, medicine, science, anthropology, or even sexuality. This book gives you down-to-earth, really involving stories, that will surely catch your attention. You'll find stories about the gigantic Multivac predicting electorial votes from just one person; a robot flirtering his bosses' wife; a super-intelligent computer who wants to comit suicide; and lots of different stories in a wide variety of topics, but all related to SciFi.
Product Description
Both novels in one edition
Average customer rating:
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The Naked Sun
Manufacturer: Lancer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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Paperback
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ASIN: B000EOMXKW |
Product Description
Paperback Lancer edition 1966.
Customer Reviews:
The Second Adventure of a Good Team!.......2006-07-26
The late Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi writers. He is of the old "hard sci-fi" school that populated the `50s and a successful member of that community by the way.
"El Sol Desnudo" ("The Naked Sun") has been translated to Spanish more than once. Unfortunately no detail of this edition is given, yet if you are a Spanish reader (and sci-fi fan) give this book a try.
This story is the second step in the long friendship between the earthling New York detective Elijah Baley and the robot detective R. Daneel Olivaw. You don't need to read "The Caves of Steel" to understand this one, it is almost a stand alone book.
Situated in a far future Earth, Humankind has divided into Spacers who dwell scattered in fifty worlds (and are the rich & advanced society) and Earthlings that remain in the Mother World, inhabiting overcrowded underground cities. Both groups distrust and despise each other.
A murder occurred in Solaria an Outer World. Elijah is put in charge of the investigation due to his success in the previous investigation.
Once again he will team with R. Daneel.
Here different phobias interact conditioning the development of the events.
Bailey is terrorized to be outside of he caves. From that fact derives the title of the novel as the Naked Sun is almost unbearable to stand for him.
The Solarians avoid direct contact with other humans. They interact thru holographic system and are surrounded and served by robots that do not look like humans.
In this isolation context murder is very difficult to commit. Nevertheless when committed is yet more difficult to solve. Well that is the task of our heroes!
On this background Asimov, once again, construct a many layered novel. At one level is a classical detective's story at another one a study on alien cultures interacting. In yet another level is psychological approach to phobias.
In a classical Asimovan way, each chapter introduces new elements and characters to the action until at last everything squares to a satisfactory ending.
Both partners will continue their adventures and mystery solving in "Robots of Dawn". R. Daneel will resurface at the closing volumes of the "Foundation" saga.
One more detail about this novel, the author after writing it stopped writing sci-fi novel for almost fifteen years, dedicating his efforts to write non-fiction on several subjects as physics, history and paleontology amongst others.
Enjoy the last of Asimov's "Golden Age" works!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
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THE NAKED SUN.
Isaac. Asimov
Manufacturer: Lancer Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7BB9Y |
Product Description
4 massmarket paperback Titles in Lije Baley and R. Daneel Olivaw Novels : I, Robot - The Caves of Steel - The Naked Sun - The Robots of Dawn
Book Description
Today's secularists too often have very little accurate knowledge about religion, and even less desire to learn. This is problematic insofar as their sense of self is constructed in opposition to religion. Above all, the secularist is not a Jew, is not a Christian, not a Muslim, and so on. But is it intellectually responsible to define one's identity against something that one does not understand? And what happens when these secularists weigh in on contentious political issues, blind to the religious back-story or concerns that inevitably inform these debates? In The Secular Bible: Why Nonbelievers Must Take Religion Seriously Jacques Berlinerblau suggests that atheists and agnostics must take stock of that which they so adamantly oppose. Defiantly maintaining a shallow understanding of religion, he argues, is not a politically prudent strategy in this day and age. But this book is no less critical of many believers, who--Berlinerblau contends--need to emancipate themselves from ways of thinking about their faith that are dangerously simplistic, irrational and outdated. Exploring the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, from the perspective of a specialist, nonbeliever, and critic of the academic religious studies establishment, Berlinerblau begins by offering a provocative answer to the question of "who wrote the Bible?" The very peculiar way in which this text was composed provides a key to understanding its unique power (and vulnerability) in the modern public sphere. In separate chapters, he looks at how the sparse and contradictory words of Scripture are invoked in contemporary disputes about Jewish intermarriage and homosexuality in the Christian world. Finally, he examines ways in which the Qur'an might be subject to the types of secular interpretation advocated throughout this book. Cumulatively, this book is a first attempt to reinvigorate an estimable secular, intellectual tradition, albeit one that is currently experiencing a moment of crisis.
