Former Buddhist monk Altman investigates the spiritual aspects of eating. Mealtimes, he tells us, can be far more than the rushed, slapdash affair so many Americans participate in today: Dinner ought not be a cruise through a McDonald’s drive-through but a repast. Altman draws on a range of religious traditions in fashioning an alternative to today’s hurried, harried consumption. He shares the Buddhist lesson of the Middle Way—one ought not gorge nor starve, but find a via media —between the extremes of excess and abstinence.— Judaism’s practice of blessing every morsel that enters one’s mouth appeals to Altman, as do the Jewish commandments to feed the poor and open one’s table to strangers on holidays. (His investigation of Judaism would have been bolstered by more on the Levitical dietary laws.) Noticing that some of Jesus— most famous miracles involve food and drink, Altman explores Christian attitudes toward eating, emphasizing the connections Christians draw between eating, communion, and community. Readers are encouraged to take on the Japanese tea ceremony, which both puts one in a position to give and receive and —provides an exquisite model for bridging the gap that exists in our modern lives between harmony and commotion, thoughtfulness and carelessness, aesthetics and coarseness, respect and selfishness.— A constant motif, from Altman’s musings about God’s giving man dominion over the animals in Genesis to his —Seven Steps to Strengthening Your Ecospirituality,— is a concern for the environment and stewardship. He’s concerned with nutritional eating, too, yet does not prescribe a list of do’s and don—ts. Above all, he urges personal responsibility: We don—t necessarily have to give up hamburgers because beef is an inefficient source of protein, but we should be aware of the consequences of culinary choices. A useful reminder of a truth the great religious leaders all knew: You are what you eat.
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-06-251635-3
Page Count: 224
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1999
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.
