A charming account that lacks a rigorous appraisal of the afterlife.
A writer explores the spiritual world.
In his debut book, 94-year-old Swartwout provides a unique take on the afterlife. An electrical engineer with an esteemed career dating back to his groundbreaking research during World War II, the Protestant author avoids a theological or doctrinarian approach to the topic (indeed, not a single Bible verse is cited in the entire volume). He instead employs what he calls a “common sense” approach. Swartwout’s motivation for writing this work came after the death of his wife, which prompted him to understandably focus on what happens in the afterlife. The volume’s strengths lie in the myriad anecdotes from the author’s own life. Written in a conversational style, the book is peppered with intriguing stories of his contributions to World War II radar technology, his secondary career in film and advertising (his company holds the world record for the longest-running TV commercial), and his everyday experiences as a husband and grandfather. Indeed, the work can be read as a beautiful love letter to his wife, Gretchen. But readers interested in delving into the afterlife will likely be disappointed. Swartwout offers no real analysis or meaningful discussion about heaven. Most of his points can be boiled down to his conclusion that the spiritual world is beyond humans’ current state of limited knowledge, similar to how cellphones would be unimaginable to Europeans in the 1700s, an analogy he cites throughout the text. Some Christians may be disturbed by his use of mediums to talk to the spirit of his wife, a practice rejected by many denominations. The audience may also see as far-fetched his discussions of extraterrestrials, time travel, and teleportation, and his call for a multibillion-dollar scientific “Spirit Lab” as the solution to ending warfare. But readers interested in captivating vignettes about life and family, and a work sprinkled throughout with inspiring quotes by figures ranging from Buddha to Walt Disney, will find a pleasant read.
A charming account that lacks a rigorous appraisal of the afterlife.Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5196-1937-2
Page Count: 132
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2019
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
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 2026 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.
