About this title: "Good Book" is what happens when a regular guy actually reads the whole book on which his religion, his culture, and his world are based. The result is an irreverent, enthralling journey through the world's most important work of literature--the Bible.
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Your search:Books»Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible(28 available copies)
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper
Date Published: 2009-03-01
ISBN-13:9780061374241ISBN:0061374245
Description: New. Paperback ARC with same cover & publisher stickers. This book is the same isbn, but is a paperback ARC. New, unread, unused & in perfect condition with no damaged or missing pages. Great Copy. Ships Lightning Fast. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Harperluxe
Date Published: 2009-03-01
ISBN-13:9780061719950ISBN:0061719951
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780061719950. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: HarperLuxe
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780061719950ISBN:0061719951
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: Good. Dust Jacket present. GOOD with average wear to cover and pages. We offer a no-hassle guarantee on all our items. Orders generally ship by the next business day. Default Text. read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: HARPER COLLINS
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780061374241ISBN:0061374245
Description: New. "Good Book" is what happens when a regular guy actually reads the whole book on which his religion, his culture, and his world are based. The result is an irreverent, enthralling journey through the world's most important work of literature--the Bible. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper, New York
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780061374241ISBN:0061374245
Description: Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo. pp. viii 322. "Good Book is an irreverent, enthralling journey through the world's most important work of literature. " read more
"David Plotz, a self-described secular Jew, picks up the Bible at a bat mitzvah and is horrified to read the story of Dinah in Genesis. He realizes that the stories he was taught in Hebrew school skipped over a lot. So he decides to read the entire Old Testament, word for word, to find out, as he says, "what happens when an ignorant person actually read the book on which his religion is based."
What happens is a hilarious, often cynical, sometimes thoughtful, often insightful exploration of amazing (and horrifying) stories. I found many stories were ones I'd heard (although I realized that many of the details I'd either conveniently forgotten or never knew) and many that I'd never heard. So it was a somewhat "ignorant" run for me too.
I do recall years ago reading Judges in a Bible study class and concluding that Samson was a sociopath with anger management issues. Plotz describes him as "the original meathead--born 3400 years too early to be a hockey goon, or the fraternity rush chairman." His two conclusions from reading the story of Samson are: "(1) Women are deceptive and heartless. (2) Men are too stupid and sex-crazed to realize this."
Plotz concludes by recommending that everyone should actually read the Bible--all of it. The Bible has shaped so much of our culture and language. He also found value in understanding the source of many of his religious traditions. As far as faith, he says "I began the Bible as a hopeful, but indifferent, agnostic...I leave the Bible as a hopeless and angry agnostic." But he found value in his year-long argument with God, which he concludes represents a kind of belief, a commitment to engage with God."
"I checked it out from the Mount Prospect Library, but I don't think I'd buy a copy.
The author does a secular book synopsis / review of the Old Testament. He is a non-practicing, non-Hebrew speaking Jew. He reads the entire book in one year, and examines his revelations and feelings.
If you pick it up, read the last chapter to get the gist of his thesis, which to me is valid: The Bible (usually referring to both Old and New Testaments) is the most important touchstone of a significant portion of the world, yet very few people actually read all of it. And reading all of it is very disturbing and messy.
I could do without the forced contemporary references to Brittny Spears and Penelope Cruz. The author does fall into snarky-ness, which may offend some readers.
There is no scholarly research at all, just evaluating what is written in the Bible. The author does occasionally reference differences between several mainstream translations. This is an interesting take if used as a springboard to further study."
"Because I grew up in a religious environment, I find secular views on the bible interesting. David Plotz made the choice to read his Jewish Bible for the first time. This was a new experience for him as he had forgotten most of the things he learned in Hebrew School.
David writes this book in a chapter by chapter approach; the reader can see his understanding grow and his reactions change throughout the book. Many of his musings are notable, but two stand out: his acceptable name list and his realization that God loves those who think rather than follow blindly.
Mr. Plotz discovers that the favorite people of God from the Bible, Abraham, Moses, David, Jacob, Elijah, etc., all argue, negotiate, make demands of God, and remind Him of His covenants. The God of the Bible does not like the automatrons, that blindly follow like sheep. I can see Yahweh saying, "I created you with free will, Me-Dammit, so you better use it!""
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