God: A Biography

The title is self explanatory. In this excellent piece of literary criticism, Jack Miles presents a reading of "The Old Testament" in which he invites the reader to explore the text as a piece literary fiction. In so doing, the character of God and his relationship to his most prized creation, human beings, is analyzed and leads to some startling conclusions about the nature of the...more

The title is self explanatory. In this excellent piece of literary criticism, Jack Miles presents a reading of "The Old Testament" in which he invites the reader to explore the text as a piece literary fiction. In so doing, the character of God and his relationship to his most prized creation, human beings, is analyzed and leads to some startling conclusions about the nature of the Judeo-Christian deity. Jealous, angry, vengeful, violent and war-like and yet also kind, loving, and compassionate, Yahweh is left as petty and emotionally confused and the most disturbed of his prized creation. Jack Miles enables us to watch as the character of God deals with his own shortcomings, evolution, and the ever-changing relationship between him and his chosen people. A fresh and insightfully important way of looking at one of the oldest and most popular stories to passed down to us.   hide

So-so at best. Interesting premise but the book assumed far more familiarity with the Bible than what I remember.

So my three stars is more a statement about me than the book. Perhaps if I was smarter in general and more fmailiar with the Hebrew bible specifically I would have loved this book. But since I am relatively ignorant, I felt like this book was "above me." I even had to look up words! However, it is well written and wonderfully researched. It is just not for the faint of heart nor...more

So my three stars is more a statement about me than the book. Perhaps if I was smarter in general and more fmailiar with the Hebrew bible specifically I would have loved this book. But since I am relatively ignorant, I felt like this book was "above me." I even had to look up words! However, it is well written and wonderfully researched. It is just not for the faint of heart nor (oddly enough) the devoutly religious. Miles does not belive the Bible is the literal word of God. He also makes it clear that this version of God is, in his opinion, the amalgamation of multiple gods borrowed from polytheism (but, I do not think, Miles never denies the existence of some sort of high power).   hide

Opened my eyes to the impossibility and possibilities of the Bible in a way NO ONE else has.... Fucking brilliant. One of the great books.

Don't waste your valuable time reading this book. The author seems to have his own personal problems with God. The author picks and chooses Bible passages to promote his negative slant.

Miles text offers some interesting angles and perspectives from which to handle the evolving character of 'God' as met in the canonical Hebrew scriptures.

The story of God as if the Bible were a history book. Fascinating.

Great book for anyone interested in study of religion, not really for religious people.... Loaned it to somebody and never got it back :(

Very interesting book about "god" from the judeo-christian bible. trying to understand "god" as he is described in these ancient writings. factual, and rather dry at times, but still very interesting reading!