5 comments about The Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History.

1. The information in the book is interesting. Problem is that it doesn't have much to do with the topic at hand. The chapters (maybe 3 of them?) covering the topic were good.
   
   The material in the book seemed to be more about the history of the area Jesus inhabited rather than about how the Catholic Church is perpetrating a lie. I won't lie, I am a practicing Catholic, but I was really interested it what he had to say and what evidence he had to back it up. I don't, for a moment, think that what the Catholic Church teaches about Jesus is 100% correct. There is also the fact that there is a great deal of information about Jesus missing from Catholic teachings (from he was the age of 12 or so until he is in his late 20s is all but missing).
   
   I have about 2 chapters left and am greatly disappointed in this book. I borrowed this from my mom (not a practicing Catholic) and I think she was actually more disappointed in it than I was.



2. It's interesting how many reviewers claim that there is "abundant evidence" provided by historical personages for the existence of Jesus. Let's look at these:
   
   Josephus: wrote a passage that mentions Christ, but scholars now agree that this passage is either a later interpolation or that it has been corrupted. Agapius of Manbij quotes this passage, but he quotes from an earlier version of it which is evident by the fact that it is far more conservative than the extant version of the Josephus passage.
   
   Pliny the Younger: wrote to Trajan in about 112 AD about how to deal with Christians who refused to worship the emperor. Just because he mentions "Christus" does not mean he validated the existence of Christ or the beliefs of his followers.
   
   Tacitus: wrote about a class of people, called Christians, who were "hated for their abominations." He mentions Christus, from whom their name is derived, and who suffered the "extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius" at the hand of Pilate. What this passage actually proves is still under debate by scholars.
   
   Suetonius: mentions that the Jews had been creating disturbances at the instigation of "Chrestus" and so Claudius expelled them from Rome. The problem is that this expulsion happened about 20 years after the death of Christ, so for this reason he could be referring to Christians and not to Christ himself. Thus, the passage offers very little information about Christ.
   
   Thallus: Julius Africanus writing in the 3rd century AD refers to Thallus who, according to Eusebius, wrote a history that spanned a period of time from the Trojan War to 109 BC. No actual writings of Thallus survives.
   
   Lucian: was a 2nd century Romano-Syrian satirist who made fun of Christians.
   
   Celsus: mentions Christ, indeed he calls Christ "a mere man."
   
   There is also a document called "The Acts of Pontius Pilate" which is spurious at best.
   
   This leaves us with mainly the documents that came out of the catholic church that we now called the New Testament, and because it came out of the church it could be controlled by the church.
   
   I'm not saying that this book contains the absolute truth about Jesus, but it certainly opens the door to further research and an opportunity to look at what facts we have from a different perspective.



3. The author spends too much time going through history and not enough time on his arguments. The final disc is the most interesting whereas the middle discs drag on.



4. I have never been disappointed in buying a book written by Baigent. He always offers new insights and unexpected twists in his researches into the history of Christianity. I can think of no other author in the genre that can keep my interest for so long. Well done and well worth the price.



5. To begin with, only a few chapters of this book even deal with the so-called crucifixion controversy. A large portion of this book deals with Baigent's own experiences crawling around caves and chapters literally go by without any mention or reference whatsoever to Jesus.
   
   Secondly, Baigent's thesis is absurd. First, he states that he doubts that Jesus ever existed, then goes on to say that a replacement Jesus was crucified, then proposes that Jesus survived the crucifixion. His arguments are conflicting and convoluted, referencing documents he cannot produce or even prove exist to support his claims. Many of his arguments are centered around the Gospels, which he himself goes to great lengths to discredit.
   
   He states that the many conspiracies of the Church are Vatican cover-ups, citing their own selfish reasons for keeping such a secret. Thus, he argues, the Vatican is biased and cannot be trusted. Yet, he ignores his own motives for writing this book and "uncovering" these conspiracies...fame and fortune

2 comments about A Tribute to Heath Ledger: The Illustrated Biography.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantastic book.
   I thought I knew a lot about Heath, but I quickly found out that I was wrong. Heath was a very complex and mysterious man, and this book illustrates that fact throughout.
   If you love Heath Ledger, you won't be disappointed in this book. Very informative, with absoluely breathtaking photographs.
   Debra



2. This is a great tribute to a great actor, Heath Ledger. The book gives its readers good background information about Heath, but also includes some great pictures of Heath as well. This book is well worth the money!