Customer Reviews:
Arrogant, Silly Book.......2007-09-19
There have been some excellent books recently on the subject of religion by the great evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, the brilliant philosopher Daniel Dennett, the writer/journalist Christopher Hitchens and Neuroscientist Sam Harris. This book is not in that class. The author arrogantly asserts that Non-believers MUST take religion seriously, without ever explaining why. Well, sorry. Religion is a vestige of humanity's primitive past which we would be much better without. If religion is allowed to hold sway, we may not make it out of the 21st century, as the religions nutcases will blow us all to smithereens. Furthermore, the author displays his bias when he says that he prefers that secularism always remain the minority view. Of course, this is likely, considering the preponderence of idiots on the planet, but we can hope that the mass of humanity can be enlightened through education.
Tedious.......2007-08-19
First of all, the claim that secularists should know the Bible is obvious. Then the notion that they don't take the Bible seriously enough depends on what is meant. They may indeed only take its threat seriously when they are forced to by the depredations of dangerous religious enthusiasts. Should they take it seriously at other times? Why? It is a marvelous collection of nonsense indeed.
The author is correct in doubting that biblical scholars will ever convince believers that the Bible isn't what they think it is. For almost four hundred years now, since at least Spinoza, we know the Bible is not God's word or anything like that, but believers still insist on their fairy stories and especially on The Blue Fairy of desire.
This book doesn't do me any good. I don't know if someone else will find it useful, I suspect not.
High brow discussion of religion........2007-01-11
Good book,
author is clearly coming from a secular perspective and presents his ideas coherently and even humorously.
From an academic perspective I was disappointed that Christianity's cornerstone, the New Testament, was not discussed.
John Grieve.
Verily I Say Unto You, Read This Book...and Learn!.......2006-07-15
If you occasionally read the Bible, as I have, at some point it will dawn on you that there is just no clear meaning to be found. The language confuses, the stories are ambiguous and whatever meaning can be distilled from a story here or an admonishment there, will only be contradicted in the next chapter or book. The explanation for why this is, is provided for with such clarity of thought in Berlinerblau's The Secular Bible that it was a revelation for this reader. Once started, this book is difficult to put down. It is filled with such remarkable observations, presented in such erudite prose, infused with such impeckable logic that it disarms. If you ever wanted to make sense of the Bible or Koran or religion in general, read this book and as an added bonus you will walk away with much more than an understanding of the Bible. Inherent in the process of deconstructing the the Bible, are some fundamental lessons in human nature. Upon finishing this book, I felt as though a significant addition had been made to the sum total of my knowledge base. The view from the heights is a little clearer. I plan to go back and read everything this author has written.
Secular Ethos.......2006-04-19
I found this book to be interesting but disappointing. The writing style is clear and uncomplicated which I appreciate.
I think there is too much time spent on the question of who wrote the Bible. Talk about beating a dead horse! OMG! Give it a break... As far as I am concerned wisdom can come off the back of a cereal box. It isn't the author but the message that is important and in the case of most religious writings the message is pourposely garbled and confused.
Berlinerblau asserts on page 131 "If secularism is to be perserved as the minority position that it has always been (and should always be), it will need to rethink itself." I wonder why secular thought should always be in the minority? Why rethink secular thought? Did a Secular Jihadist fly a commercial airline into the Trade Center? Did a Secular President strike back in vengence by bombing civillian shepards? I would point out that maybe it is time for secular thought to be given more exposure. Instead of making appoligies for the way the religious mind processes world events we should encourage MORE Marxist thought if only to give the population another frame of reference. Maybe it is time for the majority of Christains to rethink themselves. (Or at least read the bible whos teaching they believe they are following)
I did appreciate the work on homosexuality. There the author did a great job of pointing out that the Bible isn't precise in its position on same sex relationships. He points out that the writings are just more confusion. (big surprise there huh?) Then he points out that Jesus said nothing on the topic and I have to add that if being gay was such a big deal then wouldn't Jesus have spent more time talking about that than he did tossing the money makers out of the temple? Maybe Christ the son of God and Karl Marx would have been in agreement on more than the average person would believe.
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