Exceptional book from an exceptional man.

This is arguably the most important book of this century, written by the most coherent moral voice of our time.

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Brilliant and thought provoking

This is an excellent book that provides us with a thoughtful insight into the relationships of the Abrahamic faiths, where it all started and how we are affected today by the decisions and consequences of those in the book of Genesis. Jonathan Sachs challenges our preconceived ideas and brings to our attention how we might respond better to our brothers and sisters in the world today.

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Timely book for all time

Written from a Jewish perspective, this book makes the case for common humanity by showing how group rivalry arises and that the God of the Hebrew Bible is implacably opposed to the will to power and violence.

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Thought Provoking

This book is excellent and very well balanced when talking about inter-religious dialogue. Very well narrated by Jonathan Sacks and easy to listen to. Needs a few stops on audio just to reflect on the enormity of what he says.

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Important book, wise and timely

Jonathan Sacks has a marvellous voice. Loved it on the radio, said I could listen for hours. Now I have. He is a man of broad learning and on matters ecumenical he is always intelligent, considered and persuasive.
This analysis of the causes of violence executed "in the name of God", as well as in pursuit of a pseudo-religious ideology is convincing, wide-ranging, and sometimes surprising.
Unfortunately this book will not be read by fundamentalists of any stripe, and militant atheists will continue to regard people of faith as culpable of every atrocity in history (including those of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao, maybe even Attila the Hun and Nero) on the basis of a disingenuous reading of the Bible.
Sacks makes a sound case for human diversity, for the wisdom of avoiding hatred of former oppressors (Moses tells the Israelites not to bear rancour against Egyptians), and rejecting hatred, which destroys the hater more than the hated. He draws on 3000 years of history, psychology, ethnology, philosophy, writings from Jewish, Christian and Islamic sources, recent events, to inform where things went wrong, are still going wrong and point out that all these horrors are human failures, for which God weeps.

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highly recommended

highly recommended for anyone who is questioning our current times and the state the world is in.

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Informative, Enlightening and Worth Re-reading

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book - an apologetics based dissertation I think. But although it could be read as such, it is a much deeper, historic and educational document covering so many aspects (factual and perception) of the Abrahamic faiths, that are of interest to anyone who is a believer of those 3 faiths as well as Atheists, Agnostics and New Agers!

I have listened to it in its entirety 1 ½ times. I intend to listen to it again, and I'm minded to purchase the Kindle edition, because there are SO MANY quotable quotes, that are on point and worthy of repeating.

This is a very current edition, up to 2015, so it's very relevant to today's events. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Everyone should hear it.

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A book for our time Nov 2023

As events unfold in Gaza the world stands watching and silent. This book speaks to each side reminding us that we are all gods children. May peace reign.

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Theologically dishonest.

We don't really need any more books about religious violence... One needs only look at the news.

What one does need in a book like this is honesty and self reflection.

The author, himself jewish, lectures endlessly about the evils of Islam and Christianity but neglects to mention the historic and modern violence of the jewish people... People who, incidentally sew the seeds of dualism into their own religion by regarding themselves as superior to non jews whom they call goy (cattle).

When today the Gaza strip looks like the Warsaw ghetto while Israel is shielded from criticism by the US. Armed to the teeth with illegally held nuclear weapons and stirring up trouble throughout the entire middle east I am expected to join the author in an 11 hour 'petty the poor jew' party.

This level of dishonesty is absolutely breathtaking and completely negates the rest of the books content.

So in the unlikely event that Audible actually publish this review I would strongly advise you to save your money. Because I certainly wish I had.

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