An even-handed, nonsectarian reflection on morality.
A spiritual commentator blends traditions of the East and the West in this eclectic analysis of moral law.
In its broadest sense, argues Sivanesan in the book’s preface, spiritual philosophy “asserts that your existence is no accident and has been brought about by a supreme cosmic intelligence.” This sets the tone for an in-depth exploration of morality from a perspective that blends Western and Eastern spiritual traditions. De-emphasizing the importance of religious theology and doctrinal rigidity, the author highlights commonalities shared between Hinduism and Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Indeed, Sivanesan asserts, if one focuses on the mystic branches of Abrahamic faiths (such as Gnosticism, Sufism, and Kabbalah), they all “unite” under a “single metaphysical truth.” The author interrogates prevailing moral theories such as utilitarianism (which focuses on the consequences of one’s actions), deontology (which focuses on the inherent rightness or wrongness of one’s actions), and virtue ethics (which focuses on the moral character of the person acting rather than specific actions). While Sivanesan’s reassessment of moral law is nuanced and defies simplistic generalizations, at its heart his formulation blends the teachings of Jesus—particularly the idea of loving one’s neighbor—with the Eastern notion of karma, concluding that “a good person performs good acts due to a good nature.” While moral law takes center stage in the author’s analysis, Sivanesan also addresses a host of tangential issues related to spirituality, from a defense against common “misunderstanding[s]” of India’s caste system to the role of suffering in human existence. Well versed in both Western and Eastern spiritualities—it’s not uncommon for both the Bhagavad Gita and Thomas Aquinas to be cited on the same page—Sivanesan, a former medical doctor and author of multiple books on spirituality, has a firm grasp on the philosophical and religious literature at hand, as evidenced by the book’s ample footnotes. Despite the text’s relatively short length, this is a dense read designed not to be consumed in a single sitting, but to be meditated upon.
An even-handed, nonsectarian reflection on morality.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781803417677
Page Count: 216
Publisher: Iff Books
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
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
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