A nimble, thoughtful introduction to various philosophies regarding faith and God.
Shields offers a quick guide to various theological systems in this debut work.
No matter what tradition we were raised in, we all find ourselves asking the big questions at some point in life: Does God exist? Is there a grand design to the universe? Why are we here? What happens after we die? “Over millennia, spiritual leaders and philosophers have devoted their lives to developing worldviews that could help us achieve enlightened and happier lives,” writes the author in her introduction. “While religious worldviews are most frequently inculcated in childhood, other secular or spiritual viewpoints can be developed as we mature and question ‘the meaning of life.’” With this book, Shields offers a brief introduction to a number of divergent belief systems, exploring the ways in which they seek to address those big questions. She helps readers to familiarize themselves with the differences between literal and non-literal interpretations of the Christian God, the non-anthropomorphic God of pantheism, and the completely non-theological teachings of secular Buddhism. The author also details the peaceful abyss of existential mysticism and the eternal reason of stoicism. Along the way, Shields stops to explore deceptively complex concepts such as hope, love, wonder, and mystery. By the end, readers may discover that their beliefs aren’t quite as tidy and certain as they initially thought. The author’s precise, sometimes academic prose cuts right to the heart of her topics, as here, where she discusses faith: “Three components are fundamental to religious faith: (a) a psychological state, (b) a cognitive comprehension of the ‘truth,’ accepted without evidence, and (c) a practical commitment to one’s religion…Believers find support for their faith by placing emphasis on one of the components, without neglecting the others.” The chapters are short, and the pages fly by despite the heady material. Readers looking for a survey of various theologies—and who don’t mind some dense reading—could do much worse than Shields’ primer.
A nimble, thoughtful introduction to various philosophies regarding faith and God.Pub Date: June 14, 2023
ISBN: 9798394343605
Page Count: 188
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Oct. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A frank and funny but uneven essay collection about neurodiversity.
An experimental, illustrated essay collection that questions neurotypical definitions of what is normal.
From a young age, writer and comedian Myers has been different. In addition to coping with obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks, she struggled to read basic social cues. During a round of seven minutes in heaven—a game in which two players spend seven minutes in a closet and are expected to kiss—Myers misread the romantic advances of her best friend and longtime crush, Marley. In Paris, she accidentally invited a sex worker to join her friends for “board games and beer,” thinking he was simply a random stranger who happened to be hitting on her. In community college, a stranger’s request for a pen spiraled her into a panic attack but resulted in a tentative friendship. When the author moved to Australia, she began taking notes on her colleagues in an effort to know them better. As the author says to her co-worker, Tabitha, “there are unspoken social contracts within a workplace that—by some miracle—everyone else already understands, and I don’t….When things Go Without Saying, they Never Get Said, and sometimes people need you to Say Those Things So They Understand What The Hell Is Going On.” At its best, Myers’ prose is vulnerable and humorous, capturing characterization in small but consequential life moments, and her illustrations beautifully complement the text. Unfortunately, the author’s tendency toward unnecessary capitalization and experimental forms is often unsuccessful, breaking the book’s otherwise steady rhythm.
A frank and funny but uneven essay collection about neurodiversity.Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780063381308
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