5 comments about Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition.

1. From her own words, we can see how this important and popular Catholic saint dedicated her life to the unconditional love of God. Through a life of simplicity and obedience, she came to be one of the most revered saints in the history of the Church. The book takes us from her childhood to her death and clearly outlines her path to sainthood. An inspiring and uplifting book for someone who already knows Therese of Lisieux, as well as for those interested in learning about her life and her "little way."



2. It is a well written, inspirational text. I really liked the historical aspects as well as the religious excerpts. Great book for anyone experiencing an ongoing illness. It helps to put the disease in perspective. :)



3. Rev. Thomas Taylor's early 20th century translation of the memoir of St. Therese of Lisieux was made from the only manuscript then available outside her monastery, one substantially rewritten by Therese's sister Pauline, who made five thousand changes. Scholars interested in the documents which gave rise to the cult of St. Therese may wish to consult it. I urge those who want to read what Therese wrote to read the third edition of "Story of a Soul" translated by Fr. John Clarke, OCD, and published by ICS Publications in 1976. The Clarke translation, made from the unretouched manuscript written by Therese (which was published in French only in 1956), is recognized as the standard throughout the English-speaking world. No other translation compares to it. Whether you have not read "Story of a Soul" or have read only earlier English translations (Taylor, Knox, Beevers), the Clarke translation will open the world of Therese to you. Don't miss it. You'll find it at Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition



4. Excellent book and in her own words unedited. Also a good little book on St. Therese is 'Heart of a Soul'. This book Iam reviewing is A MUST Read.



5. This book is a great place to start learning about Therese. Includes the full text of the autobiography, and some supplementary material incl. a introduction to the autobiography and life of Therese and some of her letters and prayers. You can get much of this stuff online, but the book is a delight, with many pictures.
   
   Therese is a very special person, and I recommend a familiarity with her beautiful soul.

5 comments about Squanto, Friend Of The Pilgrims (Scholastic Biography).

1. Squanto friend of the pilgrims is a really good book. It tells you about how Squanto got to learn the English language.It tells you how Squanto gets with the pilgrims.you should get this realy good book.



2. Squanto friend of the pilgims is a great book! It gives a lot of information about Squanto.He was a nice person he wanted to meet the white men. When the white men came to their land Squanto went to meet them. Squanto was in a bush hiding from the white men {pilgrims} one of the white men pulled up gun and shot a bird Squanto jumped out and ducked. He met the white men and sailed to London with the pilgrims. He stayed there for many years. When he went back home he was captured and taken back to London and was a slave but two pastors freed him. when he came home his tribe was gone there was nothing left for him.



3. Squanto went with the white men to meet oher people. Squanto wanted to go home but all the ships were full.After one year Squanto lived with his best friend Charles Robbins. Then one day he heard a ship was avalible. He got on the ship and in a few days later. They went huning and Squanto dicided to go home and he got half way there and Caption Hunt and cought him and tied his ankles and wrists with rope.a slave market in spain.Two chrishtens bought him and let him go. He wentto England.Hewent home and he found a little boy and asked him where his tribe was
   and the little boy said they had a disease.everyone caughtit and died.The little boy asked him if he wanted tocome to his tibe andhe said" YES". The End!



4. In this book ,Squanto Friend of the pilgrims,there is a boy named Squanto and in the book it tells how he is a Patuxet. One day he was walking along a path and saw a ship and knew it was a white man's ship. He didn't wait one second to tell his people what he saw. So he ran as fast as he could when he raeched his village Squanot went strate to his home. Squanto told his mom and dad about the ship he saw. His mom was not very happy about this but on the ather hand Squanto' dad was theriled to hear this news and he told him to tell the chief. Also the chief was happy about this news....The next day Squanto went to find the white men and make friends with them. Squanto found the white men over a hill finally they became friends.That is my version of this story.



5. I thought that book was a cool book. In the begening of the book the white men wanted Squanto to go with them to London.So Squanto said yes. So Squanto went with the white men. It took 1 year to get to America to London.Squanto had a comfty new bed that he had to get use to.Next he stayed there for a few years.

5 comments about Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman.

