A. Hicks

Excellent

Revisado: 01-26-24

The best and most well-documented overview of the bible I have yet encountered. I especially appreciated the time the author took to explain the reasons for his conclusions — so many others simply assert that “most scholars agree…” and you are left with little more than a wanna-be authority challenging another authority. I found that the evidence behind the judgments was really helpful, even (especially) when I didn’t consider the reasons dispositive.

I also want to highlight the fantastic job the reader did. Simply one of the best. I actually enjoyed him so much that I looked to see what other works he might have read. It turns out that this is very far from Ralph Lister’s home turf. Here’s hoping that he can be asked to read other volumes in this vein.

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It’s Kierkegaard

Revisado: 08-13-23

Kierkegaard is to introspective thought what Bach is to music — the apogee of what has gone before and the new ground for all that comes after. Like Bach, he worked relatively obscurely, and his work may not be to everyone’s taste, but the artful density of genius in every page is indisputable. And those most attuned to these domains are the first to recognize this.

This collection consists of several of his most “popular” works (i.e. those most likely to be assigned in a philosophy course that includes Kierkegaard). Each can be world shattering on their own. Each can also be hard to keep up with. These works lie at the intersection of Philosophy, Psychology, and Theology.

I was concerned that the audio version would be that much harder than the text, but I found that not to be the case. Expressing (still) new ideas using words with old meanings is very hard. It takes a while to grasp the real implications of what Kierkegaard is saying, but I found the audible version comparable in that respect to the written version.

Occasional mispronunciations by the readers are sometimes distracting and I would prefer a more inflective rendering, but I am immensely grateful for their efforts to bring these great works to my collection.

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The Deep End

Revisado: 06-04-19

Kierkegaard is a heroic thinker, capable of brilliance that few (if any) can match. He can also be difficult to follow and this is not his easiest book. His reputation and influence are now well established, so — rather like reviewing Shakespeare — any comments about the author would likely say more about the reviewer than the reviewed.

This note, then, is in praise of the book reader. I cannot imagine anyone doing as much justice to the text as Mr. Rapkin. He kept it lively and clear with just the right lilt. Kudos!

Typically, I listen to audible books while doing other activities, particularly jogging. This book demands your attention and focus (I found myself often rewinding to recover from momentary distractions) so it exceptional for making the time go by easily. I wish all books were so engaging.

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Highly Recommended, Revolutionary in the Best Way

Revisado: 05-10-19

The book fascinates because it is both instructive and enlivening. I enjoyed the book so much that this is my first review.
The author brings considerable insight to the Jewish context of Jesus’ first century. This is a lot here that even a well-educated Christian will find new. Further, the author brings a creative new insight that helps explain John’s distinctive approach. Although John’s Gospel was already my favorite, now I feel that I had been missing a great deal of what we in there.
One difficulty with writers on religious history is that they often seem credulous, either way: either they distrust every claim within the text, certain of their unreliability, or they take everything at face value, emasculating the truth for literalism. This author does a great job of threading this needle. He provides historical evidence for his limited claims and presents countervailing views when appropriate.
To me, the most surprising outcome was that this illumination of the historical Jesus and his mission made the whole story so much more immediate. Not only was this the most interesting and insightful commentary I’ve encountered, it also became an outstanding devotional book.

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