Starr’s debut work of genealogy is an ambitious text that promises to deliver the secrets of Christianity.
The topic of biblical genealogy has always been vexed—so much so that Matthew and Luke, the only two evangelists that lay out Jesus’ lineage, totally disagree. Thus, when Starr introduces his book as a project that will delineate not only Jesus’ genealogy but that of King David, Mary Magdalene, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, the god Zeus and a host of other ancient figures, readers may believe that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. And they would be correct—the author’s list of genealogies comes off as arbitrary, speculative and unreliable. Starr admits early on that “almost all of the content of the book is from the internet,” and continues, damningly, “so the ideas may or may not be true.” The Internet is obviously a dangerous source, and he takes a great leap in using it as primary research material. But worse, his book is entirely undocumented—Starr does not provide his readers with a viable means of checking his facts. The flood of lists and crowded flowcharts rushes by with virtually no footnotes or parenthetical references. Further, the author spices this dubious information with seemingly unrelated reflections on nobility, Kabbalah and the philosophy of war. Starr delivers this frequently indecipherable religious hodgepodge in a stilted prose that is marred by occasional typographical errors and is almost totally absent of any transition sentences. It’s a rough ride that offers illumination but may instead confuse readers. Muddled and under-researched, Starr’s work would benefit from more explanatory text to provide clarity and unification.
Pub Date: June 17, 2011
ISBN: 978-1463517977
Page Count: 155
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2011
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
© 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.