1. I cannot believe that in this day and age someone could write a breathless account of her travels with a bus package tour in Italy - and find a publisher for it! The author of this book takes herself so seriously in her faux-independent travels, sending postcards to herself form her various totally boring destinations - that it almost fits into the "so bad it's good" category. But not quite.



2. This writer did not grab me. I enjoyed her story, but did not feel befriended along the way. I listened to the tale and was entertained, but I did not have the anticipation you get from sitting down with a good friend. I preferred Kite Strings of the Southern Cross, Tales of a Female Nomad and Living on an Arc.



3. I think the title is odd because Alice Steinbach definitely had reservations about going on the trip and she made most of her overnight reservations before she left.
   
   A very pleasant book, but it really isn't about being alone--it's more about the people she met. Which is fine because that's what made the book interesting sometimes. Her dreams, earlier regrets, and postcards to herself are perfect for the nights when it's hard to get to sleep.
   
   I enjoyed reading about her romance with the Japanese gentleman. Actually, I've been to Japan many times and was astonished by it. I also loved her story about the young woman she met in Italy who was to be married soon. That was excellent.
   
   All-in-all, it's a pleasant and well written read and I felt as though the author could be a friend. Maybe because I'm about the age now that she was when she was on the trip. It might have been a wonderful adventure for her, but for me it was just a sweet travel memoir.



4. There is a lot to say about Steinbach's travel memoir. Unfortunately, most of it isn't good. The author tries to use allusions (mostly of the literary kind) that stick out awkwardly in the prose and are usually inappropriate; her metaphors are forced and distract the reader from the storyline. Many of her observations are corny, and the conversations and people she meets seem contrived and unrealistic. I'm not sure it's possible to create that many close personal friendships without the use of exaggeration. Steinbach has a grating way of using colons (which, believe it or not, is actually something one begins to notice because it is so irritating). Furthermore, she continuously dumbs down the reader with constant repetition and explanations of siutations that are very easy to understand. Steinbach also has a knack for creating a problem or drama where there is none - for instance, this gem: "The problem was, the Amalfi Coast was almost too much of a good thing," which prompted two paragraphs filled with a dilemma that was neither valid nor interesting. Overall, this book is forgettable. The secondary characters (believabilty aside) are more interesting than the author, and some of the images (when not being overused) are worth seeking out. Otherwise, the consumer should feel free to find something else, and not waste one's time on a piece of repetitious claptrap.



5. This was one of those books that I did not want to end. I enjoyed hearing about the author's travels and her experiences. I found her to be interesting and curious about the places and the people she encountered. She shared her experiences and her feelings in an intimate and friendly way. I look forward to reading her other books.

2 comments about My Booky Wook.

1. I did not know who Russell Brand was (no...I never watched "Big Brother") till I checked into a London hotel for the holidays and saw him on a holiday talk show. He is hysterically funny in a sharp, no-nonsense, "no sacred cows" manner. This book is a memoir written in a rather disorderly manner but nontheless extremey funny. His recollections and comments are fresh and at time tear jerking. A fast read, it kept me up all night. Even Americans who do not know who he is will enjoy his recollections of experiences growing up, his several stints in rehab (for various causes) and show-biz trials. Really enjoyable, I can't wait for him to write something new!



2. I first saw Russel Brand on youtube, he was doing something with Noel Fielding (mighty boosh) and i was instantly intrigued by his vernacular and his amazingly good looks :)I watched a few clips and a few episodes of various t.v. shows he was in... and then amazon popped this little gem into my recommendations. Not only does his humor and charm transfer well over paper, he also has reasonably good writing skills.

5 comments about Population: 485 (P.S.).

1. Mike Perry is one of the best new authors to come along in a while. We started off reading/listening to this book (audiobook), and now my entire friends and family can't get enough of him. I recently saw him at a reading in Seattle, and he's just as great in person.
   
   Funny, real, honest - if you can understand the beauty of old cars, relationships, loving people that aren't perfect (who is?), and can still be open-minded to people of all beliefs, then Mike's your kinda guy.



2. I thought after reading Michael Perry's essays, this would reflect life in his small town of New Auburn. It is much more about life, yes, in a small town area, but full of vast emotions. He may have not learned to polka but he knows how to live and understand people's unusual appearances and behaviors and accept them as they are. We should all register for this life lesson.



