A well-researched, accessible reinterpretation of Quranic teaching.
Roswell questions traditional interpretations of the Quran in this nonfiction debut.
While firmly embracing the “ancient wisdom” found in the Quran, the author argues that the lessons of the holy book have been distorted by religious leaders who only read the work through lenses of rigid tradition, ritual, and practice. “Shorn of the shackles of conventional interpretations and literalist perspectives,” he argues, the Quran becomes a relevant, underacknowledged commentary on human psychology and a “wellspring of wisdom” whose relevance extends beyond the devoted faithful. The book begins with an introductory essay on the problematic nature of most religions, highlighting the ways in which religious leaders often lean on rhetorical strategies of circular reasoning and ad hominem attacks. While arguing that the core texts of Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions have also been misinterpreted by religious scholars, the author chose to focus on the foundational text of Islam because he “was born and raised within a context where the Quran was regarded with great reverence.” After a brief primer on the history of Islamic traditions, the body of the book is divided into two parts. The first centers on the “core psychological concepts” found in the Quran, with a particular emphasis on the nuances of the Arabic language that calls into question theologically motivated interpretations that have long been accepted in the faith but don’t always align with the actual text (in the author’s convincing reinterpretation, for instance, the word “Heavens” may represent the psyche and “the higher aspects of consciousness and intellect” rather than a post-death paradise). The book’s second part makes the case for the Quran’s pragmatic relevance to 21st-century psychology and the alignment of its teachings with modern cognitive science. Muslim readers, particularly traditionalists, may not be comfortable with the book’s iconoclastic reinterpretations, or with Roswell’s explicit desire that humanity “liberates itself” from religion. However critical of conventional religion the book may be, it nevertheless approaches the Quran with a profound appreciation that makes the text relevant to modern readers both inside and outside the faith.
A well-researched, accessible reinterpretation of Quranic teaching.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-7395065-8-2
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 30, 2023
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
© 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.
