Bianco, a photojournalist who trained for the priesthood and whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Sports Illustrated, makes his book debut with a mundane look at the mundane life of a reclusive order of Roman Catholic monks. Bianco calls the Trappists the ``elite strike force in the spiritual life,'' a tag that reveals more about his popular approach than about the inner world of these quiet, reverential men. After four months spent living among the Trappists—the first journalist to receive permission to do so, and to publish his results—Bianco catches well the small serenities and squabbles: Should women retreatants be allowed? Should the controversial novel Joshua be read? However, he never dives to spiritual depths. As daily life in the monastery mirrors daily life everywhere else, there's not much here to chew on. Cleverly, Bianco lets the monks speak for themselves—there are big chunks of ``spoken history''- -allowing us to eavesdrop as monks remember why they abandoned the outside world for a new name, a white robe, poverty, and prayer. ``Mac'' (all names are changed) says simply that ``monks want to give God more room in their lives,'' a comment that in its simplicity and directness seems to characterize these would-be saints. One startling episode, as a woman discovers that one of the monks is her long-lost father; otherwise, a photo album in words: respectful, candid, surface-deep. (Nineteen photographs—not seen.)
Pub Date: June 24, 1991
ISBN: 1-55778-305-5
Page Count: 220
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1991
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
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