3. I was hoping to find some real insight into small town living. What i got was a long winded version of a story that could have been better expressed as a short story.
   I recommend reading the last chapter and skipping the rest.



4. MIchael Perry is a good writer. Any reader will feel instantly at home and comfortable reading one of his books. Population 485 accurately describes life in a small town. People know and care for each other. This emotion comes through in Population 485. If you want to feel good about the spirit of America, read this book.



5. From the little I'd read about this book, I expected some warm, perhaps funny vignettes about life in a rural town. This book is much more! It's laugh-out-loud funny: I read several passages to my family. It also gives an insider's view of the world of volunteer firefighting and EMT/ambulance work. The author uses an impressive range of voices--from "local yokel" to knowledgeable medical professional, essay writer, and lover of poetry. My favorite book of the year so far!

1 comments about Out of Nowhere: The Inside Story of How Nike Marketed the Culture of Running.

1. This was a great book about what made Nike, NIKE! The perspective that comes through and is shown through Mr. Hollisters account are spectacular. The most amazing thing I got from this book was what was happening on the inside of the most prestigous and inovative companies that has come along in the 20th Century. Great Read!

5 comments about Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain!: Cartoonist Ignores Helpful Advice.

1. Scott Adams may have a lot of personality problems, but he is extremely funny. This book is a compilation of his blog posts, and every one had me laughing until I got an asthma attack. If you like to laugh a lot, you will enjoy this book. If you prefer to give people stern looks for laughing out loud in public, you should get a sense of humor.



2. As background, the comics in Build a Better Life by Stealing Office Supplies is probably the funnies thing I've ever seen regarding business/office humor. You can open that book to any page and crack up since the humor is so true. Likewise, the Dilbert Principle made me laugh out loud since it had emails from real companies and Scott Adams' comments were witty add ons. So the author has talent. But less and less his comics and writing makes me even smile, much less chuckle. This book had one chuckle. It is a collection of mostly 1 page writings. Scott Adams write a page as he is sitting waiting to have his throat examine. There was way more about his medical problems and his upcoming marriage than I care to read about. If they were funny, maybe ok. But not. So a collection of his short musings as he is on a plane or sitting around. His name will sell more, and he is already rich. But if this book is evaluated on quality and content, not on his former brillance, then it scores poorly. Skim through it at a bookstore for 5 minutes before buying - you'll agree with me. Too late for me, I bought it!



3. I'm a big fan of Scott Adams's blog and it is a treat to read this collection of some of his best essays. Thought provoking, funny, philosophical, infuriating - something for everybody. The worst thing about this book is its title. It's a much better book than the title indicates. Ironically, one of Adams's essays is on good book titles - he should have taken his own advice. So ignore the title, buy the book, and enjoy yourself!



4. I would have liked to like this book more. The chapters are short, pithy and amusing, but there's no overarching plot or story so it feels like you're just reading someone's blog. And wait! You ARE just reading someone's blog, because this book is a collection of Scott Adams' blog postings you can read for free online. Damn, I wish I'd known that first.



5. I have for some years now been a fan of Dilbert, and have also with delight read some of Adams' other books like "The Dilbert Principle", which I also found very funny. He is, or at least can be, a very witty man, Scott Adams, and does have an ability to cut to the bone of a subject, which is absolutely joyous to read about.
   
   This book, however, is not that great. Firstly the blog format makes the chapters/sections of the book far too short and to a certain exent repetitive. Many, far too many, ideas seem like the half baked kind, that should have been left out completely or at least have been expanded on before being put into bookform. Also Adams, at times, comes across as not witty or funny at all, but 'weird' for the sake of being weird (he is not weird at all, but he like to project an image of himself being terribly close to being absolutely barking). He seems almost like an ageing Hunter S Thompson or such. He is also terribly self-important and a bit conceited at times, which makes the already doubtful material even less funny.
   
   There are naturally redeeming factors. It is not everything in it, that is not one bit funny. Loads of satire and a critical look at society can be spotted in this volume too. There are many amuzing passages, but sadly they do not outweigh the less good ones. Read it if you're a fan. Otherwise there are much better books out there to make you laugh. 2,5 stars.

No comments about Daphne: A Novel.